Musicals & Music Films > D Musicals & Music Films

Will they get those 'Sobbin Women'

Advantages: A good easy going family musical
Disadvantages: non that I can see

~~ Seven Brides for Seven Brothers ~~ This has to be one of my favourite musicals and is most definitely one of the classics of the 1950's. I love the Baritone voice of Howard Keel and the innocent charm of Jane Powell who also happens to have a wonderful voice. The film was based on a short story by Stephen Vincent Benet called 'The Sobbin' Women' and was adapted by the husband and wife team Albert Hackett and Frances Goodrich alongside Dorothy ...
...the title A Bride for Seven Brothers was put forward, it was felt that this title was a little bit suggestive and so they came up with the title Seven Brides for Seven Brothers were chosen. The producer Jack Cummings got Stanley Donan to direct the movie, Stanley previous hits with Singin' in the Rain and On The Town both successful movies. Cummings really wanted to do the movie completely on location, but MGM had other ideas, they only thought of ...

arnoldhenryrufus 03.09.2006 · Read full review
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Review of Seven Brides For Seven Brothers (DVD)

What a glorious feeling..

Advantages: Catchy, bright, cheerful and surprisingly funny
Disadvantages: Its a musical: this will be enough for some

Singin' In the Rain (1952) 103 Minutes Dir: Stanley Donen, Gene Kelly. Starring: Gene Kelly, Donald O'Connor, Debbie Reynolds, Jean Hagen I should've subtitled this 'I don't like musicals, but' As a rule, I'd give most films where the lead bursts into song a wide berth. For me, a film is credible (and therefore enjoyable) if you can believe in what is unfolding on the screen. How can you suspend belief if the actors suddenly start singing Cole ...
...instance my girlfriend cajoled me to watching 'Rent'. Don't get me wrong: it's worthy, serious stuff, but I had to turn it off after five minutes. Personally, I am no musicals expert. Wouldn't be able to be analyse one on technical details alone. However, if a musical entertains me (like Mamma Mia did), it gets my seal of approval and I'd watch it repeatedly. 'Singin' In The Rain' certainly fits the bill. Even a philistine like me can enjoy the ...

runningman77 11.02.2009 · Read full review
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Review of Singin' In The Rain (DVD)

What a song and dance!

Advantages: lovely family film
Disadvantages: none

...and none more so than Singin' in the Rain starring Gene Kelly, Donald O'Connor and Debbie Reynolds. This lovely film has got it all - romance, comedy and lots of great singing and dancing along with a couple of downpours for good measure! I recently received the DVD of this film for my birthday and the other day we all sat down as a family to watch this great film. Even my four year old daughter really enjoyed it! Singin' in the Rain (made in 1952) ...
...Don Lockwood (Gene Kelly) and Lina Lamont (Jean Hagen) are big silent movie stars. However, when the movie production company starts to make talking pictures there is a big problem because it soon transpires that Lina's voice is terrible. No one knows what to do about this until Don meets the beautiful Cathy Seldon (Debbie Reynolds). She is also an actress, on the stage, and Don's great friend Cosmo (Donald O'Connor) comes up with the idea that Cathy ...

kingfisher111 06.10.2009 · Read full review
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Review of Singin' In The Rain (Special Edition) (DVD)

Here Comes the Brides!!

Advantages: good story and acting, some good songs
Disadvantages: very bad backdrops!

...Scene Access Trailer Making of Seven Brides for Seven Brothers I have not had the need for the scene access and have no interest in watching the making of the film. The running time of this film is 98 minutes which was a suitable length and the certificate is a Universal which means that it is suitable for all ages. I do agree with this rating. This DVD is available widely for under £5 which I think is a good buy. I am going to recommend this ...

sewbizzie 08.05.2009 · Read full review
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Review of Seven Brides For Seven Brothers (DVD)

Face bothered? NO!!

Advantages: Audrey's dancing, family entertainment, pretty costumes
Disadvantages: Dull, poor plot, cheesy, poor songs

...to watch last night was Funny Face, a 1956 film starring Audrey with Fred Astaire. I love films from this era and I love musicals, so I had high hopes for this one. It began reasonably well with setting the scene and a pleasant musical diversion featuring women in pretty pink dresses. By this point though, my husband had his head in his hands and contemplated turning off the computer and going to bed, before he died from a saccharine overdose! After ...
...him anything except embarrassing in Funny Face. The songs couldn't save it either. Despite them being by Ira and George Gershwin, they were often bland and almost always forgettable. The lyrics and rhymes were often cringe-worthy too and hubby and I spent quite a lot of time laughing at them. The highlight of the film for me was watching Audrey Hepburn dance. Apart from a few scenes in my Fair Lady, I hadn't seen her dance before, but I remember ...

KarenUK 12.12.2006 · Read full review
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Review of Funny Face (DVD)