dmorse Reviews

General Electric Theater: Judy Garland Musical Special (1956) Season 4, Episode 28

Wonderful Show!

[10/10 · 21 November 2008]

This is an excellent showcase for Judy and she is in her prime here on this mid-fifties GE Theater presentation...it is a full half hour of songs that made her famous....the presentation is without peer..got to see this on You Tube in its entirety and would suggest anyone that is a fan to look it up!! I don't know where you could see it or if it is even available on DVD or not..Peter Gennaro, the famed dancer also performs and there is a special song done by Judy to her son Joey Luft...a lot of the same people that worked with her in her career were involved in this show, including Nelson Riddle, Sid Luft...etc. The orchestrations and material are wonderful for the period and include such numbers as April Showers, Last Night when we were in Love, and others....the original commercials for GE Electric are included with announcer Bill Goodwin, and Ronald Reagan appears at the beginning with his usual introductions, and closes the show with his preview of next weeks story, which will star Ray Milland in a dramatic presentation, which was the usual type of program on this series.

I Love Lucy (1951–1957)

Wonderful Comedy!!!!!

[10/10 · 8 April 2008]

I can only add my kudos to all of the other comments that have been made..this series is timeless and the chemistry between Lucille, Desi, Vivian, and William is superb!!! I have to admit some of my favorite episodes revolve around their trip to California in the fourth season..particularly the following episodes: California, Here We Come, First Stop (absoulutely hilarious...the "Cheese Sandwich bit is unforgettable"), Tennessee Bound, and Ethel's Hometown, where Vivian Vance gets to show off her operatic style with "My Hero"....This is not to take away anything from the other episodes..this is a series that will be popular, probably, for the next fifty years as it has been the last fifty...The genius of all of the people who put this production together is unbelievable...I have read several books on the series, the stars, the supporting stars, and the production crew that made it all possible and have constantly been impressed by what they did to put this show together!!! I have most of the DVD sets including the hour versions done after production closed on the half-hour versions...the half hours are the best..Long Live Lucy and Desi....

Thoroughly Modern Millie (1967)

Depiction of an era long gone!!

[26 January 2005]

I remember seeing this movie in college, and was impressed with it at the time; I bought the DVD recently and find it is a wonderful presentation; the colors are vibrant again and the music is well preserved and very listenable especially in surround sound....this version includes a musical intro. intermission music and exit music; unfortunately not any extras, other than the original trailer, but all in all a good package for the price....The twenties era is well portrayed, with the many fashions and fads brought into play and interwoven into the plot of the movie. The leads are all very good, with the exception of Mary Tyler Moore, whose acting is not very on key...Carol Channing is exceptional in the comic part of Muzzy, and there is a twist ending that involves her, which I won't give away to anyone who has not seen the movie....again the music and dancing make the movie with old standards such as Baby Face, Poor Butterfly, Do it again, and on and on with a few new ditties thrown in, by Elmer Bernstein and Andre Previn....this movie was nominated for several awards and one one for music...Enjoy!!

Alfred Hitchcock Presents (1955–1962)

An Unlocked Window

[2 January 2005]

This is a response to the author of the question referring to the episode of Alfred Hitchcock concerning the nurses in the old house...This episode first aired on "The Alfred Hitchcock Hour", February 15, 1965, and was entitled "An Unlocked Window" and starred Dana Wynter as Nurse Stella Crosson, who is hired as a companion to an invalid, and is aided by another nurse Betty Ames; it turns out that Betty Ames is really a man at the end of this frightening episode....for complete information as to story, etc. of this episode refer to the TVTome.com site and look up the Alfred Hitchcock Hour series; I am sure this is the one...I too was scared out of my wits, but was also quite young when I saw it for the first time; it is really quite well-done and deserves re-airing, as I don't think this series is being aired at the present time. For everyone's information, I believe the first season of Alfred Hitchcock Presents will be available some time this year, I believe for the 50th anniversary of the show; I do hope it contains a lot of good extras.

Oklahoma! (1955)

Oh what a wonderful movie!!

[31 December 2004]

I just acquired the set of Rogers and Hammerstein's musicals on DVD, and am enjoying them immensely; the picture clarity and sound are outstanding and the music and story good to boot!! I believe this was Shirley Jones' debut in a movie, and she portrays Laurie to a tee, and has ample support from all of the other actors, with fine comedy support from Gloria Grahame and Charlotte Greenwood; have enjoyed Ms Greenwood in earlier films she did at Fox, and am wondering if she played Aunt Eller on Broadway.... The ballet sequence is exquisitely handled by Agnes DeMille, and the dancing in all scenes superb; if there was any complaint it would only be that the scenes with Jud seem a little prolonged and drawn out, but overall, an excellent film...

The Happiest Millionaire (1967)

Wonderful Period Musical

[11 August 2004]

I just bought the DVD roadshow version of this film, as I had seen it as a teenager and thoroughly enjoyed it....this is the complete 3 hour version with prologue, intermission, and exit music; although it has been panned through the years, I have always thought highly of it...it is based on the memoirs of Cordie Biddle, who is the daughter of Anthony Biddle the highly conservative and inventive head of the Biddle household..there are some wonderful actors including Fred MacMurray as the patriarch, Greer Garson as his wife, Gladys Cooper (in I believe one of her last roles) as Cordie's grandmother, and of course Leslie Ann Warren, and John Davidson as the younger romantic interest....If there is a complaint, I would have to say there is too much time spent on the romance of the two younger players, and whatever happened to Paul Petersen, and Eddie Hodges, who are only in ONE scene as the brothers of Cordie....their scenes must have been left on the cutting room floor if they indeed had anymore!!! This is an early 20th century piece, with wonderful costumes, decor, and settings of the period, and lilting music for the most part...and as others have said Tommy Steele as the butler STEALS the show with his singing, dancing, and commentary on the goings on throughout the story. I have on order the movie "Half a Sixpence" which Tommy originated on the stage in London; am looking forward to this film also...I think we all miss the family oriented musicals, and movies of this time period; they are so easy to view and so enjoyable...One final comment; what a wonderful way to end the movie with Fred MacMurray and Greer Garson doing a duet on "Let them Go" a poignant ballad on their feelings of dealing with the empty nest syndrome...this was added for the roadshow version I believe, I don't recall it in the original version....Does anyone know whether Greer Garson's voice was used in this; I wasn't sure if she was a singer or not....at any rate I would recommend this film to any one...

Spencer's Mountain (1963)

Wonderful Family Movie

[30 June 2004]

I had seen this movie in high school with a friend I grew up with and his family at a Drive-In, and it made such an impression on me at that time, probably because of the wholesomeness of the whole thing; I saw it several times thereafter, but, until recently had not viewed it for years; I bought the DVD version and watched it last night and it was just as I had remembered it, a family movie, the likes of which you will never see again.... I especially enjoyed the extras, including the premiere newsreel and interviews; the scenery is breathtaking especially on a large screen TV, and the story always keeps your interest...it is hard to explain, but to someone of my generation, they just don't make them like this anymore!! What a joy to see such actors as Henry Fonda, Maureen O'Hara, Wally Cox, Virginia Gregg, Lillian Bronson, and Donald Crisp displaying their fine talents in this film... IT was interesting to see what a fine job James MacArthur did prior to Hawaii Five O, as he had done in several Disney pictures of the era....there is a very young Kim Karayth, who later went on to fame as the youngest sibling in The Sound Of Music and other family pictures, and Veronica Cartwright, who played on many television series and also in the Hitchcock thriller "The Birds." This was the heyday of family moviemaking...where did it all go??

The Lucy Show (1962–1968)

Fabulous Show!!

[5 April 2004]

I just caught this version of the various Lucy shows this morning, and had not realized that our UPN cable station was even carrying it, as the cable summary was of the old "I Love Lucy" show.... This was the show that premiered in the Fall of 1962, and I remember watching it so well, when I was in high school!! It is in black and white and UPN showed back to back episodes from 9:00 to 10:00 A.M; and I have to say they were probably two of the best of that incarnation of the show; the first concerned Lucy and Viv (Vivian Vance) putting in a shower, and the second concerned their trying to start a carmel corn business using a recipe of Viv's....both were just hilarious, and as they say there is nothing like the old situation comedies of the 50's and 60's...I hope UPN continues to carry it for awhile...

I do agree with the others that you CANNOT beat the combination of Lucy and Vivian Vance..they are magic together; when Viv is talking on the phone conveying the recipe of the carmel corn to a friend and Lucy is trying to make a batch by herself is fannntastic!!!

I am sorry to hear the DVD versions are not very good as far as transfer of film....hopefully they will redo these for future generations...

State Fair (1962)

Wonderful Movie

[2 April 2004]

I know this film received less than favorable reviews at the time of its release, but I have always enjoyed it and watch it at least once or twice a year....there is something about the hominess and wonderful music that draw me to it in this day of mostly special effects in movies.

It is a tired old story and as others have stated, it has been filmed several times before, although, I think the array of young stars and their talents are well displayed and it was nice to see a couple of "old timers" like Tom Ewell and Alice Faye liven up the proceedings, which concern a family's adventure at the Texas State Fair; when I do compare it to the 1945 version, both seem very appropriate for the time they were filmed; Vivian Blaine made a wonderful Emily, as Ann-Margret does in the 1962 version, and both are "knockouts." Ann-Margret holds a special place in my heart, as she is originally from the Chicago area, and went to high-school with a good friend of the family; he told us that all eyes would turn when she entered a classroom, as she was such an imposing radiant figure and this was at seventeen or eighteen years of age....

Come Back, Little Sheba (1952)

Wonderful Shirley Booth Performance

[22 January 2004]

This is a must see movie, and I am only sorry that Shirley Booth made only a handful of films; I think given the opportunity she could of outshown some of the great classic actresses of the time; this is surely a performance that will be treasured for years to come; it is not often seen on Cable, but I did have the opportunity to view it tonight on TCM uncut, of course, and it holds up very well....

I have seen it many times before and have always enjoyed it; William Inge IS one of the great playwrights of our time and will always be remembered for such films as this film, Splendor in the Grass, and others. This is a perfect ensemble cast, with fine performances by all involved, including Terry Moore, and Burt Lancaster....

I have to say that Shirley Booth can play a pathetic person like Lola Delaney to the hilt, and I really cannot imagine another person in that role....She was deserving of all the awards she received...Bravo!!

Fatal Attraction (1987)

Edge Of Your Seat Entertainment

[17 January 2004]

I recently caught this film uncut on Encore, and was surprised that it held up very well, and was as scary the second time around as it had been the first....as usual this type of film always seems beyond far fetched, but it did keep your interest with good performances by all, especially by Glen Close in pre-Sunset Boulevard days.... if you want to spend a fast two hours watching a thriller, this is the one to rent..I have heard there was an alternative ending filmed, but the ending used was just fine; it did catch me by surprise, and was very reminiscent of the original "Diabolique" bathroom scene..

Bernardine (1957)

A wonderful nostalgic movie about how it was!!

[6 January 2004]

This is a little movie that is very seldom seen, but is a joy to watch for both the piece of nostalgia it represents and for the many fine character actors and actresses that went on to other things, or had already done fine motion picture work....the plot is quite trivial involving typical (for that time) teen-age schananigans, and great pop music of the era, featuring Pat Boone singing the title tune, "Love Letters in the Sand," "Technique," etc.... There are many fine older character actors such as Janet Gaynor, Dean Jagger, Walter Abel, and younger lesser know ones of the time including James Drury (who went on to become the "Virginian") Richard Sargeant (Bewitched), and Ronnie Burns (the son of George Burns, who was currently on the Burns and Allen show)...The plot is thin, but just sit back and enjoy it for what it is....

Seabiscuit (2003)

A must see for any who have read the book Seabiscuit

[29 December 2003]

I thought the film was a wonderful transfer from book to film of the three people who came together over a horse called "Seabiscuit." Leads were all exceptional, especially, Jeff Bridges as the owner of Seabiscuit, and Tobey McGuire as the jockey, Red Pollard. The time and place were caught up beautifully and the film was exquisitely photographed. I do hope this film is an Oscar contender, if for nothing else, but for the cinematography, and photography. Again, a wonderful movie....