Amazon.com

Disney loved to mix live action with animation (Mary Poppins, Bedknobs and Broomsticks), but this 1977 effort falls on its face. The turn-of-the-century story concerns an orphaned boy whose only friend is a cartoon monster. While the latter is entertainingly rendered, the rest of the film strains to be enchanting and the cast overreaches in a big way. Not for anybody over the age of ten. --Tom Keogh ... Read more

Reviews (67)

Reddy, Rooney and a dragon named Elliott
The seventies were rough on the family entertainment market. Disney, once untouchable in this respect, found itself in a bit of a quandry, the likes of which the theatrical release of "Pete's Dragon" didn't help. Most critics found it hammy and, with the exception of Elliott, the dragon, discarded the movie as just a trite piece of fluff. Well, it was and it is - but why does anything so light-hearted, gay and original have to be anything but? In the intervening decades "Pete's Dragon has gone on to become a much loved Disney classic and for good reasons. Helen Reddy, Mickey Rooney, Red Buttons and Jim Dale are inspired casting choices, giving a depth to their characters that greatly enhances the film. True, the film's score doesn't match the staying power of Mary Poppins but 'Candle on the Water' is a great romantic ballad, 'Brazzle Dazzle Day' is a fun-loving feel good song and 'Passamaquadi' is ultra camp played in the best sense. Not much to complain about with Disney's transfer of the film. It's anamorphic, near pristine and remixed to 5.1 stereo. One note - 'Candle On The Water', for some inexplicable reason, may suddenly freeze frame in the middle of the song on some players the first run through. If you are worried about this, play the song first to see if it does this and if so, simply still frame advance to the next track, then go back and replay the song. This solves the problem for all subsequent times you choose to play the song. As I say, I'm at a loss to explain why this problem sometimes occurs. Over all, this is a wonder film experience no matter your age. One only regrets that there is no making-of documentary included.

Pure Disney Musical Magic
There's something about live-action, animation Disney films that just seem to fascinate me. For one, Disney can go beyond two hours of a movie, and still keep it G-rated. Now that's pretty impressive to me. Most companies would probably have rated it PG, but not Disney. They try and it keep for the whole auidience. Which is what everyone needs to see in a film. And the special effects isn't bad either.

This film also includes the legendary Mickey Rooney. The story of Pete's Drangon is pretty simple. Pete is a young orphan, who is running away from his abopted parents, and end up in Maine, a fishing town with his best friend, Elliott. Sometimes you can see him, and other times, you can't. A kind lighthouse keeper, Nora played by (Helen Rebby), and her father (Mickey Rooney), Elliott's pranks gets them into a whole lot of trouble.

The music in this film is Ocar-nominated beautiful. Like "The Happist Home in These Hills," "It's Not Easy," "Candle on the Water," & "Brazzle Dazzle Day." A simply marvoulous soundtrack for the whole family.

Now you must know, that Pete's Dragon was made in the late 70s, which was long before computer technology was invented. You know, like CGI grahpics and so forth. Which is another thing that impressive me, how Disney can create these images and actually make them work. Pete's Dragon is a wonderful story, that will be treasured for the next generation to come.

Good movie for a Disney musical
I remember this movie from my childhood, so I bought it for my toddler. He loves it. My son points at the DVD case and grunts. He watches it everyday (for 2 weeks now). It must be the music and singing because the storyline is lackluster. Everytime he sees the dragon or hears a song he starts chattering away with his gibberish pre-talk. My preferred character is Doc Terminus - the con man / man of science. I give it 4 stars because I have watched it so many times the melodies are stuck in my head. I hope he gets a new "favorite" movie soon :)

One of Disney's Best Live Action Films!
This is one of those films that you never forget. I saw this movie when i was little and I am still a fan of it. Pete's Dragon is one of the first Disney films to use live action and animation together in a film. The story follows a boy who is on the run from his terrible adoptive family the Gogans (Shelley Winters, Rob Conaway)and his friend Elliot the dragon (voiced by Charlie Callas) who is sometimes invisible. Together, they are the best of friends until they come upon a quaint fishing town where they soon start to get into mischief.
Eventually Pete is taken in by Nora(Helen Reddy) a lighthouse keeper and her father(Mickey Rooney) where he soon becomes part of the family. But soon, the Gogans discover where he is living and are determined to get him back. There are many delightful performances in this film including Jim Dale who plays the terrible Dr. Terminus and his obnoxious side-kick Hoagie(played by red Buttons). The funny thing about this movie is that Mickey Rooney and Red Buttons are drunk through most of it. Lastly, I recommend this movie because of the music. This film has some of the best Disney songs. Most notably Helen Reddy's "Candle on the Water" and "There's Room For Everyone". Along with the singing and dancing, this is one great Disney film and it is not to be missed. If you've seen it, watch it again and if you haven't ,DO!

Woo-hoo! My kid likes it as much as I did!
Yes, the animation is dated. Yes, the plot is kind of corny BUT my daughter is just as enchanted as I was (and still am). You can't miss with this one! Pete's Dragon shows you what it means to be a kid with an unbelievable (only to the grown-ups) best friend who helps you out when you think that there's no one else left to care. The songs are still catchy and the baddies are still scary. The DVD is sooooo much better than VHS; and unlike my VHS copy there is no fear of it wearing out from over-playing. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Stanley Kramer's sprawling 1963 comedy about a search for buried treasure by at least a dozen people--all played by well-known entertainers of their day--is the kind of mass comedy that Hollywood hasn't made in many years. (Another example from around the same time is Blake Edwards's The Great Race.) After a number of strangers (including Milton Berle, Jonathan Winters, Sid Caesar, Phil Silvers, and others) witness a dying stranger (Jimmy Durante) identify the location of hidden money, a conflict-ridden hunt begins, watched over carefully by a suspicious cop (Spencer Tracy). The ensuing two and a half hours of mayhem has its ups and downs--some bits and performers are certainly funnier than others. But Kramer, who is better known for socially conscious, serious cinema (Guess Who's Coming to Dinner?), is in a mood for broad comic characterization, and some of his jokes are so intentionally obvious (Durante literally kicks a bucket when he dies), they'd have a place in Airplane! Watch for lots of cameo appearances, including Jerry Lewis (who had called Kramer and asked him why he hadn't been invited to participate). --Tom Keogh ... Read more

Reviews (212)

Comedy For All Eternity
It's a Mad Mad Mad Mad World is a comedy for all eternity. This is one of those big box, big budget, long-running-time, cameo-loaded, expensive, broad-canvas farces of the 60's that I love so much. Released in 1962, this was one of Stanley Kramer's greatest and last movies. This award-winning movie is a timeless masterpiece for the whole family.

After a bouncy, splashy Saul Bass animated title sequence, the story begins with a brief car chase in the California desert. Bank robber Smiler Grogan (Jimmy Durante) wrecks his car, and with his dying words reveals a secret about buried treasure to the seven strangers who stopped on the roadside. 'Look for the big W' in Santa Rosita, he says, and then he kicks the bucket.

After a brief attempt at cooperation, the treasure hunt is on and it's every man for himself, in four teams. Mickey Rooney and Buddy Hackett decide to take to the air but their pilot, Jim Backus, gets hammered on Old Fashioneds. Husband-and-wife Sid Caesar and Edie Adams can only find a biplane cropduster. The lone truck driver, Jonathan Winters, can't get gas. And his mother-in-law Ethel Merman fatally hampers Milton Berle, with his wife Dorothy Provine.

So all four teams scamper across the landscape, across the broad canvas of this movie, wound tight by desperate greed and calmly monitored by a Sergeant Culpepper, Spencer Tracy. This is the framing story for an amazing string of billed appearances and unbilled cameos so many that at last your senses are sort of dulled. Oh, it's Carl Reiner in the control tower. Oh, look, it's Stan Freberg, yeah. The best cameo, hands down, is Jerry Lewis, who comes barreling down Long Beach Boulevard in a moment of exuberant stupidity and runs over Spencer Tracy's hat.

Probably my favorite, I have so many, co-star was Terry Thomas who plays a vacationing Englishman in a rattling station wagon, who picks up Milton Berle. He's talkative. He prattles away (accurately) about why it is that the American male is positively preoccupied with booo-sums, and says things like, "I'll wager you anything you like, if American women stopped wearing brassieres, your whole national economy would collapse overnight!" This sequence, within the context of the movie so far, has a single funny moment when this whole vast farce might come alive, find its voice, and this circus might make sense - Terry-Thomas finds the tone for the rest of the movie. I find it compelling that the aesthetic success of all this footage, all these appearances, all this thoroughly American spectacle, suddenly pivots around a few fussy syllables about breasts. But once the moment passes, Terry-Thomas is efficiently neutralized and dismissed by Ethel Merman, and on we go.

The array of challengers eventually reach Santa Rosita, and several unexplainably humorous events occur. These I will not reveal to you and allow you to view the movie on your own time. I must add though, that if you do see this movie, reserve several hours. Like most from its decade its LONG... VERY LONG... But allow me to assure you, you wont be disappointed.

Madness is Genius
Eight traveling vacationers witness the sudden car-crash and slow final death of con-man Smiler Grogan in the hills above Palm Desert, Cal.. Grogan's dying words reveal the secret location of $350,000 hidden in Santa Rosita Park, near San Diego. This sparks a wild, hectic race for the dough. Pure greed,buried treasure, and car crashes. It's all here. "It's a Mad,Mad,Mad, Mad World" was the most successful movie directed by ace Stanley Kramer. All of the famous television and film comics from 1963 appear in this wild comedy. Only Bob Hope is missing. The cast includes Milton Berle, Sid Caesar, Phil Silvers, Jerry Lewis, Joe E. Brown, The Three Stooges, Buster Keaton, Jimmy Durante, Jack Benny, Jonathan Winters, and Spencer Tracy. Ernest Gold composed an original booming, wonderful soundtrack you'll be humming for days. At two hours and 41 minutes, "Mad World" is too long, but an incredible cast and mad-cap action propel the story along. This new MGM DVD is presented in widescreen anamorphic 2.35:1 aspect. The colors are crisp and vibrant. The "Mad World" DVD includes an excellent 1991 documentary with all the major surviving cast members. There's also 1 hour of "out-takes", faded and damaged, from the original Cinerama 70mm release. And there's two trailers. The year 2001 produced an obvious remake of "Mad World" called "Rat Race", a modest hit. Stanley Kramer and Spencer Tracy made 4 classic films together. The last was the inspiring "Guess Who's Coming to Dinner" in 1967. In ill health, sadly, Tracy died just days after shooting ended. Stanley Kramer himself died in Feb. 2001. His genius is now gone. His legacy lies before you.

It's a Bad, Bad, Bad, Bad DVD
I would give this DVD 5 stars if all the movie was here, but it isn't, hence 3 stars. There's no excuse for this considering that no major restoration has been attempted here, the storage capabilities of DVDs are huge, and MGM has already released the full-length movie on VHS. The deleted scene feature is a mess. Watching the scenes seperately is tedious and not much fun. The least they could do would be to put the deleted scenes in the order that they appeared in the original film. The third and fourth scenes appear to be exactly the same as do others later on. Sometimes the scene appears the same only zoomed in. Others scenes have no sound. Some of the last scenes go on and on up to 10 minutes and contains everything that is included in the feature except for very minor snippets of dialogue. Sometimes you can't detect anything new, like in the money dividing proposal scene.

I can see why MGM would want to keep their pristine 35mm print whole and transfer that to DVD but perhaps they should have included a 2nd disc and a 2nd version that patched together all the missing scenes, no matter what condition, and reconstructed the film as best as they could to the longest originally released version.

MGM, when you finally "Special Edition" this movie offer a rebate with the proof of purchase from this inferior edition!

Best, Most Memorable Comedy Ever Made !!
I originally saw the movie in '63. I was 8. Dad started my Birthday party with it. After the movie, Dad drove the route of the Santa Monica portion of the car chase(yes, there really was a "Big W").
Just finished watching the movie on Turner TV. The narrator came on after the movie and said that THE ORIGINAL WAS 5 HOURS long(Just too much "good stuff"). The movie studio had it edited to the shortened current version of three hours.
Back in '63 it was a terrific movie-In '04 it is still a terrific movie.

An all star cast of comics, great comedy

Director: Stanley Kramer
Format: Color
Studio: Mgm/Ua Studios
Video Release Date: September 26, 1995

Cast:

Spencer Tracy ... Capt. T.G. Culpeper
Milton Berle ... J. Russell Finch
Sid Caesar ... Melville Crump, DDS
Buddy Hackett ... Benjy Benjamin
Ethel Merman ... Mrs. Marcus
Mickey Rooney ... Ding 'Dingy' Bell
Dick Shawn ... Sylvester Marcus
Phil Silvers ... Otto Meyer
Terry-Thomas ... Lt.Col. J. Algernon Hawthorne
Jonathan Winters ... Lennie Pike
Edie Adams ... Monica Crump
Dorothy Provine ... Emeline Marcus-Finch
Eddie 'Rochester' Anderson ... Second cab driver
Jim Backus ... Tyler Fitzgerald
Ben Blue ... Biplane pilot
Joe E. Brown ... Union official
Alan Carney ... Police sergeant
Chick Chandler ... Detective outside Chinese laundromat
Barrie Chase ... Sylvester's girlfriend
Lloyd Corrigan ... The Mayor
William Demarest ... Police Chief Aloysius
Andy Devine ... Sheriff of Crockett County
Selma Diamond ... Ginger Culpeper
Peter Falk ... Third cab driver
Norman Fell ... Detective at Grogan's crash site
Paul Ford ... Col. Wilberforce
Stan Freberg ... Deputy sheriff
Louise Glenn ... Billie Sue Culpeper
Leo Gorcey ... First cab driver
Sterling Holloway ... Fire Chief
Edward Everett Horton ... Mr. Dinckler
Marvin Kaplan ... Irwin
Buster Keaton ... Jimmy the boatman
Don Knotts ... Nervous man
Charles Lane ... Airport manager
Mike Mazurki ... Miner
Charles McGraw ... Lt. Matthews
Cliff Norton ... Reporter
Zasu Pitts ... Switchboard operator Gertie
Carl Reiner ... Tower controller at Rancho Conejo
Madlyn Rhue ... Secretary Schwartz
Roy Roberts ... Policeman outside Irwin & Ray's Garage
Arnold Stang ... Ray
Nick Stewart ... Migrant truck driver
Joe DeRita ... Fireman
Larry Fine ... Fireman
Moe Howard ... Fireman
Sammee Tong ... Chinese laundryman
Jesse White ... Radio tower operator at Rancho Conejo
Jimmy Durante ... Smiler Grogan
Roy Engel ... Patrolman/Police radio voice unit F-14
Nicholas Georgiade ... Detective at Grogan's crash site
Stacy Harris ... Police radio voice unit F-7
Don C. Harvey ... Policeman in helicopter
Allen Jenkins ... Police officer
Tom Kennedy ... Traffic cop
Harry Lauter ... Police dispatcher
Ben Lessy ... George the steward
Jerry Lewis ... Man who runs over hat
Bob Mazurki ... Eddie (miner's son)
Jack Benny ... Man in car in desert
Eddie Ryder ... Air traffic control tower staffer
Paul Birch ... Policeman
Doodles Weaver ... Dinckler's Hardware Store clerk
Stanley Clements ... Detective in squad room
Bobo Lewis ... Pilot's wife
Minta Durfee ... Bit Part

Intended to be the comedy to end all comedies, with a cast including virtually all the name comedians at the time.

Jimmy Durante plays a guy who is in a fatal auto accident, but before he dies, tells 5 bystanders where there is $350,000 hidden under a "W", whuch leads to a chase to find the money.

Meanwhile, Capt. T.G. Culpeper (Spencer Tracy) is aware of the stolen money and he and his policemen observe the chase with interest through the desert, mountains, and along the California coast, with the contestants using aircraft, cars, trucks, a bicycle and every method of transportation in their attempt to be first to reach the money.

Tracy was ill when the film was shot, and so only worked four hours per day. The long shots and physical stuff was performed by stand-ins.

This is a fun movie. If there is a criticism, it is that the comedy is perhaps overdone. With so many top comedians, there is certainly no dearth of funny lines, pratfalls, and laughs--that's for sure.

Joseph (Joe) Pierre

author of Handguns and Freedom...their care and maintenance
and other books

... Read more

Reviews (80)

Quintessential punk rebel
This is a great movie. James Dean plays the quintessential teenage punk rebel. He is the sensitive soul misunderstood by parents and the society that surrounds him. His efforts to fit in with other students fail and this leads to problems. Natalie Wood and Sal Mineo turn in realistic portrayals of teenagers without a cause. This film shows a darker side of the '50s than the vision espoused by the Happy Days sitcom. These kids are feeling a lot of alienation and angst. This is Seattle grunge 40 years before Eddie Vedder and Kurt Cobain. The pain they feel is very real. The screenplay by Stewart Stern reveals great sympathy towards these kids. They are good kids who have gone bad because they don't fit in. People always tell you that the high school years are the best years of your life. That isn't true for all kids, however, as this film poignantly illustrates. It is heartbreaking but powerful. It is vintage James Dean and becomes more wrenching due to Dean's early death. One can only guess how good his career would have been if he hadn't died so soon.

1950s Utopia?
This will always remain one of my favorite films of all time. After seeing it I can finally understand the reasons why James Dean has such a following. He is what everyone either envisions himself as or wishes to be. In my mind, you can't quite label him an anti-hero in this movie. You have to show his character respect. In my mind, what makes this film great is what you might find fault with in other films. At times it seems overly melodramatic and so emotional it seems painful to watch. But this ain't no "Titanic." Somehow, all this intense emotion is what gives the film its power. When you are in high school everything seems as though it is a life or death situation. Who can honestly say that they weren't utterly self-absorbed at that age and even in the present? All the typical themes are included such as unrequited love, fitting in, complex family relations, and violence(today kids might have guns but name another scene as riveting and dangerous as the switchblade fight). The additions to the widescreen version are very worthwhile and offer some extra insight. Is it just me or does Natalie Wood seem on edge during her interview? The Dean "safe driving" interview is also rather interesting if not kind of sick.

True Classic.
This movie is one of the best however one reviewer had a lot of negativity about this movie do not listen to him this movie is not crap. For one James dean is not wearing a Leather Jacket on the Cover is happens to be his Red... Jacket in black and white.Anyhow the story line was very authentic Natalie Wood is just great in this Movie Sal Mineo Is Great and James Dean As always Is Exceptional.I recommend this movie trust me you will not be Disapointed.

These Rebels DID have a cause
For all that the title is such a classic one, it is rather inaccurate. And possibly, it was meant to be. Maybe a catchy title to draw in the crowds or a deliberate lie to show later that their cause, seeming meaningless, was a valid one. And in the end, this film is so poignant! Not a "dated" film at all, but a lesson to the generations of teenagers before and afterwards. Teenage angst has not changed in the last 50 years, and the reasons have not become any less meaningful. "Rebel Without a Cause" offers a very truthful look into the lives of teenagers, the reasons they rebel and gives a reason to why rebeliousness should not be taken so lightly.

The movie begins with all three of the main characters Jim (James Dean) Judy (Natalie Wood) and Plato (Sal Mineo) in a police station in the wee hours of the morning. All are dressed in obviously middle and upper-class clothes but have been picked up on the street for wandering, drunkeness and violence. The title of the movie immediately gives itself away, Judy is upset because her father was rough with her, Plato's father left him and his mother is never at home...
Then we meet Jim's parents. A submissive father, sharp-tongued mother and uptight grandmother. True, they may give him "many things" but the tension, strain and ignorance of Jim's needs are, as he says, "tearing me apart!"

We find out in the course of the movie, as Jim, Judy and Plato come together, that they are really good kids who are only looking for love and acceptance. We see how little their parents understand of them and how they are rebelling against the ignorance that has been starving them for years!

And truly, this is my FAVORITE James Dean movie, I think his portrayal of Jim is really a mirror of his own life with his biological Dad and some of the kids he grew up with. His acting is just so true, real, passionate and believable. This movie is my reasoning for why he is still such a legend. Truly, one of the greatest actors of all time. And a fantastic movie to boot!

Great 50's fun.
This film was first released in 1955 and stars James Dean, Natalie Wood and Sal Mineo. It was directed by Nicholas Ray and is probably one of the best, and most remembered movies from the 1950's.

"Rebel Without a Cause" begins in the local police station, where Jim (James Dean) has been arrested for drunkeness, Judy (Natalie Wood) has been picked up for walking around before dawn after a fight with her father, and the disturbed Plato (Sal Mineo) has been brought in for killing a puppy. Jim is new to the place (his parents are always moving) and finds it hard to fit in at school. He gets in a fight, which later leads him to have a chicken race with one of the gang bullies. Jim, Judy and Plato are brought back together again at the chicken race, but it ends in trouble. While Jim gets away unharmed, his opponent is killed when he gets caught in the car and goes flying straight off of the cliff. While being chased by the dead boy's friends, Jim, Judy, and Plato end up at a deserted mansion, to hide out, away from their parents and the trouble looking for them out on the streets. But still, it does not end nicely.

The film may seem dated to some people, but it still remains a brilliant movie to a lot of others.

Now for the DVD:
The film is presented in widescreen format and the print is brilliant. The sound is in 5.1 Dolby Digital. The extras include Trailers, behind-the-scenes documentary, and a few segments from TV Documentaries with Gig Young, including the 'Drive Safely' interview. Along with a few other little things aswell.

Overall, I think this is an excellent presentation for a great movie and I highly recommend this DVD.

PLEASE NOTE: Refers to Region 2 release, which appears to be the same as this Region 1 release, by the same company. ... Read more

Amazon.com

This story of a winsome orphan and his guardian dragon features an Academy Award-nominated score and song, Helen Reddy's "Candle on the Water." The combination of a live-action story with an animated figure was innovative in 1977, and the green dragon with pink wings will still charm youngsters today. However, its plot has the boy running from a nasty family to whom he's been sold into slavery, as well as an evil magician who tries to steal the dragon for his parts. These dark story lines may scare or bore younger children, who only want to see Elliot the dragon belch fire and give Pete rides on his back. And older children who might appreciate the plot may scoff at the relatively crude animation. This leaves a rather narrow audience window of about ages 3 to 7. A cast of veterans includes Shelley Winters, Mickey Rooney, and Red Buttons, who all turn in the hammiest of performances. Acting newcomer Reddy demonstrates both why her acting career never took off and why her singing career did. (Lines like "You're a bunch of superstitious ding-dongs" don't give her much help.) However, her sometimes awkward performance as the lonely lighthouse keeper who gives the boy a home provides the film with its heart. Bottom line: it's a keeper for diehard Disney fans, dragon lovers, and those who remember this movie fondly from their childhood. --Kimberly Heinrichs ... Read more

Reviews (67)

Reddy, Rooney and a dragon named Elliott
The seventies were rough on the family entertainment market. Disney, once untouchable in this respect, found itself in a bit of a quandry, the likes of which the theatrical release of "Pete's Dragon" didn't help. Most critics found it hammy and, with the exception of Elliott, the dragon, discarded the movie as just a trite piece of fluff. Well, it was and it is - but why does anything so light-hearted, gay and original have to be anything but? In the intervening decades "Pete's Dragon has gone on to become a much loved Disney classic and for good reasons. Helen Reddy, Mickey Rooney, Red Buttons and Jim Dale are inspired casting choices, giving a depth to their characters that greatly enhances the film. True, the film's score doesn't match the staying power of Mary Poppins but 'Candle on the Water' is a great romantic ballad, 'Brazzle Dazzle Day' is a fun-loving feel good song and 'Passamaquadi' is ultra camp played in the best sense. Not much to complain about with Disney's transfer of the film. It's anamorphic, near pristine and remixed to 5.1 stereo. One note - 'Candle On The Water', for some inexplicable reason, may suddenly freeze frame in the middle of the song on some players the first run through. If you are worried about this, play the song first to see if it does this and if so, simply still frame advance to the next track, then go back and replay the song. This solves the problem for all subsequent times you choose to play the song. As I say, I'm at a loss to explain why this problem sometimes occurs. Over all, this is a wonder film experience no matter your age. One only regrets that there is no making-of documentary included.

Pure Disney Musical Magic
There's something about live-action, animation Disney films that just seem to fascinate me. For one, Disney can go beyond two hours of a movie, and still keep it G-rated. Now that's pretty impressive to me. Most companies would probably have rated it PG, but not Disney. They try and it keep for the whole auidience. Which is what everyone needs to see in a film. And the special effects isn't bad either.

This film also includes the legendary Mickey Rooney. The story of Pete's Drangon is pretty simple. Pete is a young orphan, who is running away from his abopted parents, and end up in Maine, a fishing town with his best friend, Elliott. Sometimes you can see him, and other times, you can't. A kind lighthouse keeper, Nora played by (Helen Rebby), and her father (Mickey Rooney), Elliott's pranks gets them into a whole lot of trouble.

The music in this film is Ocar-nominated beautiful. Like "The Happist Home in These Hills," "It's Not Easy," "Candle on the Water," & "Brazzle Dazzle Day." A simply marvoulous soundtrack for the whole family.

Now you must know, that Pete's Dragon was made in the late 70s, which was long before computer technology was invented. You know, like CGI grahpics and so forth. Which is another thing that impressive me, how Disney can create these images and actually make them work. Pete's Dragon is a wonderful story, that will be treasured for the next generation to come.

Good movie for a Disney musical
I remember this movie from my childhood, so I bought it for my toddler. He loves it. My son points at the DVD case and grunts. He watches it everyday (for 2 weeks now). It must be the music and singing because the storyline is lackluster. Everytime he sees the dragon or hears a song he starts chattering away with his gibberish pre-talk. My preferred character is Doc Terminus - the con man / man of science. I give it 4 stars because I have watched it so many times the melodies are stuck in my head. I hope he gets a new "favorite" movie soon :)

One of Disney's Best Live Action Films!
This is one of those films that you never forget. I saw this movie when i was little and I am still a fan of it. Pete's Dragon is one of the first Disney films to use live action and animation together in a film. The story follows a boy who is on the run from his terrible adoptive family the Gogans (Shelley Winters, Rob Conaway)and his friend Elliot the dragon (voiced by Charlie Callas) who is sometimes invisible. Together, they are the best of friends until they come upon a quaint fishing town where they soon start to get into mischief.
Eventually Pete is taken in by Nora(Helen Reddy) a lighthouse keeper and her father(Mickey Rooney) where he soon becomes part of the family. But soon, the Gogans discover where he is living and are determined to get him back. There are many delightful performances in this film including Jim Dale who plays the terrible Dr. Terminus and his obnoxious side-kick Hoagie(played by red Buttons). The funny thing about this movie is that Mickey Rooney and Red Buttons are drunk through most of it. Lastly, I recommend this movie because of the music. This film has some of the best Disney songs. Most notably Helen Reddy's "Candle on the Water" and "There's Room For Everyone". Along with the singing and dancing, this is one great Disney film and it is not to be missed. If you've seen it, watch it again and if you haven't ,DO!

Woo-hoo! My kid likes it as much as I did!
Yes, the animation is dated. Yes, the plot is kind of corny BUT my daughter is just as enchanted as I was (and still am). You can't miss with this one! Pete's Dragon shows you what it means to be a kid with an unbelievable (only to the grown-ups) best friend who helps you out when you think that there's no one else left to care. The songs are still catchy and the baddies are still scary. The DVD is sooooo much better than VHS; and unlike my VHS copy there is no fear of it wearing out from over-playing. ... Read more

Reviews (212)

Comedy For All Eternity
It's a Mad Mad Mad Mad World is a comedy for all eternity. This is one of those big box, big budget, long-running-time, cameo-loaded, expensive, broad-canvas farces of the 60's that I love so much. Released in 1962, this was one of Stanley Kramer's greatest and last movies. This award-winning movie is a timeless masterpiece for the whole family.

After a bouncy, splashy Saul Bass animated title sequence, the story begins with a brief car chase in the California desert. Bank robber Smiler Grogan (Jimmy Durante) wrecks his car, and with his dying words reveals a secret about buried treasure to the seven strangers who stopped on the roadside. 'Look for the big W' in Santa Rosita, he says, and then he kicks the bucket.

After a brief attempt at cooperation, the treasure hunt is on and it's every man for himself, in four teams. Mickey Rooney and Buddy Hackett decide to take to the air but their pilot, Jim Backus, gets hammered on Old Fashioneds. Husband-and-wife Sid Caesar and Edie Adams can only find a biplane cropduster. The lone truck driver, Jonathan Winters, can't get gas. And his mother-in-law Ethel Merman fatally hampers Milton Berle, with his wife Dorothy Provine.

So all four teams scamper across the landscape, across the broad canvas of this movie, wound tight by desperate greed and calmly monitored by a Sergeant Culpepper, Spencer Tracy. This is the framing story for an amazing string of billed appearances and unbilled cameos so many that at last your senses are sort of dulled. Oh, it's Carl Reiner in the control tower. Oh, look, it's Stan Freberg, yeah. The best cameo, hands down, is Jerry Lewis, who comes barreling down Long Beach Boulevard in a moment of exuberant stupidity and runs over Spencer Tracy's hat.

Probably my favorite, I have so many, co-star was Terry Thomas who plays a vacationing Englishman in a rattling station wagon, who picks up Milton Berle. He's talkative. He prattles away (accurately) about why it is that the American male is positively preoccupied with booo-sums, and says things like, "I'll wager you anything you like, if American women stopped wearing brassieres, your whole national economy would collapse overnight!" This sequence, within the context of the movie so far, has a single funny moment when this whole vast farce might come alive, find its voice, and this circus might make sense - Terry-Thomas finds the tone for the rest of the movie. I find it compelling that the aesthetic success of all this footage, all these appearances, all this thoroughly American spectacle, suddenly pivots around a few fussy syllables about breasts. But once the moment passes, Terry-Thomas is efficiently neutralized and dismissed by Ethel Merman, and on we go.

The array of challengers eventually reach Santa Rosita, and several unexplainably humorous events occur. These I will not reveal to you and allow you to view the movie on your own time. I must add though, that if you do see this movie, reserve several hours. Like most from its decade its LONG... VERY LONG... But allow me to assure you, you wont be disappointed.

Madness is Genius
Eight traveling vacationers witness the sudden car-crash and slow final death of con-man Smiler Grogan in the hills above Palm Desert, Cal.. Grogan's dying words reveal the secret location of $350,000 hidden in Santa Rosita Park, near San Diego. This sparks a wild, hectic race for the dough. Pure greed,buried treasure, and car crashes. It's all here. "It's a Mad,Mad,Mad, Mad World" was the most successful movie directed by ace Stanley Kramer. All of the famous television and film comics from 1963 appear in this wild comedy. Only Bob Hope is missing. The cast includes Milton Berle, Sid Caesar, Phil Silvers, Jerry Lewis, Joe E. Brown, The Three Stooges, Buster Keaton, Jimmy Durante, Jack Benny, Jonathan Winters, and Spencer Tracy. Ernest Gold composed an original booming, wonderful soundtrack you'll be humming for days. At two hours and 41 minutes, "Mad World" is too long, but an incredible cast and mad-cap action propel the story along. This new MGM DVD is presented in widescreen anamorphic 2.35:1 aspect. The colors are crisp and vibrant. The "Mad World" DVD includes an excellent 1991 documentary with all the major surviving cast members. There's also 1 hour of "out-takes", faded and damaged, from the original Cinerama 70mm release. And there's two trailers. The year 2001 produced an obvious remake of "Mad World" called "Rat Race", a modest hit. Stanley Kramer and Spencer Tracy made 4 classic films together. The last was the inspiring "Guess Who's Coming to Dinner" in 1967. In ill health, sadly, Tracy died just days after shooting ended. Stanley Kramer himself died in Feb. 2001. His genius is now gone. His legacy lies before you.

It's a Bad, Bad, Bad, Bad DVD
I would give this DVD 5 stars if all the movie was here, but it isn't, hence 3 stars. There's no excuse for this considering that no major restoration has been attempted here, the storage capabilities of DVDs are huge, and MGM has already released the full-length movie on VHS. The deleted scene feature is a mess. Watching the scenes seperately is tedious and not much fun. The least they could do would be to put the deleted scenes in the order that they appeared in the original film. The third and fourth scenes appear to be exactly the same as do others later on. Sometimes the scene appears the same only zoomed in. Others scenes have no sound. Some of the last scenes go on and on up to 10 minutes and contains everything that is included in the feature except for very minor snippets of dialogue. Sometimes you can't detect anything new, like in the money dividing proposal scene.

I can see why MGM would want to keep their pristine 35mm print whole and transfer that to DVD but perhaps they should have included a 2nd disc and a 2nd version that patched together all the missing scenes, no matter what condition, and reconstructed the film as best as they could to the longest originally released version.

MGM, when you finally "Special Edition" this movie offer a rebate with the proof of purchase from this inferior edition!

Best, Most Memorable Comedy Ever Made !!
I originally saw the movie in '63. I was 8. Dad started my Birthday party with it. After the movie, Dad drove the route of the Santa Monica portion of the car chase(yes, there really was a "Big W").
Just finished watching the movie on Turner TV. The narrator came on after the movie and said that THE ORIGINAL WAS 5 HOURS long(Just too much "good stuff"). The movie studio had it edited to the shortened current version of three hours.
Back in '63 it was a terrific movie-In '04 it is still a terrific movie.

An all star cast of comics, great comedy

Director: Stanley Kramer
Format: Color
Studio: Mgm/Ua Studios
Video Release Date: September 26, 1995

Cast:

Spencer Tracy ... Capt. T.G. Culpeper
Milton Berle ... J. Russell Finch
Sid Caesar ... Melville Crump, DDS
Buddy Hackett ... Benjy Benjamin
Ethel Merman ... Mrs. Marcus
Mickey Rooney ... Ding 'Dingy' Bell
Dick Shawn ... Sylvester Marcus
Phil Silvers ... Otto Meyer
Terry-Thomas ... Lt.Col. J. Algernon Hawthorne
Jonathan Winters ... Lennie Pike
Edie Adams ... Monica Crump
Dorothy Provine ... Emeline Marcus-Finch
Eddie 'Rochester' Anderson ... Second cab driver
Jim Backus ... Tyler Fitzgerald
Ben Blue ... Biplane pilot
Joe E. Brown ... Union official
Alan Carney ... Police sergeant
Chick Chandler ... Detective outside Chinese laundromat
Barrie Chase ... Sylvester's girlfriend
Lloyd Corrigan ... The Mayor
William Demarest ... Police Chief Aloysius
Andy Devine ... Sheriff of Crockett County
Selma Diamond ... Ginger Culpeper
Peter Falk ... Third cab driver
Norman Fell ... Detective at Grogan's crash site
Paul Ford ... Col. Wilberforce
Stan Freberg ... Deputy sheriff
Louise Glenn ... Billie Sue Culpeper
Leo Gorcey ... First cab driver
Sterling Holloway ... Fire Chief
Edward Everett Horton ... Mr. Dinckler
Marvin Kaplan ... Irwin
Buster Keaton ... Jimmy the boatman
Don Knotts ... Nervous man
Charles Lane ... Airport manager
Mike Mazurki ... Miner
Charles McGraw ... Lt. Matthews
Cliff Norton ... Reporter
Zasu Pitts ... Switchboard operator Gertie
Carl Reiner ... Tower controller at Rancho Conejo
Madlyn Rhue ... Secretary Schwartz
Roy Roberts ... Policeman outside Irwin & Ray's Garage
Arnold Stang ... Ray
Nick Stewart ... Migrant truck driver
Joe DeRita ... Fireman
Larry Fine ... Fireman
Moe Howard ... Fireman
Sammee Tong ... Chinese laundryman
Jesse White ... Radio tower operator at Rancho Conejo
Jimmy Durante ... Smiler Grogan
Roy Engel ... Patrolman/Police radio voice unit F-14
Nicholas Georgiade ... Detective at Grogan's crash site
Stacy Harris ... Police radio voice unit F-7
Don C. Harvey ... Policeman in helicopter
Allen Jenkins ... Police officer
Tom Kennedy ... Traffic cop
Harry Lauter ... Police dispatcher
Ben Lessy ... George the steward
Jerry Lewis ... Man who runs over hat
Bob Mazurki ... Eddie (miner's son)
Jack Benny ... Man in car in desert
Eddie Ryder ... Air traffic control tower staffer
Paul Birch ... Policeman
Doodles Weaver ... Dinckler's Hardware Store clerk
Stanley Clements ... Detective in squad room
Bobo Lewis ... Pilot's wife
Minta Durfee ... Bit Part

Intended to be the comedy to end all comedies, with a cast including virtually all the name comedians at the time.

Jimmy Durante plays a guy who is in a fatal auto accident, but before he dies, tells 5 bystanders where there is $350,000 hidden under a "W", whuch leads to a chase to find the money.

Meanwhile, Capt. T.G. Culpeper (Spencer Tracy) is aware of the stolen money and he and his policemen observe the chase with interest through the desert, mountains, and along the California coast, with the contestants using aircraft, cars, trucks, a bicycle and every method of transportation in their attempt to be first to reach the money.

Tracy was ill when the film was shot, and so only worked four hours per day. The long shots and physical stuff was performed by stand-ins.

This is a fun movie. If there is a criticism, it is that the comedy is perhaps overdone. With so many top comedians, there is certainly no dearth of funny lines, pratfalls, and laughs--that's for sure.

Joseph (Joe) Pierre

author of Handguns and Freedom...their care and maintenance
and other books

... Read more

Reviews (1)

Here Come the Laughs
"Here Come the Nelsons" stars Ozzie, Harriet, Ricky and David as well as Rock Hudson, legendary screen heavy and TV producer Sheldon Leonard, Jim Backus ("Mister Magoo") and Gale Gordon ("Here's Lucy").

This movie is co-scripted by the great and tragic comedy writer William Davenport. Here Come the Nelsons gets off slowly but soon has enough plot twists to maintain interest until the hilarious finale.

On the way there's a rodeo with Ozzie riding a wild bronc, a visit to a carnival astrologer, an impromptu dance contest in Ozzie's living room and a holdup.

This is classic 50s family fare but not insipid. There's a fair amount of romantic tension and many clever plot twists, including the kidnapping of Ricky. The film is well-lit, directed and acted and highlights the unique savoir faire of Ozzie Nelson who would soon begin his television sitcom reign.

There are a couple of hokey sequences that don't work well (especially Ozzie's ad-man office angst) but these are amply countered by the many scenes that provoke laugh-out-loud hilarity.

A great film for the kids and Nelson fans and a reasonably enjoyable outing for everyone else.

Mike Hoffman ... Read more

Reviews (2)

YOU KNOW YOU NEED THIS
This is the greatest film ever made.

It may not be as enlightening as MA AND PA KETTLE DISTINGUISH BETWEEN INDUCTION AND DEDUCTION, but it remains highly entertaining, a real blast, and with a morality-punchline that will guide you through life very quickly.

I've seen this film 22 or 23 times. Do you need ANY more encouragement? Come on...

A new twist on the city slicker/country cousin paradigm
Ma and Pa Kettle were first introduced in The Egg and I, as incidental characters to the story. A humorous interpretation of "country folk" at a time when our nation was surging ahead technologically, these films provide a poignant glimpse of this transition period. Pa Kettle displays penchant for winning sweepstakes (a true underdog and underacheiver, this is the only financial contribution he seems to provide for his family of 17). Having already won a modern home in The Further Adventures of Ma and Pa Kettle, Pa now wins a trip for two to New York City paid for by the Bubble-Ola Soda Company. The usual series of screwball mishaps color this movie with a refreshing (by modern standards) bolt of humor. First Pa finds a babysitter for the children back in Cape Flattery, Washington...who turns out to be a notorious gangster from New York passing himself off as a poet. When Pa goes to deliver a package to the gangsters for his new found friend he finds himself entangled with the police, the gangsters, and a corporate climber mistaking him for Kettle the underwear magnate. The simplicity of the Kettles working within the context of the modern urbanized environment allow us to laugh at both sides. This film in particular is among the Kettle best, and among the essentials within the 10 titles. ... Read more

Reviews (5)

Uneven (like most bios), but not without its rarities.
This film is a curiosity more than anything else. I rented it years ago and found it uneven at best. Like most of MGM's alleged 'composer biographies,' it distorts the details of the composer's actual life (in this case, Broadway stage/operetta afficionado Sigmund Romberg) and hangs all of his magnificent songs on an all-star coatrack. And there lies the attraction: seeing Gene Kelly in his only on-screen appearance with real-life brother Fred; seeing Jose Ferrer's bride Rosemary Clooney in her fresh-faced beauty and ear-delicious voice; watching grande dame soprano Helen Traubel sing "Aufwiedersen" to a dying Merle Oberon; and most of all seeing Ann Miller blend the Charleston with her signature tap dancing (I'm not kidding) and superbabe Cyd Charisse in probably the single most erotic dance performed on film: an Arabian Nights-influenced duet with James Mitchell to the song "One Alone." And how she moves in that all-lace, form-fitting gown is anyone's guess.

Not So Deep
I'm conducting a wake for Rosemary Clooney (Born May 23, 1928. Died June 30, 2002.) I read "Girl Singer: an autobiography" and got the conveniently packaged "Songs from the Girl Singer: a musical autobiography " CD set. Like Girranimals, the similarly titled pieces have the same picture on the front so that the purchaser will know that they go together. I heartily recommend both. But I can only give a mid-depth recommendation to "Deep In My Heart." Perhaps this is because of reading Rosemary's book and determining that the Star, Jose Ferrer, was a real-life scoundrel to her. And it may also have to do with my unfamiliarity with the Sigmund Romberg oeuvre. The joy and spectacle of the "Specialty numbers" with guest stars including Gene Kelley, Ann Miller (how does she even WALK in those super-high stilletos - let alone do that dazzling dance?,)Merle Oberlin's "Camille"-like turn, Ferrer's Jolson-esque "Jazza Do" synopsis, and the piece de resistance: the "Mr. And Mrs." song and dance duet by Ferrer and his real-life newlywed bride, Rosemary Clooney, make this an Oldie worth renting, but I'm not going to rush to buy a copy.

Such beautiful music!
This movie is a real pleasure to watch. Good, old-fashioned entertainment with lots of singing and dancing. Jose Ferrer is a surprisingly good song and dance man in this story of Sigmund Romberg, the man who wrote the music for The Student Prince, Desert Song, Maytime, and many others. There are production numbers from many of his shows featuring famos stars in cameos and a little romance, too. A heartwarming film for music lovers!

Great Music, Cast, and Film
A biography of Sigmund Romberg, the musical and operetta composer. Anything which features his music must have some good features, but this is superlative all the way around. Jose Ferrer is charming as Rommie, Merle Oberon gives a nice performance as his love interest, and the list of cameos is starry, with Rosemary Clooney shining in one number and the great operatice soprano Helen Traubel singing "Softly" as it must be, a touching plea full of torment, angst, and ultimately acceptance. Beautiful technicolor, good direction. Very amusing, filled with some of the best songs ever written, and beautifully performed and captured on film.

Great dancing
The only thing good about the movie is the dancing. Gene Kelly, Cyd Charisse, and Ann Miller. They are 3 of the best dancers and you won't see anything like this again. ... Read more

Description

Film adaptation of Edna Ferber's novel involving the friendship and eventual rivalry of two men whose lives parallel the development of Alaska. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

The best parts were left on the cutting room floor
I lived in Fairbanks when this was filmed. The population turned out to recreate the statehood parade down 2nd Ave, and the recreation parade was better than the original. But this was apparently cut out of the movie, and only about 30 seconds shows the real Fairbanks. They might as well have saved the cost of filming on location and used a sound stage.

Ice Palace
I liked this film because it goes through family generations and conflicts. Despite the fact the main characters fall out - the offsprings have other ideas and we can learn from this - if someone in your family "falls out with another" and you are not involved then carry on as normal I liked this film when I saw it many years ago and wish it were available in the UK or that some of the TV stations here would play it as it is a really good film.

"Giant" goes to Alaska
This is essentially the story line of "Giant" set in Alaska as it approaches statehood. Richard Burton stars as a chip on the shoulder, poor guy who rises to great riches. He enters into conflict with his benefactor and a multi-generational struggle ensues which plays out around the drama of Alaska's statehood. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Very Pleasant , Light Football Comedy!!
Fred MacMurray stars as Football Coach dealing with the trials and tribulations of both football and family life also co-starring Maureen O'Hara and Jim Backus.It's a very pleasant,light football comedy that's well worth watching!! ... Read more

Reviews (7)

Mildly amusing. . .
In The Wheeler Dealers, Henry Tyroon (James Garner) is a smooth operator, who while looking the part as a Texas businessman, has an Ivy League education. While in New York to line up his next big deal, his fancy is caught by Molly Thatcher (Lee Remick), one of the few business advisors on Wall Street of the feminine persuasion. Molly's superiors want her out of the company, so she's assigned a loser of a stock, to peddle to Tyroon. "Universal Widget" is a company that has gone nowhere for decades, and making a sale to the amorous Tyroon, will be quite a challenge for Molly.

This light comedy is just mildly amusing. Playing an amiable, cowboy type is familiar ground for Garner. Remick is also likeable, as the earnest and semi sophisticated Molly. However passion between them seems to be lacking. The wheeling and dealing aspect is rather tame, and on the silly side as well. The schemes are not particularly humorous, and there isn't much excitement or tension generated. If you see it on the cable schedule, The Wheeler Dealers is worth seeing once. It's a lightweight and harmless comedy, with some attractive stars, and a catchy theme song.

I love this Oldie but Goodie
Transplant Texan, Garner, needs money so he goes to the Big Apple to get some. He Meets a female stock broker banging her head on the glass ceiling who thinks he is rich.

This is one of my top 5 Garner movies and this is a movie that is just fun to watch. I love the scene at the restuarant with the steak. Crunch Crunch. My complements to the chef.

A sort of IT HAPPENED ONE NIGHT meets the TV show McCLOUD movie with good clean Texas fun.

A True Business Comedy!
This movie should be required viewing for all undergraduate business students. Garner and Remick...great.

Did he say that-a-way
Story Based on Goodman, G.J.W. "Wheeler Dealers, The"

Song "THE WHEELER DEALERS" By Randy Sparks, Sung by The New Christy Minstrels

Henry Tyroon (James Garner) is a rich man, and a rich man can not afford to go broke. So he is off to New York to do some wheeling dealing. According to Henry Tyroon: "You don't go wheelin' 'n' dealin' for money. You do it for fun. Money's just the way you keep score. " And what a score that includes oil, cabs, and widgets.

Lee Remick plays Molly Thatcher, a Wall Street broker who just wants to be one of the boys. Naturally she is going to see what wheeling and dealing is all about.

There are too many memorable things to quote in this film. However I still get a thrill watching speculative movies where the say "did aliens build this?" and remembering the speculation statements like "will our government fall behind the Russians in widget production?"

a rich man can,t afford to go broke
Truly the best film for one liners including the above a must see for any budding wheeler dealer ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Donald Shines Twice in Navy
Donald O'Connor had wearied of the Francis series by the time he made this film, but it certainly doesn't show -- his acting is as wonderful, fresh, and funny as ever (could his weariness have had something to do, at least in part, with the fact that he missed out on making White Christmas with his friend Bing Crosby because in real life he'd contracted an illness from the mule??). In this installment, Peter is a victim of mistaken identity. When the young second lieutenant tries to rescue Francis from being sold as surplus, he is mistaken for his doppleganger, Slicker Donovan, a Navy war hero, and carted off to sea. Peter and Slicker may look exactly alike, but they couldn't be more different. O'Connor's whole face changes when he plays Slicker, the sophisticated womanizing gob. Seeing O'connor do double duty in this film really gives us a chance to appreciate his acting ability. He may not have enjoyed it, but you will!

A great highlight is the mandatory psycho ward scene. Peter has given up trying to convince people he's sane -- now he just goes along with the game with a touch of cynicism, and it's wonderful!

Ahoy There Mate! Pipe me On Board!
The Grand Puba (that's Mister Puba to You!) loves Francis! These videos really are great if you are in to family fare! Something that you can let the kids watch without fear of comprimising your values. If you liked Mr. Ed - you'll love Francis! Barney? Ppphhorgetaboudit! Get Francis instead!

Of the series, this is Emma's favorite.
Francis ends up as post-war surplus and the Navy auctions him off. Donald O'Conner as Peter Sterling is Francis' innocent and likeable pal who tries to save him. But enter "Slicker", a notorious, tough womanizer who happens to look exactly like Peter. Slicker's friends (look for a very young Clint Eastwood) and naval commanders get the two mixed up and Peter ends up in a Navy uniform. An old plot (even for 1955) Peter, with the help of Francis, save the day. Emma's favorite scenn is where Slicker, Slicker's sister, and Peter all meet together for the first time. Dad enjoyed seeing some of the young stars (Eastwood, Martin Milner) who went on to bigger things. Emma gives it five stars, but Dad ony give it three. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

What came first
Today this film suffers from not being associated with the times in which it was produced. Why did Cyd Charisse do that anti-Rock 'n' Roll number which today seems completely out of context? Does the film not emanate from the 'sane' world of the time giving its answer to The Girl Can't Help It which, incidentally, had a plot just as forgettable? The format is the same - guest appearances in cabarets by stars using their own name and, yes, don't miss the names in neon lights, Louis Prima, Keely Smith, the list goes on . It is all at once naive and fabulous, one of the voices in the wilderness against the intrusion of the decadent Rock. A collector's item!
Simply cannot agree with the statement that all of the numbers in it were unknown, The Gal With The Yeller Shoes was a big hit and If You Can Dream featured at the time as well.

An MGM musical from an alternate universe
This film contains all the marks of the big MGM musical -- lavish production numbers, lots of singing and dancing, and stars... Except the stars aren't exactly top flight. And you've never heard of any of the songs. And the musical numbers veer into the bizarre.

There are two really unbelievable scenes. In one, the British music hall star Jerry Colonna kicks off a number called "My Lucky Charms," and the showgirls have wacky costumes that could have bene designed by the same person who designed the showgirl costumes in the "Springtime for Hitler" nubmer in "The Producers" -- remember the pretzel and beer stein costumes? Like that. And then there's a ballet number in which two dozen dancers play volleyball. Yes, with a net and a ball -- en pointe.

The story is forgettable, and so is the acting, but if you've got a few friends over and you're feeling giddy, pop this into the VCR and let the good times roll.

Cyd Charisse's custom-made vehicle a must-see for fans
This was the first (and really only) film written specifically as a star vehicle for Cyd Charisse and it is far and away the perfect film for her fans. While Cyd was always rather bland in her dramatic roles, in MMILV she shows an unexpected flair for knockabout comedy. The fantastic range of her dancing styles is showcased brilliantly from ballet to burlesque. Cyd was never lovelier than in this film, which displays every inch of her ideal frame (and her famous legs) in myriad ways. A must for Cyd fans. I withheld one star for Dan Dailey's presence. ... Read more

Reviews (8)

Flawed but fascinating
George Pal, one of the most underrated filmmakers who worked during the Golden Age of Hollywood, made his most ambitious film, this, in 1962. Running 135 minutes with overture and intermission, it's a very curious project that seems especially incongrous in Cinerama. At times it drags and seems a bit silly, but it comes off as one of those films which seem detached in time, as it does not seem dated, but never would have been made today. The three fairy tale sequences are the film's highlight, with top-notch Puppetoon animation. Watch this on TCM, and petition for a DVD release. This needs a good DVD, AND NOW!!!

Jamie Teller

Terrific
This film is cute without being syrupy. Harvey and Boehm are
excellent. The fairy tales are wonderful. I love the German
scenery--the Grimms' "hometown" scenes were filmed in Rothenburg
ob du Tauber, Bavaria. As of 1995, the town still looked exactly
as it does in the movie. My favorite scenes--Laurence Harvey as the cobbler. What a transformation from Harvey as Wilhelm Grimm!

Every kid will want to see it dozens of times.
I saw this film when it first came out in the 1960s. For some reason, what stuck with me from the moment the theater lights turned back on, to the present era, was the catchy theme tune. The tune is still there, as one might expect. I recently took a few moments to learn the song of the elves from the cobbler sequence. Although the lyrics are a bit awkwardly written, the tune is fun to sing now and then. The storylines for each tale seem intact. (They're not extensively modified as in the Disney style) The connecting sequences, which comprise a biography of the Grimm brothers, is cleverly written. The somewhat different personalities and career goals of the two brothers are wonderfully related. Children might be especially amused by the scene where one brother leans on a suit of armor, causing the entire suit to collapse. The "voice" of the singing bone is exquisite. Another clever moment is the means by which the cobbler addresses a hunter, i.e., "Your Marksmanship." Another memory that stuck with me from my first viewing in the early 60's, was the effect of a sleeping potion on a plant, causing the plant to whither. The conclusion of the film, featuring masses of children cheering in a railroad station, is ideal for this story. What a great ending! The print is more than adequate, unlike, for example, the Beatles' Help, and Disney's Darby O'Gil and the Little People, which seem only available on blurry videotape prints that are difficult to endure. I can think of only one real complaint -- the dragon's fire looks like it was put on the film with strips of cut out colored paper.

An Odd, Pleasant Little Film
I have no idea where my Mom got a copy of "The Wonderful World of the Brothers Grimm", but my family has been watching this movie since I was a young girl. A fictionalized account of the adult life of the Grimm Brothers, the story revolves around their transformation as writers of dull, patron-sponsered biographies to chroniclers of the world's great fairy tales. In between the telling of their story, 3 fairy tales are spliced into the narrative.

The Grimm Brothers segments were directed by Henry Levin in a semi-dull but ultimately servicable manner. The fairy tales, however, were directed by the imaginative George Pal , who also directed "The Time Machine" and "Tom Thumb" in the sixties.

"The Cobbler and the Elves" comes first, and is the weakest of the three, although it does have some good claymation. Next comes "The Dancing Princess", and as a ballet dancer, I can tell you the choreography in this segment is absolutely first-rate. The Gyspy dance performed by the wonderful Russ Tamblyn (West Side Story) is among the best onscreen pieces of its kind.

Finally, there is the eerie "Singing Bone" which features Buddy Hackett and the English comedian Terry-Thomas together with a stunning jewel-encrusted Claymation dragon. These three segments are well worth the price of the video and very entertaining for childen. You may also enjoy this movie if you are a dancer or a animation fan.

All in all, "The Wonderful World of the Brothers Grimm" is a slightly odd curio, but suitable entertainment for the whole family.

A DVD in proper format is desperately needed
I saw this in the current pan & scan (or as is euphemistically appropriate now, full screen) a few years back and found it to be a painful experience. Adding insult to injury was the condition of the print; faded, washed out, and subject to the ravages that plague single strip colour prints of this era. The movie itself is entertaining enough, but what I'd really like to see is a DVD done in anamorphic widescreen in the Smilebox letterboxing process. This would preserve the original look of the Cinerama process and reduce the amount of distortion normally associated with those tiny lenses Cinerama used. MGM's been doing well with its rereleases on DVD; here's hoping this one will get on the list at some point. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Too Faithless Adaptation-Stick To The Books!
John Jakes' "Kent Family Chronicles" novels have long been favorites of mine and it was because of that, that I decided to recently revisit the television adaptations of the first three novels in the series from the late 1970s. Of them, the adaptation of the first novel "The Bastard" was the best, being the most faithful translation of novel to screen with most of Jakes' dialogue left unchanged and only streamlined in spots. Unfortunately in volume two, "The Rebels" there are a number of drastic changes and departures from Jakes' novel and the end result is very unsatisfying. For one thing, in Jakes' novel Philip Kent and Judson Fletcher never meet! We are also given a totally different fate for Philip's wife Anne, and many characters who had returned from "The Bastard" in the novel, such as Alicia Amberly and Captain Will Caleb are nowhere to be found in this adaptation, robbing it of some of its depth. On top of that we get a too abrupt subplot invented for the film of Philip's father, James Amberly (Richard Basehart) coming to America and confronting his son, but what should have made for an interesting scene of drama is dispensed with too abruptly in an unsatisfying fashion. In the end, the changes are just too great to make a fan of the book appreciate the effort.

The one redeeming feature of "The Rebels" however that makes it worth seeing is William Daniels reprising his "1776" role as John Adams (in another touch of irony, Daniels played Cousin Sam Adams in "The Bastard"), and this time showing his depth as an actor by playing Adams closer to historical reality than the famous musical allowed. ... Read more

Reviews (13)

It's Mona.....She's on the Plane!
If only life was like this now. Robes spread in open view on the sofa to imply your mother was 'at home' and thus fend off romantic advances from middle-aged sports reporters.

Ahhhh.... A funny, warm, feel-good movie in the days when life was a lot simpler. Jane Fonda being extremely funny too - her naivety being extremely believable.

If you want to smile and see life in a more innocent time, and with great views of a clean and under-populated NYC....watch it.

Great romantic comedy!
Maybe not my most favorite movies of all time, but it is at the top of the list. Soundtrack to this movie was terrific. I have the original soundtrack album, but wish they would put it on CD. Jane Fonda was great in this movie. I was in love with her before the "Hanoi Jane" days. Still a good movie. Wonderful acting and writing.

New York and Mel Torme
A Nice little sex farce with some interesting folks in 60,s New York City.

Jane is put upon a bit and the double entendre dialogue gets a bit tired in some scenes. Robert Culp the would be suitor to Jane coming in for a visit. Rod Taylor and Jane essaying the values of stick pins and broaches brining guy and girl together.

And then we have Cliff Robertson who seems to wonder why he is in this film at all with his own hokey dialogue. Jim Backus adds some fun and its all really harmless and engaging I suppose..
One of the debits is not enough Eddy Duchin music...

Note: In this film the New York City Busses look very clean ,,now thats nostagilc in itself..

c

Sunday in New York
I would describe this film as totally delightful and fun. I enjoyed the simplistic morality of Pre-Sexual Revolution Dating of the 60's. The actors are well cast and give great performances. But one other element that makes this movie great is the MUSIC! My mother was a music & movie buff who deemed "Sunday in New York" as one of the best because of the contribution of one of her favorite pianists, Peter Nero (who also makes a cameo appearance in this movie). Nero's music is expertly woven within the fabric of this movie and adds just the right touch to make this film terrific!

Charming, funny romantic comedy
This is one of about 10 movies that, like today, I can't NOT watch if I come across it on TV, no matter how many times I've seen it - it's that much fun. It features a wonderful cast of principals - not just Jane Fonda (in her "Barefoot in the Park" days), but Rod Taylor, Cliff Robertson and Robert Culp, all of whom have two extended scenes together that are marvels of comic timing and reaction (the previously mentioned restaurant scene, and the scene in the apartment leading up to it). It's a classic romantic comedy, that neatly and sweetly captures the tipping point in time just before everything changed between men and women. ... Read more

Description

Doris Day and Danny Thomas romantically collaborate in this affectionate biopic of tunesmith Gun Kahn that's a treasure chest of some of this century's greatest songs. Year: 1952 Director: Michael Curtiz Starring:Doris Day, Danny Thomas, Frank Lovejoy ... Read more

Reviews (14)

A touching and entertaining film
Doris Day stars as Grace LeBoy Kahn, the wife of Gus Kahn (Danny Thomas) in this great musical biography.

It explores all f