Reviews (1)

Good fun for Jane Powell fans
I saw this film several years ago, so my memory's a little rusty, but since there are no other reviews for "Rich, Young and Pretty" yet I'd thought I'd give a quick synopsis for those of you just browsing.

Jane Powell stars as a young Texan who is taken to Paris by her father, played by Wendell Corey. While there, she runs across her mother (Danielle Darrieux) , who is working in a night club with her boyfriend (the oh-so handsome Fernando Lamas). This turns out to be a problem, since Powell had been told by her father that her mother was deceased. Oops! Hilarity ensues. I wouldn't say this film is in the first or second tier of Powell pictures ("Two Weeks with Love" and "A Date With Judy" are my faves) and it does drag a bit in spots, but Jane is always a delight to watch and it does have it's bright spots. Among them is a charming rendition of "We Never Talk Much" , a fun song I really like.

You might want to check out "Rich, Young and Pretty" if you are a fan of Jane or old Technicolor musicals. Grade: B- ... 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

Amazon.com

Hit the lights! An all-star cast and plenty of big numbers make this classic 1955 musical a blast. Russ Tamblyn, Vic Damone, and Tony Martin are three wacky sailors on leave. Debbie Reynolds, Jane Powell, and the immortal Ann Miller are three girls ready for romance. High jinks ensue. Miller's character, Ginger, is a nightclub singer, allowing for maximum dance numbers and costume changes. Yes, it's a big, silly MGM musical with plenty of songs, jokes, and splashy colors, and it's quite a bit of fun. Fred Astaire choreographer Hermes Pan provided the at-times hilariously elaborate dance numbers, and "Hallelujah," the big finale, is presented in all its original widescreen glory so you won't miss a cannon. It's enough to make you want to enlist. --Ali Davis ... Read more

Reviews (8)

1950's Fun in Uniform
It's big, it's silly, and it's a fun 1950's musical with lots of great stars. This movie won't solve the mysteries of the universe, but it will entertain with lots of great dances and songs. Ann Miller, Jane Powell, and Debbie Reynolds are at their best. Jane in the Penguin number, and Ann in the "Thinking of You" number are standouts. Some VHS copies may have a sound problem. They should bring this out on DVD

The ship sank
This was one of MGM's worst musicals. It's amazing because it had a lot going for it the casting of three beautiful talented women: Ann Miller, Debbie Reynolds, and Jane Powell. The script isn't too good. Vic Damone and Tony Martin have too much of the same persona. I think the movie would have been balanced with Dean Martin cast. There is one scene that sticks out and it's a weird one with Jane dancing with a penguin.

Very underrated
This may have been made in the dying days of MGM musicals (no Sinatra or Kelly), but it has some spectacular classic songs by Vincent Youmans & 2 of the finest voices of all time singing together: Tony Martin & Vic Damone. Plus superior musical arrangements & Russ Tamblyn dancing.

They do not make them like this any more for sure.

So enjoy it! Great musical!!

Great Stars and Talent - Very Disappointing Quality
I looked forward to seeing this since I saw it in the theatre in the '50's. It was sad to see the poor quality of such a great musical. I was disappointed and doubt if I will purchase more musicals from the same people who put this out. They did a diservice to a fine musical, not only with poor sound quality but by not putting the whole movie in widescreen, not just the end number.

Hit The Deck
Hit The Deck, is my favorite musical, with Jane Powell. The music is fantastic, and she was my favorite singer and actress in musicals. The movie is about sailors & girls and a musical production. All the actors are great, and the singing and dancing wonderful. I would reccomend this for everyone who likes musicals. It is well worth viewing. I hadn't seen this movie since it came out in 1955, as it never was on TV, that I could see. Thanks, Amazon, for making it available. It is a spectacular film. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Hollywood's excursions into Arabian Nights exotica don't come muchdaffier than Kismet, a 1955 MGM adaptation of the hit Broadway musical. The scoreincludes two standards, "Baubles, Bangles, and Beads" and "Stranger inParadise," but the blend of Broadway razzmatazz and Middle Eastern culture is,to say the least, awkward. (One comic number revolves around a man about to havehis hand chopped off for thievery.) There's plenty here for musical fans toenjoy, and a well-cast Howard Keel does his chesty best as an itinerant poet whofast-talks his way to riches; this was Keel's last starring role in an MGMmusical. Unfortunately, Vic Damone is a wet rag as the young prince, the garishEastman Color photography has not aged well, and director Vincente Minnelliseems not entranced by the material. Still, there is something fascinating aboutDolores Gray belting out "Baghdad, this irresistible town!" as though singingthe praises of Vegas or Monte Carlo. --Robert Horton ... Read more

Reviews (13)

Worth it only for Gray
This Vincente Minnelli has acquired a somewhat bewildering reputation almost solely because it was one of the few M-G-M musicals the fantastic Dolores Gray ever appeared in. She does have a wonderful number here in her iconic "Not Since Nineveh," where she really lets loose, but the rest of this film is so inferior you'll see almost immediately why M-G-M made so few major musicals after this disappointment. Almost everyone is miscast, even to Howard Keel who seems to be really enjoying himself immensely as Hajj even though he (and almost everyone else in the film) doesn't look in the slightest Middle Eastern. Nor does anyone else in the film, from the largely wasted here but still breathtakingly beautiful Ann Blyth to Sebastian Cabot harrumphing around as the Wazir. The only one who does is Vic Damone, who is about the worst actor ever (despite his lovely rendition of "The Night of My Life").

Worst of all, this edition from Turner Classics doesn't even bother to letterbox the Cinemascope compositions, so even despite the terribly distracting panning-and-scanning you can't see very easily who's talking to whom. This is best forgotten (unless you want to see the one number with Gray in all her oomphy glory).

great old musical
After their success in 1954's ROSE MARIE, Howard Keel and Ann Blyth were re-teamed for 1955's KISMET, a charming tale based on the Broadway hit with songs derived from musical movements by Borodin.

They are joined by Dolores Gray and Vic Damone, who add the sex and comedy to this tale of a vagabond con-man and his lovely daughter.

Blyth is charming in her "Baubles Bangles and Beads", and in duet with Damone in "Stranger In Paradise". Gray lends her considerable vocal talents to "Not Since Nineveh" and "Bored".

Expertly directed by Vincente Minnelli and featuring stunning costumes and sets, KISMET is a lavish feast for the ear and eye.

MGM's FInest!
Reviews...reviews....what's in a review ? My unprofessional opinion may not count as well as the super paid pros, but each knows what makes him/her FEEL GOOD ! And this MGM lavish musical does make the grade.

Howard Keel is as usual, his vibrant self and carries out some of the lesser known tunes quite appealingly. Both Ann Blyth - luscious and Delores Gray - superb. But my "right for casting" hit ( despite a few critics ) goes to Vic Damone. "Wet rag" ? ....I hardly think so. He portrays the sober young Caliph with more insight than most (including himself) give him credit. Bravo Damone! "This is My Beloved" and "Stranger in Paradise" rate MGM it's flair for film. But his "Night of My Nights" - bedazzling. You've won my Mesopotamian HEART!

Great feel good movie. Wish it was on DVD
I love this movie!
I grew up watching it repeatedly, with my mother (Ann Blyth look-a-like, and same hair style) singing these songs, while dancing around the room, sometimes joined by my father, so I can't say that I ever really paid any attention to how silly the movie itself was. :)
I love their versions of those classic songs better than any I've heard done by the correct kind of people, but I could have some bias.
Anyway, watching it still makes me laugh, dance alittle, and sing, but the VHS is rather awful in quality. I truely hope this film is transfered with better care to DVD format soon.

A Wretched Transfer
If you've ever seen the laser disc (which was a near perfect transfer) of this title, you'd be horrified at this VHS transfer. Pan and scan travesty. Awful color. Fair audio. I only bought it to have a complete version after a malfunctioning laser disc player scrated one side of my LVD version beyond recovery. Hopefully this title will be decently transferred to DVD some day. ... Read more

Reviews (5)

I too would like to clear a couple of things up...
This movie is about an American in the Pacific War. This American has a special history or relationship with the Japanese, and his adoption by a good Japanese-American family, the effect of Pearl Harbor on himself and that family, and his experience of the Japanese he has both lived-with and had to fight against on Saipan Island battle are what make this above-average Pacific-war saga based on US Marine Guy Gabaldons personal story and war experience a little different from the run of the mill genre. Good supporting-cast with David Jansen, his gambling and broads loving buddy whose luck runs out finally on Saipan, sadly.
This man Guy Gabaldon would proudly agree with my description of him as an American, Im pretty-confidant.This movie is about Americans and Japanese,
its not about Germans, or Polish people,
or Swedes, or Russians,
or Italians,
or British or Irish or even, would you believe,and this may be more than you can handle, but its not about wonderful Spanish or Mexican people, or modern race-politics in the US and trivial PC touchiness, its about an American Marine and the Japanese.
I tell you this as a non-American myself, if I can see it, so should practically anybody else.

Set the record straight
I would like to point two things out.

In "Hell to Eternity" although Jeffery Hunter's character should have been depicted as a Mexican-American and should have been portrayed by one (Anthony Quinn comes to mind), the truth is, his character was depicted as a Italian-American portrayed by a classically white Western European (Jeffery Hunter).

In the years prior to "Hell to Eternity" being made, in California, the home of Hollywood, the agricultural industry expereinced a work shortage and recruited illegal immigrants to pick up the slack. Later during the time "Hell to Eternity" was made they became a burden to deal with and President Eisenhower ordered them rounded up in "Operation Wetback" and sent them back to Mexico. Additionally, during the making of "Hell to Eternity" the rise of the United Farm Workers took place and even though the UFW was a positive force for change for the Mexican-American community, others (bigots and racist) saw the union as an infernal trouble maker. Hence, it was unfashionable and politically incorrect for Hollywood to depict or portray either Mexican or Mexican-Americans as heroic figures let alone the subject of a major motion picture. Consequently, circumstances being what they were (prejudice, bigotry and selective memory and history), artistic license was used as an excuse to deviate from the actual true story. The result was an untrue and inaccurate depiction in a movie that was supposed to be about a true Mexican-American hero, Guy Gabaldon, a hero that the Mexican-American community has been deprived of celebrating for many decades now.

My second point is that, with the recent popularity of war movies these days, since 1960 when this movie was made, there never has been an attempt to right this wrong and depict and portray the true story of Guy Gabaldon, the true Mexican-American hero of this movie. Hollywood continues to focus exclusively on white heros of our wars in their movies to the detriment of our country's diverse history.

The movie should be remade with a Mexican-American playing the role of Guy Gabaldon (Esia Morales comes to mind) and should be more accurately told rather than sensationally and selectively told.

Hell To Eternity: Hatred Is A Three-Edged Sword
Most movies about the Second World War either deal with brave men performing heroically as expected or less heroic men doing the unexpected. In HELL TO ETERNITY the focus is on a man who is neither brave nor cowardly. He is no Henry Fleming dreaming of great exploits. Rather he is a man driven by hate for the same people whom earlier he had once called his own. He is Guy Gabaldon, a real life U. S. Marine who won several decorations for valor fighting the Japanese on Saipan.
The movie begins with Gabaldon as a boy living in a troubled street in Los Angeles. He is homeless, friendless, and more than a little filled with rage at a world that has no place for a poor boy of mixed Hispanic origin. A Japanese family sees worth in him, and much as Don Corleone did with Tom Hagen in THE GODFATHER, agree to take him in and raise him as one of their own. The adult Gabaldon is played by Jeffrey Hunter, who has the uneviable task of playing Gabaldon at varying times in a psychologically varying condition. Gabaldon learns to speak fluent Japanese and his face beams with delight as he addresses his adopted matriarch as 'Mama-san.' Life in the United States is indeed sweet, at least until Pearl Harbor, when he is swept up into the maelstrom of war. He does not relish the thought of fighting his adopted people, and he suffers greatly from the image of shooting at Japanese soldiers. During his initial introduction to training, he is befriended by a pre-Fugitive David Janssen, who shows him the ropes of being a soldier. Gabaldon learns to count on Janssen as a soldier, a friend, savior. During a vicious battle, Gabaldon sees Janssen gunned down right in front of him, and at that point, his world view is turned upside down. He now hates the Japanese with a ferocity that amazes even his friends. He uses his fluency in Japanese to lure them out of their lairs, and he guns them down by the hundreds. His hate drives him on until he meets a Japanese officer played by the immensely dignified Sessue Hayakawa, whose personal bravery restores Gabaldon's emotional equilibrium.
HELL TO ETERNITY is the rare war movie whose focus on killing is not to showcase either the fighting skills of the individual soldier or to build a national sense of patriotism and warlike fervor. Instead, director Phil Karlson uses the confusing images of war to mirror the equally confusing turmoil of one man who is called on to shift mental gears once too often.

The Marine who inspired the movie Hell To Eternity
Hell to Eternity depicts an unconventional manner of battling the enemy. A young Marine utilizes his foreign language skills in Japanese that he learned from his adopted family to influence and convince the enemy to surrender. This is a great WWII movie that shows a humanistic point of view of the war in the South Pacific.
This movie was insipred by a real-life Marine, Guy Gabaldon , a Mexican-American Marine from East Los Angeles. PFC Gabaldon " Maverick Marine" was credited with the capture of 1500 Japanese soldiers. He was initially awarded the Silver Star then later upgraded to the Navy Cross. Efforts have been made to petion for him to be awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor.
More interesting reading can be found in Guy Gabaldon's autobiography book "Saipan, Suicide Island".

Life is a struggle and war is hell, a different perspective
Hell to eternity is a touching film, Jeffrey Hunter plays a young man with a poor home life who is adopted by a Japanese family prior to WWII. He is surrounded by people decrying the "japs" and endures a struggle of conscience. The only goodness and kindness he has ever experienced in his life was the gift of this Japanese family. His adopted family is placed in a relocation camp and his adopted brother proudly goes off to fight for the U.S. but he is left to struggle with his identity. He eventually does go to fight for the U.S. It is nice to see a different perspective, not all "Japs" are bad, war is never easy and a person must make a moral choice. ... Read more

Reviews (8)

Great Musicals
This film was fun and delightful with a great cast. It should be transfered on to dvd in widescreen.

An uplifting movie - Reeves before he became Hercules
I enjoyed this movie, even though it does take some cheap shots at the musclemen and the health & fitness movement.Jane Powell and Debbie Reynolds are delightful in their roles and their voices are at their peak. You will love hearing them sing.Edmund Purdom and Vic Damone add some worldly class to this film. Reeves definitely has presence here and it's easy to see why he became a star many years later. It was this movie that landed him the role of Hercules.At one point in the movie, Edmund Purdom lites up a cigerette and Reeves pulls the cigarette out of his mouth and says; "What are you trying to do, suffocate us?" In real life, Reeves was opposed to smoking.The movie also has a Mr. Universe contest which Reeves wins after successfully completing a continental clean and press of 400 lbs to break a deadlock with Lynn Lyman.Interesting because in real life back in 1948 Reeves was tied for first place with former weightlifter John Grimek in the Mr. Universe contest in London, England. Grimeks athletic prowess broke the tie and gave him the win, even though Reeves had the best physique.Athena is a good movie. It's a funny, clean movie. Has great songs by Damone, Powell and Reynolds and features many of the top bodybuilders of that era. Something for everybody. I hope they put this one on dvd.

Jane and Debbie sing up a storm!
Jane Powell and Debbie Reynolds star in the delightfully offbeat musical comedy ATHENA.

Athena (Jane Powell) and Minerva (Debbie Reynolds) are two sisters whose grandfather (Louis Calhern) owns a popular health shop. The family is heavily into fitness and the supernatural.

The sisters fall for worldly, sophisticated men, but the family forbids the marriages, as the stars say that they will not be happy. The sisters must fight to stay in control of their lives.

Filled with swinging songs and rousing dance routines, ATHENA is a charming musical from the MGM studios.

A muscle musical
My wife and I were watching this movie just a few days ago. Debbie Reynolds and Jane Powell are delightful. Music fans will enjoy Vic Damone.Although a far cry from "Singing in the Rain" and "7 Brides for 7 Women", this movie is moderately entertaining.For bodybuilding buffs, it's ridiculous to see Reeves get pounced by scrawny Edmund Purdom and Dick Dubois, a former Mr. America, actually at that time, current 1954 AAU Mr. America crawl away in fear from Damone. This movie didn't do much to inspire faith in bodybuilding or in the health movement. The movie does feature some of the greats of the day. Besides Reeves and Dubois, Jerry Ross, Mr. California, Zabo Koswieski, Mr. Abdominals and others.Nevertheless, it's a fun movie even if it did take a few pokes at musclemen.Would be nice to see a remake of the movie. Problem; who would or could play Reeves? Steve Reeves was a man of real substance. Most of the top champions of today are real substance abusers.

The worst movie ever made
I can't agree with the other revues. I am a big fan of MGM musicals and I love movies such as "Singing in the rain" and "Seven Brides for seven Brothers".

But this movie is unbelievably bad : The plot is totally uninteresting and univolving; the playing is weak and the songs are boring (except "love can change the stars")

This is one of the worst movies ever made ... Read more