Reviews (339)

A true masterpiece! A 5 star winner and a true classic!
The Wizard of Oz has got to be one of the greatest movies in classical and musical cinema history. For sixty years this movie has been the perfect choice for childeren and adults to watch and enjoy. The story is about Dorthy Gale who lives in Kansas with her aunt and uncle. When Dorthy decides to run away from home because of her feelings being empty a tornado hits and she and her house are taken to another world, the Land of Oz. A place where she finds friends like she never imagined like Glinda the good witch of the north, the beautiful witch who gives her the rubey slippers which posses power like any unknown. The scarecrow, a friendly man of clothing and straw who wants a brian, the tin woodsman, a sweet man made of tin who wants a heart, the lion, a kind and cowardly forest animal who wants courage and the wicked witch of the west, a evil witch who wants the rubey slippers and revenge on Dorthy for accidently killing her sister, the wicked witch of the east. As Dorthy and her friends follow the yellow brick to the emerald city, the place where the great and powerful and mysterious Wizard of Oz lives the magic of this film can tell the rest.

A true masterpiece! Excellent polt, characters, music and more. It holds an emotional presents that will touch everyone's heart and wish they were in the Land of Oz! See it and live through the magic of this timeless classical film of wonders.

An OZ-some DVD Experience
Like most baby boomers, I've watched this film dozens of times in the past on broadcast TV, then VHS tape, then LaserDisc ... but I had never actually SEEN "The Wizard of Oz" until this newly restored DVD came out. It's an amazing transfer. The sepia-tone Kansas sequences are startlingly sharp and clear, and the Technicolored world "Over the Rainbow" is truly dazzling. I found myself fascinated by details I had never noticed before: the glittering corn stalks in the Scarecrow's field; the mirror-like floors of the Emerald City; the polished buttons on the guardsmen's uniforms. Incredibly, even the individual grains of red sand in the Witch's hourglass stood out and glistened! All these minor-but-sumptuous visual details served to heighten the magical spell that the film has always woven, enhancing the performances, the story, and the music.

The DVD extras are a mind-boggling embarrassment of riches. The "Making Of" documentary hosted by the incomparable Angela Lansbury is worth the price of the DVD alone, but there's so much more: an international poster gallery, interviews with cast members, deleted scenes, production stills, radio clips, etc, etc. There's enough material to keep even the most casual viewer fascinated for hours, and a true Oz buff will be occupied for days!

If you only bought a DVD player to watch this one disc, it would well be worth the expense. Treat yourself, and fall in love with this classic film again ... for the first time.

The Wonderful Movie of Oz
I have been enchanted as I now watch the movie as an adult. It is not just a story about a girl from Kansas trying to get back home - actually, that was added into the movie: "There's no place like home" wasn't in the book even. I think it was a story of things that we want, and that we imagine these things may be granted by the Wonderful Wizard of Oz. The scarecrow wants a brain, the tinman a heart, and the lion courage. On their journey off to see the wizard, they encounter the wicked witch of the west - who is determined to get the ruby slippers off of Dorothy's feet. Now, the thing I am puzzled by is at the beginning, Glinda is the one who reminds the wicked witch about the shoes. Then she is the one who places them on Dorothy's feet: "There they are and there they'll stay." Had she not had the shoes, her journey to the wizard would not have been so troublesome. Not to mention that the "good witch" sent Dorothy on a journey to a phony wizard. I wonder now if there was some kind of irony in that - since she was also the one who in the end tells Dorothy that all she has to do is click her heels together and say "there 's no place like home." While the movie is totally a classic I love and will watch over and over again, I am wondering about the book: Were the "ruby slippers" (which were silver in the novel) as magical - and - if there was no "no place like home" in the novel then I am wondering how Dorothy got back to Kansas. I think that because each time I watch this film I realize something new, it will always remain one of my favorite movies ever.

The Wizard of Oz is wonderful
The classic film! The Wizard of Oz is wonderful. Judy Garland's breakthrough performance. Beautiful.

Growing Up, Growing On
I knew every line of this as a kid. I loved the books. I even loved the sequel that everyone else hated because I love OZ. I tried to be "over" this movie for a long time as an adult. But every time I see it I re-remember why I couldn't get enough before. The quintessential fairy tale. All kids and all adults should watch it again to remind them that a movie can work without sex, violence or graphic anything really. It's scary -- touching -- and completely engrossing -- more so each year I grow older. ... Read more

Amazon.com essential video

Judy Garland managed to subdue her ongoing medical problems long enough to make Summer Stock in 1950, her last film with MGM and longtime collaborator Gene Kelly.In a throwback to Garland's "let's put on a show" films with Mickey Rooney, Kelly plays a theater director who sets up in Garland's barn to prepare his musical, but Garland has other ideas.Romantic entanglements ensue, of course, and Eddie Bracken, Phil Silvers, and Marjorie Main are on hand to lend comedic support. Following his mostly forgettable score in 1949's The Barkleys of Broadway, Harry Warren contributes another mostly forgettable score, though it's complemented with a few ringers from other songwriters.There are many enjoyable moments, however, including a lot of tap from Kelly.He and Garland share a tap duel at a square dance turned lindy hop, and Garland performs her classic "Get Happy" routine in a black jacket and fedora.Kelly also performs a solo number to "You Wonderful You" with no gimmicks--just a darkened stage, a squeaky floorboard, and a sheet of newspaper.--David Horiuchi ... Read more

Reviews (31)

Garland and Kelly shine
This movie is a great fell-good love story. I've always thought that Gene kelly and Judy Garland have the most amazing on-screen chemistry and its ashame that they didn't do more than 6 films together. Judy, as usual gave a great performance in all her numbers. May they be playful, riviting, heartbreaking or just plain knock-outs, she did it great! As for Gene Kelly, though he was not thrilled with the project, never let it show. He gives absolutly amazing performances(like always) dancing in the barn with Judy and in his newspaper dance. Although my favorite is the "you wonderful you" number where Judy and Gene dance and sing nice"n"easy under low lights on an empty stage. It's so beautiful seeing Gene holding Judy in those gorgeous arms of his. He holds her like she was the love of his life and he never wanted to let go. You can almost feel those hugs just watching them. I recommande this movie to everyone and especialy Gene and Judy fans.

A LOT OF FUN!
This is a perfect movie to have around the house when nothing else seems watchable. This MGM diamond packed with and brimming over with fun is always a treat! And if you love Judy Garland and Gene Kelly, it's all the more so. Judy plays a country girl whose only interest is in running her debt-ridden farm.She returns home one day to find her barn full of cows, pigs, chickens...and actors, sets, and props. She learns that her sister has permitted a troupe of theater actors, headed by Gene and Phil Silvers, to perform a show in their barn. Judy complies on one condition: these theater folk also support themselves by doing chores around the farm. But picking eggs and milking cows aren't every man's fantasy, as Gene and Phil learn. But in spite of a madcap hullaballoo on the farm, a love story manages to intertwine itself between Judy and Gene... except for Judy being engaged... and her sister in love with Gene... This is a marvelous movie for anyone, young or old. Judy sings and struts the stuff that made her a legend, particularly shining in a memorable number called, "Get Happy". She croons "You Wonderful You" with Gene, who dances at the top of his form... on newspapers. Gene and Phil do a hilarious number called "Heavenly Music" in hillbilly attire, and the finale "Happy Harvest" will have you smiling long after the picture's over. With Judy Garland singing and Gene Kelly dancing, how can you go wrong with this priceless piece of MGM treasure? Buy it today and get happy with "Summer Stock"!

The end...
With Judy Garland struggling in her life during this time this movie holds a special place in my heart. A large fan of Judy Garland and Gene Kelly I decided to watch this one day on TCM...well lets just say from the number with Judy on the tractor to her closing Get Happy number I was hooked. I fell in love with the performances given by the two along with the rest of the cast...with some great songs...and a few not so great...it still ends up being a great movie. It's Judy's last MGM movie and her last pairing with Gene Kelly and I think it was a great ending.

Man, how they put on a show!
This movie was a treat to watch and I am so excited about this movie I am starting to write this review even as the VCR is rewinding the tape! GRIN Garland, Kelly, Silvers, DeHaven and fantastic other cast members give a strong, convincing performance in the movie Summer Stock. The script is well written; yes, though the plot is not the deepest, and to an extent predictable, the lines are thoughtfully written. The musical numbers are fantastic and include superb scenes where Kelly dances as well as Judy's infamous "Get Happy" number. (One exception is the number at the end with Silvers and Kelly dancing and singing as farmhands--not too special a musical number in my opinion.) It seems that Judy's character owns and runs a farm--in debt--and Kelly playing Joe brings his acting troupe to try out a new show and stake a claim in show business. Of course, after some complications--and romantic partner swapping--the show goes on and is a tremendous success. Happy Ending! Judy's great performance in her final completed film at MGM is truly remarkable in light of her poor health at the time. (However I must say that although it could just be my imagination, Judy looks a bit skinnier in some scenes in the film than she does in other scenes. Could this reflect her possibly losing or gaining weight during the time this movie was filmed?) In short, this film is a very fine addition to any serious movie buff's collection, especially if part of the collection includes musicals. Get this film--Amazon lists it as out of stock for a GOOD reason! Tons of people bought this movie and you'll GET HAPPY when you see this!

"Get Happy" and Get Summer Stock
Summer Stock is a typical MGM movie. That's what makes it so good! This is the third and final teaming of Judy and Gene. I think they should have done movie movies because they were so great together in this one. Gene Kelly and Judy Garland do wonderful dances togther in this movie, and I have to say the best song is "Get Happy". The story about this song is MGM thought there wasn't enough songs in this movie so they added this one at the last minute! It turned out to be one of the best remembered songs from the film. And I promise you'll remember it too! I don't own this movie, but everytime it comes on tv, I have to watch it! That's how wonderful it is! ... Read more

Reviews (106)

An American Classic In A Memorable DVD Package
Many critics consider MEET ME IN ST. LOUIS the single finest Hollywood musical of the 20th Century. Produced by Arthur Freed, directed by Vincent Minnelli, and sporting a flawless ensemble cast led by Judy Garland, the film was immediately hailed when it debuted in 1944--and time has only added luster to its name. Now, after several home market incarnations, it at last receives the edition it deserves on DVD.

Given its stature, it is ironic that both MGM and Judy Garland originally fought the project. Based on a collection of autobiographical stories by Sally Benson, the script is little more than a series of domestic adventures in the lives of the Smith family of 1903 St. Louis. But it became a thing of wonder: a careful balance of sly but gentle humor, a collection of memorable performances, an understated score shorn of the usual movie-musical affectations, and at the center of it all Judy Garland, one of Hollywood's most memorable talents.

The transfer is excellent, capturing every nuance of the film's meticulously and beautifully designed sets in full Technicolor; the sound elements, remastered in Dolby 5.1, are equally fine and Garland's unique vocal skills are undimmed by time. All in all, it seems safe to say that not even the original 1944 theatrical release could surpass the quality of picture and sound offered here.

Although the bonus package would have better without the awful pilot for a failed television series based on the film, by and large it offers a superior collection. Previously available on VHS, the Roddy McDowell-narrated "making of" documentary is worth revisiting, as is the TCM-produced "Becoming Attractions." While a number of later documentaries surpass it, "Hollywood: The Dream Factory" has never before been widely available and offers an inside glimpse of the famous 1972 MGM auction. The Martins' performance of "Skip to My Lou" a reconstruction of "Boys and Girls Like You and Me," and a collection of Vincent Minnelli movie trailers round out the offerings, all of them entertaining.

The notable audio commentary is led by film historian and Garland scholar John Fricke. I regret to say that I have several issues with Fricke, who seems to rely excessively on Vincent Minnelli's autobiography I REMEMBER IT WELL and who has a tendency to perpetuate certain myths about the film--chief among them the idea that Garland did "The Trolley Song" in a single take. (Garland prerecorded the song, the overall sequence involves at least seven unique camera set-ups, and although Garland performs most of the solo in a single take there is a change in camera set-up toward the end of her vocal.) Even so, Fricke offers considerable insight into the cast, crew, and production of MEET ME IN ST. LOUIS, and the commentary is laced with remarks (some of them archival) by the likes of Margaret O'Brien, Hugh Martin, and Irving Brecher; in spite of my occasional misgivings, it really is everything one could wish an audio commentary to be.

These aside, the bonus package contains one significant and unique prize: the short film "Bubbles" and a notable audio commentary led by Hollywood and Garland historian John Fricke. Long thought lost, "Bubbles" is one of several shorts made in the early 1930s that include The Gumm Sisters, the youngest of whom would become better known as Judy Garland--a true rarity indeed.

Given the beauty of the transfer and the generally exceptional bonus package, it is difficult to imagine a better edition of this uniquely American classic. I strongly recommend it.

GFT, Amazon Reviewer

All-New 60th Anniversary Digital DVD transfer is AWESOME!!
Director Vincente Minnelli's 1944 "Meet Me in St. Louis" in TECHNICOLOR starring his future wife, Judy Garland proved to be MGM's biggest box office hit ever and proved to the world the musical with Garland ruled.

Now co-operatively Warner Brothers Entertainment Inc., Turner Entertainment Co. and distrubuted by Warner Home Video Inc continues their fantastic Two-Disc Special Edition Series with the 60th Anniversary Digital transfer from restored picture and audio elements of "Meet Me in St. Louis". This is a must have DVD set!!!!

This all-star cast; Judy Garland, Margaret O'Brien, Mary Aster, Majorie Main, Tom Drake and Lucille Bremer lead this special intergrated story with a perfect mix of music. The "Trolley Song" (Oscar nominated song - lost), and the infamous xmas song, "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas". And of course the movie title song, "Meet Me in St. Louis".

This 2 - Disc set is loaded with everything about the movie, Judy Garland and the Dream makers of HOLLYWOOD. Disc 1 - Has an Introduction by daughter Liza Minnelli The Feature film in gorgeous TECHNICOLOR in Standard Format and Dolby Digital Sound. Audio Commentary by Judy Garland Biographer John Fricke with Margaret O'Brien, Composer Hugh Martin and Screen Writers Irving Brecher & Barbara Freed-Saltzman. And finally a Vincente Minnelli Trailer Gallery including 8 of his movies.
Disc 2 - 45 minute Making of Documentary hosted by Roddy McDowall. 60 minute MGM Studio Profile film "Hollywood: The Dream Factory" hosted by Dick Cavett. A 45 minute 1966 "Meet Me in St. Louis" TV series Pilot starring Shelly Fabares, Celeste Holm & Rita Shaw. 35 minute Becoming Attraction: Judy Garland hosted by Robert Osborne (a brief history through her movie trailers). 1930 Vintage Vitaphone Musical short featuring a very young Judy with her sisters (The 3 Gumm Sisters). Vintage Soundie "Skip to My Lou". Deleted Song (an Oscar / Hammerstein) "Boys & Girls Like You & Me". 60 minute Lux Soap Radio Theatre 12/2/1946 Broadcast of "Meet Me in St. Louis" starring Garland, O'Brien and Drake. and Finally a 80 photo Stills Gallery.

This is a must have for the family DVD library. See Judy Garland at her best and see why Hollywood gambled and won with her outstanding talent to act and sing flawlessly. You'll love Judy Garland, this movie, the Smith Family and Margaret O'Brien (received a special minature Oscar award for her performance). Enjoy!!!

One of America's Greatest Musicals
Meet Me in St Louis is one of the greatest musicals ever made! Combining the talent of Judy Garland and scene stealer Margaret O'Brian and wonderful songs Meet Me In St Louis is a treat for all!

excellent
This is a great dvd of "Meet Me in Saint Louis," the wonderful classic musical. It's beautifully packaged and contains so much behind the scenes and extra bonus material it's well worth the price. A great addition to any musical dvd collection. I highly recommend it and was very pleased with it. Also Judy's daughter LIza is interviewed also. Great dvd a classic to keep!

One of the great American musicals ever filmed!
This exquisitely laid out 2 DVD issue of Meet Me in Saint Louis is an absolute must have for any Garland fan, Vincent Minnelli fan as well as fans of the major American musicals of all time. The movie itself is introduced with a short talk by Liza Minnelli to whet the viewer's appetite for the film; then the film is beautifully reproduced on the DVD for the viewer. One small disappointment: the film is shown in full screen; there is no letterbox version of the film on this 2 DVD set. The set is chock full of great extras which offer the viewer a rather comprehensive introduction (or review for seasoned fans) of Judy's work in such shorts as Bubbles as well as trailers for both Judy's films and Vincent Minnelli's films. The sound quality is excellent and the video quality is equally superlative.

The movie itself is the story of the life of an American family in 1903 in Saint Louis and their ups and downs throughout one year's time. Does the father take that new job and move the family from Saint Louis to New York? Do Esther (played by Judy) and Rose find the loves of their lives? Watch and find out! A special treat is the strikingly convincing acting of Margaret O'Brien as the youngest sibling in this large family from the last turn of the century. Margaret won an award at the Oscars and she very much deserved it-she acts her little heart out!

In short, this movie is a BUY! Go get it! Order it here, or shop for it anywhere-but just get it and enjoy a great American musical and the numerous bonus extras that are very hard to find elsewhere! ... Read more

Amazon.com essential video

Director Stanley Kramer's socially conscious 1961 film tackles the subject of the war crime trials arising out of World War II in an earnest and straightforward fashion, exploring the consciousness of two nations as they struggle to come to terms with the aftermath of the Holocaust. Spencer Tracy plays the American judge selected to head the tribunal that will try the suspected war criminals. As he sets about his task, he must confront the raw emotion felt by the German people, and his own notions of good and evil, right and wrong. Regarded as a classic, this stark rendering of one of the most pivotal events in the 20th century features a stellar cast including Burt Lancaster, Montgomery Clift, Marlene Dietrich, a young William Shatner, and Maximillian Schell, who won an Oscar for his role as counsel for the defense for those charged with crimes against humanity. Judgment at Nuremberg is important viewing not only for the history of film, but for the history of modern times. --Robert Lane ... Read more

Reviews (30)

Star-Studded Recounting of Legendary Nazi Trials
This star-studded film vividly captures the characters on all 3 sides of the spectrum: The accused, the victims, and the international tribunal judging the perpetrators of unspeakable atrocities against fellow human beings. It is shocking to see how many of the people responsible for the gruesome deaths of millions justified their actions.

After hearing witnesses who often were tortured, mamed by sadistic doctors, and had their loved ones murdered, I can not grasp the fact that the majority of those on trial were released after serving minimal prison terms. Some of them are still among us, while millions of victims lie in their graves at the hands of an evil minority!

Stellar performances by an International cast. Most noteworthy are Montgomery Clift and Judy Garland as testifying victims, Maximilian Schell as Prosecutor (Oscar Winner), Marlene Dietrich as wife of a defendant, and an elderly Spencer Tracy, trying to make sense of it all.

Effective use of B&W photography, first rate sets and costumes, along with many other production values, make this a timeless Classic. Although considerd over-long by some, I recommend this film to be shown to high school classes as a reminder that these things happened in a not so distant past.*****

SCHELL, TRACY, GARLAND, LANCASTER, CLIFT & WIDMARK GREAT!
This is a superb film by Stanley Kramer with an unbelievably great cast at the height of their craft. Each of the legendary actors were at the top of their performances in the reinactment of the Judge's Trial at Nuremberg. The world was tired of the Nuremberg trials. This one was a mopping up operation. Against a backdrop of an escalating Cold War with the Soviet Union, the selling out of justice by prominent Nazi judges serving the Third Reich is put on trial. Spencer Tracey plays Judge Dan Haywood, a retired Maine circuit court judge brought out of mothballs to serve as the chief justice. Amazingly, the usual action actor Burt Lancaster plays the top Nazi judge who at first does not recognize the Nuremberg tribunal's authority to judge him. For some mysterious reason, critics over the years failed to acknowledge the tremendous acting job he did in convincingly carrying off what was perhaps this film's most dynamic character change. However, my personal favorite was Maximillian Schell whose quintessential Germanic Hans Rolfe, the defense attorney released the full range of this incredible actor's virtuosity. For this he deservedly won an Academy Award Oscar.

One thousand words are not enough to celebrate this timeless film: Judy Garland (in perhaps her last film role) delivers a heartbreaking middle aging Irene Hoffman, reliving her experiences of Nazi cruelty on the witness stand; once again. However, not very good was the young Canadian actor, William Shatner playing Army Captain Byers, the aide de camp to Judge Haywood (Tracy). [The Starship Enterprise didn't seem to improve Shatner's skills any.] Richard Widmark (the moody, hostile prosecutor) and Montgomery Clift [who begged for the role he was willing to play without pay!] were excellent. Clift plays a slightly retarded German laborer, sterilized by Nazi doctors because of his mental slowness. This is among the very best films made by Kramer in the decade of the 1960s. Amazingly, it was released one year after INHERIT THE WIND, another Tracy-Kramer classic!

MASTERPIECE
What happens when Stanley Kramer teams Tracy, Dietrich, Garland, Schell, Clift, Lancaster and Widmark in a drama based on the trials in pos-war Nuremberg??? It`s vintage Hollywood; still 1 IF not THE BEST about the horrors from World War II ..... The film should be in every school-library across the world

MASTERPIECE
What happens when Stanley Kraner teams Tracy, Dietrich, Garland, Schell, Clift, Lancaster and Widmark in a drama based on the trials in pos-war Nuremberg??? It`s vintage Hollywood; still 1 IF not THE BEST about the horrors from World War II ..... The film should be in every school-library across the world

Wooooooooow
Ok, you`ll get Garland, Dietrich, Clift, Tracy, Widmark & Schell - the production headed by Stanley Kramer.... the result is pure Hollywood vintage combined with horrors from the 2nd World War??? But indeed; it is a masterpiece.... It should be in every school-library all over the world:-) ... Read more

Reviews (1)

A Movie Lover's Delight
While it takes many liberties with the Baum story, it is a great movie. For Oz purists like myself, it would have been nice to see more of the original story in this movie (like Oz being real and not a dream!), but this movie is, on its own, wonderful. With a beautiful score (including "Over the Rainbow"), very funny dialogue, an amazing cast, special effects, and a charming story, who can ask for anything more?
What the movie does not lose is the magic of the Oz books, and it is this magic that has kept the movie fresh for over 60 years. And it almost wasn't this way. The movie, in its planning stages, almost turned into a starring vehicle, with Shirley Temple as Dorothy, and Fanny Brice or a similar commedienne as Glinda, at another time an operetta; in both cases it would have certainly lost any of the original Oz material.
Anyone who likes this movie should purchase the "Making of" video, which sheds light on the creation of this classic, and includes tons of deleted footage, home movies of backstage goings-on, and more! ... Read more

Amazon.com

The plot is a hokey whitewash of the careers of Richard Rodgers andLorenz Hart, with characters talking in stilted phrases ("Gee, Larry, that's marvelous, really and truly") and complexities reduced to ground zero. But Rodgers and Hart comprised one of the greatest song-writing teams of the 20th century, and Words and Music (1948) is an excuse for a gang of Hollywood's top performers to have their way with the tunes. Mel Tormé croons a melancholy "Blue Moon," June Allyson twinkles through "Thou Swell," and a climactic ballet to "Slaughter on 10th Avenue" features Gene Kelly and Vera-Ellen in slinky, kicky form. As is often the case in MGM musicals of this period, Lena Horne steals the show with a self-contained sequence (so it could be snipped out in theaters in the U.S. South), here contributing stunning versions of "The Lady Is a Tramp" and that most mysterious of American pop songs, "Where or When."

The film's sense of time is deranged:Perry Como plays an early friend of R&H, then decades later, himself; Garbo's Camille is shown as a silent film, although it was released 10 years after sound came in; and the grown-up Judy Garland plays herself in a period when she would have been a child. The upside is that Garland romps through "Johnny One Note," one of many examples of Lorenz Hart's lyrical dexterity. Tom Drake is a dull Rodgers, but Mickey Rooney's buzz-saw energy and crazed appetite might have made a brilliant Larry Hart. In a better movie, that is. --Robert Horton ... Read more

Reviews (16)

This is Mickey Rooney's movie!
I never realized what a bundle of energy a youthful Mickey Rooney was. He completely steals the show as musical theatre composer Larry Hart (the other half of Rodgers and Hart). Mr. Rooney brings such exuberance to his role that you actually feel sorry for what his character becomes by the end of the film.

Granted, this is a somewhat fictionalized account of the songwriting partnership of Rodgers and Hart, the film contains many a classic tune and musical number performed by many of the greatest MGM stars, including June Allyson, Perry Como, Lena Horne, Gene Kelly, Ann Sothern, Cyd Charisse, Vera-Ellen, and Judy Garland, all making cameo appearences.

Not to be completely outdone by Mr. Rooney, equally impressive are Tom Drake as Richard Rodgers, who was the "solid" one of the partnership, Janet Leigh as Dorothy Rodgers, and Betty Garrett as a girlfriend of Hart.

Anyone who appreciates the pomp and circumstance that MGM put into their musical films will find this film a treat for the senses.

An Unforgetable Evening
I'd just returned from the Berlin Air Lift with my honorable discharge papers and a purple heart proudly pinned on my chest. It was the most wonderful years of my life.

I worked in the mess hall, but I got injured while delivering a cup o' Joe, as we called in them days, to General Lucius Clay. The danged driver let the clutch pop and the Jeep ran over my foot.

I'd seen that General Clay any number of times and was most impressed. Did you know he was the durect descendant of ole Henry Clay, the man who said he'd rather be goldanged right then president. Now there's a man who shoulda been president instead of that danged old Eisenhower. The General, not Henry.

I seen Ike, as we called him, numerous times too, always pouring sugar and creamer in his Joe. Never trusted a man who used both.

Anyway, my foot was getting better and I decided to get out of the house. Ma, God rest her soul, was always telling me go rake this, go pick this and go milk that and she was getting on my nerves, although it warn't her fault. She missed Pa since his tractor rolled in '39. He was drunk acourse, but we all missed him all the same.

I was going to the Strand and figured I'd call my old buddy Bob Eshbach about going. Well, his sister CeeCee was home from college (not many women went then, no need for more educated fools in the world) and we got chatting and I asked her out despite the fact she musta had a real bad cold because her voice all husky.

I picked her up in the Model A I'd bought for $5. She looked elegant in her green and orange komono, covering her kabukied up white-as-snow face with that little pink fan, a' batting her eyes at me.

I was enamoured and said the first word that came to my mind: "Golly." I was going to follow up with "Am I mistaken, CeeCee, but have you grown about seven inches and beefed up since we last met," but a gentleman never asks a gal if she's beefed up. It ain't polite. Pa taught me that with a whipping.

We rode along quiet for a while, both bursting with anticipation for the evening when I said "We're going to the Strand. That okay? Have youu seen the movie? Shucks, I don't even know what's playing."

"Tom, it's 'Words and Music.' Do you know anything abour it?" she replied.

"It's about them musical brothers, the Strausses or something, ain't it?"

"Rogers and Hart. Lorenz Hart was gay, you know. Does that bother you?"

That peeved me some, asking a question like I was rube or something. "Gay! Bother me? Hecks bells, no. Any feller who wrote about the corn being as high as an elephant's eye or an all decked out surrey ought to be gay. Them's wonderful, happy songs, especially to farm people like me. CeeCee, sometimes I'm gay. Not around, Ma of course. She wouldn't approve. In Berlin I was gay any number of times."

Why I could see her blush through her pancake make up as she fluttered her fan, cocked her head and cooed in a gravelly sort of way, "Oh really."

Well we got there on time and settled in with pop corn and pops. I didn't think Mickey Rooney was gay at all in his portrayal of Hart...just Academy Award level acting. While watching all the wonderful technicolor singing and dancing about small hotels and mountain greenery, I drank a big RC Cola so about half way through when Lena Horne started to pipe up, I excused myself for the little boys room.

When I returned, CeeCee had our box of pop corn on her lap and right away tilted it toward me and asked "Want some, hun." Well I reached in there and there warn't a lot of popcorn left, but a surprise at the bottom like the Cracker Jacks has.

It was a real eye opener.

We dated the rest of the summer, until she was drafted and sent to Korea and mysteriously disappeared from the ship taking her there.

Whenever I see "Words and Music" (And it's daily since I bought it at Amazon) I think of my poor CeeCee.

It is a wonderful movie, just right for them that's four to them that's 104, and I ain't referring to no sick bed temperature. Buy it today. You'll love it.

COOL movie!
Judy, Mickey, Vera-Ellen, Gene, and an ever-so-cute June Alyson in "thou swell"! She, along with all her cast members give a spectacular performance!

Good Film... ONLY THE ACTOR'S DESERVED BETTER THAN THIS!
First-Rate Celebs Deserve More Than This! I Feel Bad For Those People In This Film. BUT FOR SOME REASON, I LOVE THIS FILM! This Is Fun, Romantic, Song-Filled, And Dramatic! So If You Love A Good Time And A Good Cry, You'll Love This Film! WARNING: YOU WILL NEED KLEENEX! LOTS OF IT IF YOU GET SAD EASILY!

Master of melodrama.
Don't watch WORDS AND MUSIC for biographical accuracy; watch it for the musical numbers (they'd be called music videos today). Its book is no more proper than the one concocted for Jerome Kern in TILL THE CLOUDS ROLL BY. But there are isolated gems: Judy Garland playing grown-up with Mickey Rooney for the first time in their last screen appearance with the sarcastic duet "I Wish I Were In Love Again," as well as the "Slaughter On Tenth Avenue" dance and the massive ballet of "On Your Toes"/"This Can't Be Love." Some productions border on corny, like Perry Como's "Mountain Greenery" or the perenially perky June Allyson singing "Thou Swell," but the wit and charm behind the songs is timeless. This is one of those film enigmas of which you just accept the premise (it never could decide what period of time it's supposed to be set in) and let it wash over you. It still has the charm of Ann Southern and the smolder of Lena Horne and Cyd Charisse- even if its finale is completely melodramatic and hand-wringing!! ... Read more

Amazon.com essential video

This quintessential Mickey Rooney-Judy Garland musical has all the kinetic energy and beaming goofiness that made their films together (nine in all) so popular--and so easy to lampoon. The son of a vaudeville performer (Charles Winninger), Rooney decides to put on his own show (in a barn!) to save his family's fortune, his town, his peers, and, gosh darn it, even the American way of life. The star luster generated by Garland matches the explosive energy of Rooney's performance. Director Busby Berkeley's big production numbers are a sight to behold, from a march through town for the title number to an embarrassingly dated minstrel show routine. The movie was made the same year as The Wizard of Oz (1939) and featured the same villain: Margaret Hamilton. How popular was Rooney at the time? The number one box-office attraction was nominated for best actor at age 19 in that landmark year against some of the most famous performances of all time: Laurence Olivier in Wuthering Heights, Clark Gable in Gone with the Wind, James Stewart in Mr. Smith Goes to Washington, and winner Robert Donat in Goodbye, Mr. Chips. --Doug Thomas ... Read more

Reviews (9)

Some Pretty Good Music
Pretty much long forgotten. Came out in 39 with a whole host of great movies including Wizard of Oz and Gone W the Wind. Very old fashioned and stagey. Some of the music is pretty hummable. The story is ordinary lets put on a show. Incredibly offensive blackface scene. Difficult to sit through. A few of the songs were reprised in the infinitely better Singing in the Rain. Good for Garland and Rooney fans and missible for everyone else.

Excellent Mickey and Judy!
This classic film stars Mickey Rooney and Judy Garland as teenagers living in Seaport, Long Island, NY just before the Great Depression struck. Vaudeville is dying; thus Rooney's family business as show biz perfomers is very much at stake. When the older folks leave Seaport to put on a show and prove to the world that Vaudeville is not dead yet; they leave the younger folks behind. What to do? Put on a show! Rooney's character trys to woo some fading child star so she can put up the money for the show and bumps Garland from the lead. She inevitably retakes the lead in the show and everything ends happily ever after when out of nowhere some hot-shot producer likes what he saw in the barn show scene. (By the way, one cautionary note: the barn show scene includes a minstrel show; although typical of that era it is not only dated but potentially ofensive to some viewers.) The viewer also gets an extra treat: Margaret Hamilton has a small role as the nasty old lady who runs welfare in the town and wants to send the kids off to a vocational school. All in all, this really is a very goood movie and great fun to watch. I would add that this is an obvious must-have for any Garland or Rooney fan. A BUY!

An Essential for Rooney-Garland Fans
In the 1939 Mickey Rooney was among the top box office draws in the world. Judy Garland had appeared as a supporting player in two Rooney films, and the two had significant chemistry--more over, Garland had just completed photography for THE WIZARD OF OZ--a film that MGM rightly expected would launch her to international stardom. The time was right to costar the two, and MGM did it with BABES IN ARMS.

The film was released not long after OZ and was an immediate and major hit, becoming one of the most admired musicals of the year. But time has a way of changing our perspective. Seen today, BABES IN ARMS feels a little strange, a little strained, and at times just downright, well, ODD.

BABES IN ARMS was originally a Rogers and Hart show that proved a smash on the New York stage--a slightly satirical script with one of the most powerful scores of the 1930s. MGM specifically purchased the property for Rooney and Garland and then promptly threw out the script, most of the score, and transformed the thing into the tale of young teenagers who decide to put on a show in a barn.

Although well performed, the songs that replaced the original score simply do not measure up to the play's original score, and viewers are likely to be startled by a minstrel show number that find Mickey and Judy romping in blackface. In justice to the film, it should be remembered that while minstrel shows had their heyday in the late 1800s and early 1900s, they remained popular well into the 1950s, and such great stars as Al Jolson and Eddie Cantor performed in full blackface well into the 1930s. While the number is stereotypical, that was in fact the essence of minstrel show; it is not meanspirited, and if nothing else it offers a glimpse into a now dead theatrical tradition.

But weirdest of all is the grand finale "In God's Country," a strange mixture of Hollywood ballyhoo, patriotism, and fear of the European war that would soon engulf the world. In its original form, the number also included Rooney and Garland doing a take off of FDR and Eleanor; although cleverly performed and quite mild in content, this was later cut in re-release, for MGM worried it might be construed as disrespectful during wartime.

The film also has a number of distinct flaws. Director Busby Berkley was most at home with big-budget musicals that had scope for the elaborate dance numbers he favored--he's something of a fish out of water with this more intimate material, and his approach feels heavy handed. Although much admired at the time (he actually received an Academy Award nomination for Best Actor for this film), Mickey Rooney's performance is absurdly manic by modern standards, and Garland's more natural performance is too often overshadowed by his excesses. The script is as weak as the score, few of the supporting performers are memorable (Margaret Hamilton is an exception), and the whole thing has a awkward quality to it.

Even so, it's still possible to see what all the fuss was about. The film does capture an inkling of the famous Rooney-Garland chemistry--a chemistry that would fuel three more "let's put on a show!" musicals, each one more more effective than the last. It is there in every musical number the two perform, in every line, in every scene, a very real and very powerful thing. While casual viewers would do better to select either BABES ON BROADWAY or GIRL CRAZY, in spite of all its flaws, Rooney-Garland fans will likely find BABES IN ARMS an essential.

GFT, Amazon Reviewer

Hurray for Mickey and Judy!
The plot is almost exactly like those in Mickey and Judy's other films together, eg "Strike up the Band." But still, it's better than the junky movies Hollywood makes today.
Margaret Hamilton once again is excellent as the villian, a rich, elegant woman who wants to see Mickey, Judy, and the other children sent to boarding school to get a "proper education." Like "Wizard of Oz" in which she played the Wicked Witch, she seems to be always there though she is only on screen for a matter of minutes.
All in all, this is a good family movie for a rainy Sunday afternoon.

Dated, but charming.
I just saw it on TCM for only the second time in my life. I agree with most of the previous comments, but offer this anecdote. Indeed, much of the score from the stage BIA is not in the film, but that's not the ego of Freed, that's the ego of Hollywood. Hollywood has been tampering with the scores of stage musicals since the year 1. There's been stage-to-screen tampering done with SHOW BOAT, ON THE TOWN, BRIGADOON, GAY DIVORCE, SWEET CHARITY, and even A CHORUS LINE, to name a few. And Rodgers & Hart and Cole Porter were decidedly more sophisticated, adult composers; they had to endure the wrath of the puritanical Hollywood image back then. This is why I've always preferred musicals orignally created for the screen; no one looking for a stage predecessor would be offended. That was just the mentality of all film studios then. As it is, they did keep "The Lady is A Tramp" in the background and allowed "Where or When" to be performed in its entirety, albeit as part of a botched band rehearsal. But I loved the treatment of the title song (with its bonfire-rally choreography), and Judy Garland's torch solo "I Cried For You" is a stunning piece of poignancy which makes you forget that she is only 17 years old. As for the 'dated film' accusations: America just entered the war at the time of this release, and it's probably no coincidence that the film's finale "God's Country" is an especially long musical sequence. I mean, how ageless can it be with Mickey Rooney doing an impersonation of President Roosevelt?! ... Read more

Reviews (33)

FOUR-STAR-MUSICAL HIT
Because of the broken legs of Cyd Charisse and Gene Kelly, Ann Miller and Fred Astaire(out of a two-year retirement)starred with the great JUDY GARLAND in this musical. It`s a great show and it is on a standard formula. Many of the ingredients were used in similar films; "Singin`in the Rain" were they d o include a fashion show, only one composer(Ok 2 - Nacio Herb Brown/Arthur Freed), singing in the rain, a bitchy lead replaced by a plain-Jane ingenue... The most funny thing however is that when I watched DIRTY DANCING in 1987, the female character was called "Baby Frances" by her family(as was Judy was by her own family) and the plot was stolen from Easter Parade. But this is EASTER PARADE. The only team-work of Garland-Astaire - great Irving Berlin songs(indeed he only agreed 2 let the picture be shot if Judy was involved). Vincente Minnelli was first choice as director until Judy`s psychiatrist insisted the studio replace him, fearful she might see husband-director Minnelli as a shadow respresenting her problems with the studio MGM. The song Mr Monotoni was cut from the film(Garland wearing the Get Happy costume later in the 1950 SUMMER STOCK)but is seen in THAT`S ENTERTAINMENT III 1994. EASTER PARADE is a joyful package of entertainment, forever cherished... What is most a revelation is that JUDY GARLAND delivers a Hanna Brown of flesh and blood - not a musical-comedy-cartoon. But that`s the great Judy for u... See my MORE ABOUT ME page about my thoughts of JUDY GARLAND

I love this movie!
I am a Judy Garland and Fred Astaire fan. The first time I saw this film was on Easter sunday on TCM. I only saw the last half I was not too impressed. I have to admit I bought the movie only for Garland. When I got home my whole family gathered round the TV to watch it. I was amazed. The musical numbers are all superb, Irving Berlin's score is perfect, Ann Miller and Peter Lawford are equally super, Garland (like usual) is vocally and comically outstanding, and Astaire's dancing is as good as ever! I think Astaire is a better mach for Garland than Mickey Rooney (sorry Mickey) and Garland is even more suitable for Astaire than Ginger Rogers! Even my dad who claims to hate musicals fell in love with this charmer. I've seen it at least 5 times and it has never bored me. I was lucky enough to buy the MGM version; not the one patterned with Warner Bros. I mean MGM made the movie give them alittle credit! Any way this movie will entertain everyone I highly recomend it!

Garland! Astaire! MIller! Lawford! Berlin! -- and more!
It goes without saying that Easter Parade is one of the greatest MGM musicals ever made. Fred Astaire and Judy Garland make a wonderful dancing, singing and acting team! As you may know from all the reviewers before me, Astaire plays the part of Don Hewes, a very famous dancer, who is very upset after his love interest and dance partner Nadine (played by Ann Miller) leaves him to pursue an even more lucrative career on the stage. In anger and disgust he impulsively vows that he could turn any woman into a better dancer than his partner had been-and he makes a great pick! Hannah Brown, played by Judy Garland, is (of course) not too good at dancing at first, but with much coaching and hard work Hewes (Astaire) builds her into a dancing star as his new partner! (As the Amazon review points out, while watching this film I was reminded more than once of the musical My Fair Lady. There is that theme of the older, more experienced and educated man coaching, teaching and molding a younger woman.)

This film offers a love triangle with Peter Lawford also being attracted to Garland but he doesn't get far as she is very much in love with Hewes (Astaire). The musical numbers are outstanding thanks to the incomparable Irving Berlin, Garland, and Astaire. Ann Miller (playing Nadine, Astaire's former partner) also does a fantastic job with her dance number while singing "Shakin' The Blues Away." Indeed, it's hard to decide which numbers are the best; they're all so well done and beautifully filmed! "Steppin' Out With My Baby" and the title song are particularly strong numbers; so is "We're A Couple Of Swells," a vaudeville-type number that Garland liked very much.

The choreography is excellent. The dancing is superlative and they must have really put a lot of effort into a dance routine with Garland and Astaire early on in the film where she dances almost every step wrong!

I recommend this movie for lovers of classic musicals, Garland fans, Astaire fans, Miller fans as well as aficionados of great quality films. Get this movie for your collection today and you'll never regret it! A BUY! GRIN

Avoid this picture.
This has to be the worst musical I have ever seen. I like them generally and I love Judy Garland, but this is just atrocious. It has a stupid paper thin plot without a single twist, boring characters who would never do anything you wouldn't expect, and songs which have absolutely nothing to do with the action of the scene into which they've been crammed. If you want a good Garland musical see A Star is Born or Meet me in St. Louis (I'm sure if you're here you've already viewed Oz), but stay far away from this.

Musical
A fantastic musical. A sure-fine collectable that they couldn't ever make a remake of. This has many classic songs I once sung in choir; unforgettables such as "Stepping Out with My Baby" and more. The plot is one about a dancer who just lost his partner to another. He decides to show her how he really did turn her into a star by taking any girl--and doing just that. He picks Judy Garland, a nightclub singer, and turns her into a dancer, sure enough. She falls in love with him, but he still wants to get his old partner back. In the end, though, he realizes how in love he is with her and takes her out for the "Easter parade," singing the title song. You should see it if you love Judy's singing and Fred Astair's wonderful 5 star tap dancing! Enjoy! ... Read more

Reviews (339)

A true masterpiece! A 5 star winner and a true classic!
The Wizard of Oz has got to be one of the greatest movies in classical and musical cinema history. For sixty years this movie has been the perfect choice for childeren and adults to watch and enjoy. The story is about Dorthy Gale who lives in Kansas with her aunt and uncle. When Dorthy decides to run away from home because of her feelings being empty a tornado hits and she and her house are taken to another world, the Land of Oz. A place where she finds friends like she never imagined like Glinda the good witch of the north, the beautiful witch who gives her the rubey slippers which posses power like any unknown. The scarecrow, a friendly man of clothing and straw who wants a brian, the tin woodsman, a sweet man made of tin who wants a heart, the lion, a kind and cowardly forest animal who wants courage and the wicked witch of the west, a evil witch who wants the rubey slippers and revenge on Dorthy for accidently killing her sister, the wicked witch of the east. As Dorthy and her friends follow the yellow brick to the emerald city, the place where the great and powerful and mysterious Wizard of Oz lives the magic of this film can tell the rest.

A true masterpiece! Excellent polt, characters, music and more. It holds an emotional presents that will touch everyone's heart and wish they were in the Land of Oz! See it and live through the magic of this timeless classical film of wonders.

An OZ-some DVD Experience
Like most baby boomers, I've watched this film dozens of times in the past on broadcast TV, then VHS tape, then LaserDisc ... but I had never actually SEEN "The Wizard of Oz" until this newly restored DVD came out. It's an amazing transfer. The sepia-tone Kansas sequences are startlingly sharp and clear, and the Technicolored world "Over the Rainbow" is truly dazzling. I found myself fascinated by details I had never noticed before: the glittering corn stalks in the Scarecrow's field; the mirror-like floors of the Emerald City; the polished buttons on the guardsmen's uniforms. Incredibly, even the individual grains of red sand in the Witch's hourglass stood out and glistened! All these minor-but-sumptuous visual details served to heighten the magical spell that the film has always woven, enhancing the performances, the story, and the music.

The DVD extras are a mind-boggling embarrassment of riches. The "Making Of" documentary hosted by the incomparable Angela Lansbury is worth the price of the DVD alone, but there's so much more: an international poster gallery, interviews with cast members, deleted scenes, production stills, radio clips, etc, etc. There's enough material to keep even the most casual viewer fascinated for hours, and a true Oz buff will be occupied for days!

If you only bought a DVD player to watch this one disc, it would well be worth the expense. Treat yourself, and fall in love with this classic film again ... for the first time.

The Wonderful Movie of Oz
I have been enchanted as I now watch the movie as an adult. It is not just a story about a girl from Kansas trying to get back home - actually, that was added into the movie: "There's no place like home" wasn't in the book even. I think it was a story of things that we want, and that we imagine these things may be granted by the Wonderful Wizard of Oz. The scarecrow wants a brain, the tinman a heart, and the lion courage. On their journey off to see the wizard, they encounter the wicked witch of the west - who is determined to get the ruby slippers off of Dorothy's feet. Now, the thing I am puzzled by is at the beginning, Glinda is the one who reminds the wicked witch about the shoes. Then she is the one who places them on Dorothy's feet: "There they are and there they'll stay." Had she not had the shoes, her journey to the wizard would not have been so troublesome. Not to mention that the "good witch" sent Dorothy on a journey to a phony wizard. I wonder now if there was some kind of irony in that - since she was also the one who in the end tells Dorothy that all she has to do is click her heels together and say "there 's no place like home." While the movie is totally a classic I love and will watch over and over again, I am wondering about the book: Were the "ruby slippers" (which were silver in the novel) as magical - and - if there was no "no place like home" in the novel then I am wondering how Dorothy got back to Kansas. I think that because each time I watch this film I realize something new, it will always remain one of my favorite movies ever.

The Wizard of Oz is wonderful
The classic film! The Wizard of Oz is wonderful. Judy Garland's breakthrough performance. Beautiful.

Growing Up, Growing On
I knew every line of this as a kid. I loved the books. I even loved the sequel that everyone else hated because I love OZ. I tried to be "over" this movie for a long time as an adult. But every time I see it I re-remember why I couldn't get enough before. The quintessential fairy tale. All kids and all adults should watch it again to remind them that a movie can work without sex, violence or graphic anything really. It's scary -- touching -- and completely engrossing -- more so each year I grow older. ... Read more

Amazon.com essential video

"Say, he looks like an actor," says the platform conductor. Andwith that introduction, Gene Kelly steps off the train and into his film career. After starring on Broadway in Pal Joey, Kelly made his film debut inFor Me and My Gal opposite Judy Garland, with the pair playing vaudevilleperformers who team up to find success and, of course, romance. But just whenthings are looking up, World War I intervenes, and Kelly has to take drasticmeasures to keep a promise and avoid the war, at least temporarily.

Bad move, Gene. Filmed in 1942, For Me and My Gal vigorously supports thewar effort, including teaching Kelly the error of his ways. The old-time settingalso allows for a basketful ofnostalgic charmers, including "After You've Gone," "Oh You Beautiful Doll,"and "Ballin' the Jack," and Kelly and Garland's crooning and tapping of thetitle tune is pure joy. --David Horiuchi ... Read more

Reviews (35)

A Musical Masterpiece
"For Me And My Gal" was one of the first musicals I saw, and one of the first I bought on video. Judy Garland is great in her first "adult" role. This is also the splashy debut of Gene Kelly to movie audiences. Movie hoofer and later politican George Murphy rounds out the love triangle. It's interesting to note the difference in the stars ages though. Garlandwas 20 when the movie was made. Kelly was 30. And Murphy was 40.

Most movies of the 1940s, let alone World War II movies, dealt with serious issues, but this musical is full of them. Some of the issues include draft dodging and the horrors of war among others.

The music portion of the movie is the highpoint. My personal favorite is Garland's teary rendition of "After You've Gone". Reportedly, she filmed it the day after her divorce from bandleader David Rose. Another memorable scene is the famous Garland-Kelly duet of the title track. The musical numbers are countless and timeless and add to the movie's greatness. If you are looking for a great musical, with dramatic moments, and a tearjerking ending, then "For Me And My Gal" is for you...

Gene Kelly's film debut
Judy Garland plays Jo Hayden, a Vaudeville performer who has big dreams to reach the top along with her partners Jimmy Metcalf (George Murphy) and Sid Simms (Ben Blue). But then Harry Palmer (Gene Kelly) comes along with a great duo act. A Vaudeville performer himself, Jo finds that he too has big dreams, to be able to play at the Palace. This is the tale about how these two team up and through hardships and the war effort, reach out for their dreams and to their surprise, find love.

I'm a big fan of all musicals so hearing that this was Gene Kelly's first film, I knew I had to see it. And though I didn't enjoy it as much as I do other superior musicals, I still thoroughly enjoyed it.

Judy Garland is one of the most wonderful actresses, a one in a million. Every note she sings is pure perfection and she is one talented actress. "For Me and My Gal" is more of a musical/drama than a musical/comedy, so expect Garland to have many scenes where her eyes are full of tears. And this being in black and white, these scenes come out simply beautiful since Judy Garland is a stunning actress.

Being a musical, expect to see some great musical numbers. All the dance scenes are well choreographed. Most favorite is probably the "Ballin' the Jack" where Garland and Kelly share a number. But since this is Kelly's first film, don't expect him to do any of his famous outstanding solo tap numbers. He does get a short number towards the beginning which gives really only a glimpse of his talents. He tap dances... with huge rubber shoes worn by clowns!

Another character is in this movie called Eve Minard played by Martha Eggerth, a beautiful operatic singer. Though I'm not a big fan of opera type music (Kathryn Grayson is the only one I love in the movies), I must admit that Eggerth has an astounding voice.

As I said, there is a lot more drama than comedy in "For Me and My Gal". But don't worry, the end is terrific, and my only reason for giving this movie four stars is that I do have other musical favorites which I think are a bit superior to this one.

To see Gene Kelly REALLY show off his tap-dance talent, watch:
*SINGIN' IN THE RAIN* - If you claim to be a fan of all musicals and STILL haven't seen this one... well, tsk tsk tsk on you!
*COVER GIRL* - Kelly has this one amazing number where he dances... with himself! VERY cool!
*ANCHORS AWEIGHT* - Great number where he dances with the cartoon, Jerry the Mouse! Also a scene where he plays a matador.
And just in general, watch any of Kelly's films, they won't disappoint!

I liked it too
I greatly dislike and resent reviewers who give away plots and endings. Why do they do it? This is one of my all-time favorite musicals. It is not a flag-waver and it does not sugar-coat war (rah-rah-America!), though as one reviewer mentioned, there is a note at the ending saying that war bonds would be sold in the lobby. War is hell. Everyone in it was wonderful, Garland actually kept right up with Kelly in the dancing, and she came across strong, professional and abundantly talented, all of which she is. (Incidentally, before Pal Joey, there was a straight play by Saroyan called The Time of Your Life which I think was Kelly's first big break (he danced), and before that a part in the chorus of a Porter musical called Leave It To Me, more than that I don't know.) The movie is singing and dancing from stem to stern, all wonderful, all Garland and/or Kelly, and I loved every minute of it. The directing was also good, though I'm no judge of that kind of thing, but it struck me as inventive and original while I watched it. I totally abhored Murphy's bit in France when he makes a sap out of the poor dumb foreigner with the fake money. And then his men have a good laugh. I thought it stunk. And on the subject of George Murphy (whose career in movies was about as stellar as Ronald Reagan's), Tom Lehrer said (sang, actually), "Gee it's great! At last we've got a senator who can really sing and dance!" That's about the size of it, folks. And I didn't think he did either of those particularly well. If he'd gotten the girl, I wouldn't have watched the movie a second time. One last note. I cried during this movie when Danny left for duty. And I really cried at the end.

Watching the Easter Parade
There is apparently a shortage of the Great Easter Parade film, one of the truly GREATEST musicals (of which not enough have been released). I don't know what is available RIGHT NOW, but a wonderful copy came out several years ago on Lasar Disk, so IT HAS BEEN RELEASED.

BLACK & WHITE....not color!
So many have done such a great job reviewing this movie I won't rehash....but Amazon.com taking their cue from Warners (on the DVD box) say this is color and it is NOT....its in its glorious original Black and White and a beautiful print at that! Didn't want anyone out there afraid this masterpiece had been colorized! Yiiikes
Kelly / Garland......please this should be a no-brainer! ... Read more

Reviews (38)

STUNNING! This HARVEY GIRLS DVD is "Metro-GARLAND-Magic"
Hats off to Ted Turner's crew and their partners at Warner Home Video for a simply stunning DVD presentation of THE HARVEY GIRLS. The film looks sumptuous. A thrilling example of Technicolor at its most splendid. Although THE HARVEY GIRLS is a thoroughly delightful entertainment, there isn't much substance to the plot. It seems to hardly matter, as the film's major virtues are its great score by Johnny Mercer and Harry Warren, superb performances from a great cast, and of course, the peerless Judy Garland.

If anyone else had played the lead in this picture, it would have been long forgotten. This is Judy's show, all the way, and everything about it is designed to show off her immense talents.
She is at the top of her form here...looking lovely, singing gorgeously, dancing with aplomb, and handling both dramatic and comedic scenes better than anyone else could ever dream to. The biggest highlight of the film is the mammoth eight-minute production number ON THE ATCHISON, TOPEKA, AND THE SANTA FE which ended up winning a Best Song Oscar. This sequence alone is worth the price of the DVD, and the Warner Home Video people give us an extra bonus by presenting the number separately in TRUE STEREO! Astounding!

The supplementary materials are vast and beautifully assembled. The commentary by recently-deceased director George Sidney was fortunately captured for this release, and his thoughts and reminiscences are entertaining and charming. There were four musical numbers intended for this picture which were cut before release. MARCH OF THE DOAGIES and its reprise and MY INTUITION are the three that were filmed, and they are included on this DVD, looking like they were filmed yesterday (actually they look TOO good to have been filmed in this day and age). The one unused song that was recorded but not filmed called HAYRIDE is among the more than 20 pre-recording sessions included on the DVD's "Sing Song Express". A captivating opportunity to be present on the Metro recording stages as they laid down these historic tracks. You can hear the starts and stops, the banter and laughter...It's almost like being there. The disc also includes a trailer.

Hats off to Warner and Turner for a splendid job well done, a VAST improvement from the once-impressive laserdisc release, which is now unwatchable in comparison to this DVD. Add to this the VERY reasonable price of this movie, and it can't be beat. Now the big question: "When will Warner give us MEET ME IN ST. LOUIS, EASTER PARADE and the rest of the golden Garland catalog?" Let's hope it's soon. If this DVD is any indication of what those will be like, we are in for a treat.

Judy at her comedic best!
"The Harvey Girls" is my favorite of the MGM musicals. It has everything: a superb star (Judy Garland), a great supporting cast (headed by a young Angela Lansbury, with Ray Bolger and Marjorie Main), fantastic songs (featuring the Academy Award winning "On the Atchison, Topeka, and the Santa Fe"), and a funny plot. Susan Bradley (Garland) decides to marry the man she has been writing love letters to, and travels with the Harvey restaurant chain to a town in the Old West to meet him. When she gets there, she realizes the romantic letters were written by his friend, the owner of the town saloon (played by John Hodiak). Susan decides to join the Harvey girls in setting up the new restaurant. When the town leaders try to scare the Harvey girls away because they are taking business from the saloon, Susan must help keep the restaurant in order. Angela Lansbury shines as the villainous saloon girl, as do Marjorie Main as the Harvey House cook, and Ray Bolger as the local blacksmith.

Something for everyone.
Even though the film starred Judy Garland, what I really enjoyed about The Harvey Girls is that it operates as an ensemble musical. That is, it gives features and spotlight numbers to just about everyone in the mammoth cast. This kind of thing is usually done for all-star films or stage musicals only, but back in 1946 MGM's roster of talent was strong, if not yet infamous. Players like hypnotic deadpanner Virginia O'Brien and dancer Cyd Charisse were fairly new back then, but this film gives them individual spotlights: not only do they both sing with Garland in the nighttime ballad "It's A Great Big World," but O'Brien gets to sing "The Wild, Wild West" (with comic blacksmith Ray Bolger looking on) and Charisse gets to display her ballet dancing opposite Kenny Baker's ballad "Wait And See." Marjorie Main sings bits of "The Waltz" and "The Train Must Be Fed;" Angela Lansbury is featured in *two* saloon numbers, and Ray Bolger gets to do some of his rubber-legged dancing at the Harvey House party. And, of course, it seems like everyone on the planet is assembled for the big, eight minute production number "On The Atchison, Topeka, and Santa Fe." There's literally something for everyone- even the oil-and-water romance (if you like that sort of thing) between Garland and John Hodiak.

Bravo! Bravo!
This is definetly one of Judy Garland's best movies. I think the songs are great,and Judy is so funny when she holds up the bar across the street just to please her customers. If you have no idea what I'm talking about, you have to see the movie to understand. I also loved the casting. Angela Lansbury was wonderful and the "villian". And for anybody who's a Judy Garland fan, you must see this!

That Garland Magic!
To those people who are new to a Judy Garland musical, excluding those who have seen OZ. I highly recommend mandatory Judy Garland Musical watching. No one in this life, past or present can ever compare to this stunning singer and actress as she was and still is the greatest musical star ever. Streisand attempted to take her place in the late 60's but lets be honest. No one ever could. Judy is in a category all her own. The Harvey Girls is just another example of her brilliance as entertainer. Watch "One Take Judy" as George Sidney affectionately calls her as he remembers in the audio commentary of her delivering one of her most memorable performances in one take, yes one take of Atchison, Topeka and the Santa Fe. She generally recorded her songs in one take and could watch a stand in doing the movements before camera and step in and do it exactly in one take. Amazing. This film is one of those examples of that talent. The songs in the movie are all very well crafted with stunning results like the opening song, "In the Valley where the evening sun goes down" and It's a great big world". Virginia O'Brien adds some sass, which we miss later in the film after she has exited due to pregnancy. I always wondered why her character disappears without a word and this audio commentary explains all. Angela Lansbury is interesting to watch being that she was all of 18 years old and plays a worldly older woman to Judy's character and does it excellently. Its interesting hearing her do an American accent so well. She never looked more beautiful than in this film. Glorious Technicolor is very well utilized in this film. The restoration work that went into this film is amazing. It is crystal clear and the colors, oh the colors! For anyone who has never seen this film I recommend it greatly. They just don't make it like this any more. ... Read more

Reviews (9)

Great mixture of music, romance, and high-school Hyjinks!
Mickey Rooney and Judy Garland are great together in this movie. Rooney plays Jimmy, a high-school-band drum player who dreams of starting a modern dance orchestra. Garland plays Mary, Jimmy's good friend who does the vocals for his band and happens to have a crush on him. When the dance orchestra dream comes true, Jimmy and his orchestra play at the dance...and are an immediate success! Things start to complicate for Mary and Jimmy as well as the rest of the band when the new girl, Barbara Francis, arives in town. She steals Jimmy's heart, leaving Mary jealous and a little lonely. Barbara also steals Jimmy away from one of his number one priorities-the band. Luckily, Mary has Jimmy's back and covers up for him. When Jimmy hears about a high school band competition in Chicago, he tries to think of a way to raise money to get the band there. One of the ways was performing a melodrama skit (which I thought was quite entertaining). The day the band boards for the train, something terrible happens to one of Jimmy and Mary's friends. He needs a crucial surgery that costs the same amount of money as the trip to Chicago. Will they use the money to help their friend? And will Jimmy and Mary end up as a couple? Find out when you watch "Strike Up The Band".

PLEASANT NOSTALGIA
This picture is about a group of High-School musicians who turn the school band into a swing orchestra aspiring to compete in a nation wide contest conducted by Paul Whiteman (who was once know as the King of Jazz). With BABES IN ARMS a major success, MGM quickly laid plans for a sequel using much the same talent. STRIKE UP THE BAND was the result. Jam-packed with youthful energy, the film once again proved Mickey Rooney to be a performer beyond comparison - singing, dancing, playing musical instruments, mugging - dominating every minute he's on the screen. Judy Garland is the perfect partner for him - demure and appealing in her acting, beautifully effective in her singing. The film contained a new song OUR LOVE AFFAIR which was to become one of Judy's standards. STRIKE UP THE BAND is a showcase for the effervescent Rooney and the dynamic Garland. The finale is built around the title song, a natural and logical piece for this picture, with the cast singing and marching through an elaborate Berkeley military routine.

I love the music!
Strike Up The Band is a great movie with a great story and great music! I like the story of this film. The way the students just get up and play ispired me!

Inspiring Movie!
Of all the Rooney-Garland movies i think this is the best! With 4 of the same cast from "Babes in Arms" it had everything a musical should have. With adorable songs like "Our Love Affair" "I Ain't got Nobody", "The La Conga!" "The Drummer Boy" it had that effect of all their movies together. Judy plays Mary, who is in love with Jimmy, (Mickey Rooney) and of cours he's the head strong, determained guy who dosn't realize it until she's mad at him! full of laughs, songs, and a cute storyline! this is a gotta-see!

Strike Up The Music!
Forget about Jeanette MacDonald and Nelson Eddy, the best movie team of the 1930s was Judy Garland and Mickey Rooney. The duo had such vitality and energy, that one can not help but feel energized when one of their movies come on. Even though the put on a show in a barn story has worn thin to new millenium audiences, the story and movie in general harks back to a much better time in history.

The music and dance numbers are great, staged by Busby Berkeley. The number "LaConga" is an over the top production number, showcasing the singing ability of 19 year old Judy Garland and the unending energy of 20 year old Mickey Rooney. The number "Drumming Man", which Gene Krupa made famous on records, was introduced here by Rooney. It looks as if Mickey is actually doing his own drum work. Rounding out the bill is the fabulous orchestra of Paul Whiteman, which was the starting band for Bing Crosby,the Dorsey Brothers, and many others.

The most touching moment is not the patriotic ending with the title song, but the unending love and devotion Mickey Rooney had for his mother. I watched the movie with my mother, and we were both touched. Yes, this movie may be sentimental, but there's nothing wrong with that. Do yourself a favor and watch this movie, it'll have you striking up the band... ... Read more

Amazon.com

The promise of "One Hundred Beautiful Girls on Horseback" and a personalappearance by the Tommy Dorsey orchestra are among the enticements of this 1943MGM musical, a typical installment in the Mickey Rooney/Judy Garland let's-put-on-a-show genre. Not typical is the quality of the songbook, which trots outsome sublime George and Ira Gershwin tunes: "Embraceable You," "FascinatingRhythm," and a meltingly plaintive Garland solo on "But Not for Me." The plothas rich kid Rooney, energized as usual, sent away to a boys' school in the WildWest as a way of containing his mania (see title). The only gal in town isJudy, the granddaughter of the school's dean. The stars are affectionatelymatched, and musical fans will enjoy the young June Allyson belting out a spunky"Treat Me Rough." Rooney's comedy routine, imitating various radio personalities(including boxing champ Joe Louis), is one of those topical bits that willalmost certainly puzzle viewers today. The director is Norman Taurog, an MGMworkhorse who would later helm many of Elvis Presley's desultory v