MGM's bold idea to remake George Cukor's Oscar-winning upper-class romantic farce, The Philadelphia Story, into a star-studded technicolor musical with Cole Porter tunes somehow works splendidly and remains an underrated gem. Even the plot and character names--and some bits of dialogue--all remain the same as the original. Crooning Bing Crosby replaces Cary Grant as the wealthy ex-husband trying to win back his soon-to-be-remarried ex-wife, spoiled ice queen Tracy Lord (Grace Kelly, stunning and aloof in her last film role, originated in the earlier comedy by Katherine Hepburn). Unlike Grant, however, Crosby has jazz great Louis Armstrong, playing himself, in his corner for quixotic persuasion. Frank Sinatra (cocky in James Stewart's former role) and Celeste Holm add support as the nosy reporters covering, and subsequently complicating, the upcoming wedding. Sure, High Society lacks the original's witty satire, sarcasm and character complexity; but it's assuredly paced and wonderfully acted, and contains enough romantic chemistry to keep the plot engaging. And then there's the music. Unlike the grandiose production numbers of many 40s and 50s musicals, High Society's musical sequences are considerably low-key and intimate, focusing on Porter's lyrical content and the style in which it's delivered by the charismatic performers. Armstrong kicks the film off in telling style: he sings the title track, a calypso tune outlining the plot like a Greek chorus--not as an elaborately choreographed song-and-dance number, but instead stuffed claustrophobically in the back of a limousine with his jazz band. Other musical standouts include Sinatra and Crosby playfully tossing barbs during "Well, Did You Evah?"; Crosby and Armstrong teaming up for an energetic clash of styles in "Now You Has Jazz"; the two soaring, archetypal ballads by the leads--Crosby's "I Love You, Samantha" and Sinatra's superior "You're Sensational"; and, finally, the satirical Sinatra/Holm duet, "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?", the closest High Society ever comes to social or class-commentary. --Dave McCoy, Amazon.com
The story of the great sharpshooter, Annie Oakley, who rises to fame while dealing with her love/professional rival, Frank Butler.
One of Alfred Hitchcock's classics, this romantic thriller features a cast to die for: Ingrid Bergman, Cary Grant and Claude Rains. Bergman plays the daughter of a disgraced father who is recruited by American agents to infiltrate a post-World War II spy ring in Brazil. Her control agent is Grant, who treats her with disdain while developing a deep romantic bond with her. Her assignment: to marry the suspected head of the ring (Rains) and get the goods on everyone involved. Danger, deceit, betrayal--and, yes, romance--all come together in a nearly perfect blend as the film builds to a terrific (and surprising) climax. Grant and Bergman rarely have been better. --Marshall Fine
A pointed political satire 'Duck Soup' is the Marx Brothers' funniest and most insane film! Groucho is Rufus T. Firefly the hilarious dictator of mythical Freedonia. Harpo and Chico are commisioned as spies by Groucho's political rival the calculating Trentino. The film contains many of the brothers' famous sequences: the lemonade stand the Paul Revere parody the ""We're Going To War"" number (a beautiful spoof of 30's musicals) the hilarious mirror scene and a final battle episo
Beautiful aloof Newport heiress Tracy Lord (Kelly) is about to marry bland businessman George Kittredge (John Lund) but matters become complicated when her ex-husband C K Dexter-Haven (Crosby) moves to her neighbourhood determined to win back her hand. Things go from bad to worse for Tracy when journalist Mike Connor (Sinatra) arrives to cover the wedding for Spy Magazine. When Tracy is forced to choose between her suitors will she realise that ""safe"" doesn't always mean the best b
Alicia Huberman (Ingrid Bergman) gains notoriety when her father, a Nazi spy, is convicted of treason against the US following World War II. At a party thrown soon after, Alice meets a handsome stranger named Delvin (Cary Grant) who reveals after a clash of wits and temperament that he is a U.S. Intelligence Agent. Because she has fallen in love with the dashing FBI Agent, Alicia is persuaded into helping Devlin trap and catch Nazi mastermind Alex Sebastian. The more she gets involved in her work, the more at risk she becomes...
High Society: Beautiful aloof Newport heiress Tracy Lord (Kelly) is about to marry bland businessman George Kittredge (John Lund) but matters become complicated when her ex-husband C K Dexter-Haven (Crosby) moves to her neighbourhood determined to win back her hand. Things go from bad to worse for Tracy when journalist Mike Connor (Sinatra) arrives to cover the wedding for Spy Magazine. When Tracy is forced to choose between her suitors will she realise that ""safe"" doesn't a
In separate stories five wedded couples learn that they are not legally married...
Contains the titles: Duck Soup: captures some of the Marx Brothers' zaniest routines and funniest quips creating a laugh-out-loud spectacle of politics gone haywire. Backed by wealthy widow Mrs. Teasdale Groucho becomes the leader of Freedonia quickly frustrating his cabinet and offending the aggressive neighboring country to the point of war. Chico and Harpo sent by the rival country spy on Groucho and try to steal his battle plans but when war does come loyalties beco
A fantastic collection of timeless works from the Marx Brothers. Films comprise: A Girl In Every Port (1952): This was Groucho Marx's second solo outing for RKO and his third feature without Chico and Harpo. Groucho and William Bendix play a couple of scheming sailors who spend most of their time in the ship's brig. Bendix receives a small inheritance and decides to spend it on a clapped-out racehorse. When Groucho learns that the animal has a much more successful twin
A major heist goes off as planned, until bad luck and double crosses cause everything to unravel.
The story of the great sharpshooter, Annie Oakley, who rises to fame while dealing with her love/professional rival, Frank Butler.
With the advent of the talkies, The Marx Brothers - Chico, Groucho, Harpo and Zeppo - signed to Paramount Pictures and brought their stage act to cinema audience. They made five films in five years, all of which have become cornerstones of American comedy. In their last film for Paramount the four brothers gave us what many regard to be one of the greatest comedies of all time, Duck Soup. Directed by one of the most exceptional of all Hollywood comedy directors, Leo McCarey, Duck Soup sees the Marx clan spinning a satirical tale of war and war-makers as Groucho's Rufus Firefly declares war on the neighbouring state of Sylvania. The Paramount era represents the Marx Brothers at their absolute finest, retaining all of the energy and controlled chaos of their stage shows. Plots are unimportant, it's the gags, set-pieces and one-liners that matter! Special Cotents: High Definition Blu-ray (1080p) presentation, scanned and restored in 4K from original film elements by Universal Original 1.0 mono audio Optional English subtitles for the deaf and hard-of-hearing Commentary by Marx Brothers historian Robert S Bader and film critic Leonard Maltin Sibling Revelry, an introduction to the Marx Brothers by critic David Cairns MONKEYNUTCRACKERDUCKFEATHERS, a new video essay about the films David Cairns
Newly deceased playboy Henry Van Cleve (Don Ameche) presents himself to the outer offices of Hades where he asks a bemused Satan for permission to enter the gates of hell. Though the Devil doubts Henry's sins will qualify him for eternal damnation Henry proceeds to recount a lifetime spent wooing and pursuing women his long happy marriage to Martha (Gene Tierney) not withstanding. Nominated for Academy Awards for best picture and director Heaven Can Wait is an end
Monkey Business (Dir. Norman Z. McLeod 1931): The madcap Marx Brothers stowaway on a luxury cruise ship in this fast-paced laugh-filled farce. While they manage to elude capture by the ship's captain and crew by staging impromptu puppet shows and hiding in herring barrels getting off the boat is another matter. Before long they're all impersonating Maurice Chevalier in order to disembark and begin their new careers as mob bodyguards. Horse Feathers (Dir. Norman Z. McLeod 1932): Professor Quincy Adams Wagstaff (Groucho Marx) is the new President of Huxley College. In order to stay in charge he must somehow get the college football team to win their annual Thanksgiving game against arch-rivals Darwin - a bit of a tall order since Huxley haven't won a match since 1888! Needless to say playing it by the rules is the last thing on Wagstaff's mind... Duck Soup (Dir. Leo McCarey 1933): A pointed political satire Duck Soup is the Marx Brothers' funniest and most insane film! Groucho is Rufus T. Firefly the hilarious dictator of mythical Freedonia. Harpo and Chico are commisioned as spies by Groucho's political rival the calculating Trentino. The film contains many of the brothers' famous sequences: the lemonade stand the Paul Revere parody the ""We're Going To War"" number (a beautiful spoof of 30's musicals) the hilarious mirror scene and a final battle episode that has been copied by everyone including Woody Allen!
In winter of 1938, Paris is crowded with refugees from the Nazis, who live in the black shadows of night, trying to evade deportation. One such is Dr. Ravic, who practices medicine illegally and stalks his old Nazi enemy Haake with murder in mind. One rainy night, Ravic meets Joan Madou, a kept woman cast adrift by her lover's sudden death. Against Ravic's better judgement, they become involved in a doomed affair; matters come to a crisis on the day war is declared
The Red Pony
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