I just recently got this movie and have watched it twice. I absolutely love it! Don't listen to those who gave this movie 1 star..... it's definetly a 5 star! Bing's performance is just awesome! He was always such a truthful actor, and in this movie you can really see his own personality come into the character. And I thought Coleen Gray's performance was very good also. I think that she portrayed her character perfectly. I really enjoyed the music also. And "Sunshine Cake" was not "sentimentality at its most obnoxious" as one reviewer said.......the characters were just being goofy and having fun, and I really enjoyed it (people shouldn't take things so seriously). This movie has become one of my favorites, and I highly recommend it. It's a light, fun, and humorous movie with some really charming scenes and songs.
"A STINKER!"
I am quoting Humphrey Bogart in the above title of this review. He was referring to a film his own production company, Santana Productions, made called "Sirocco." .
I tend not to review movies I don't like because I have no enthusiasm for them. In fact, this is the first time I have done so. Everything about this movie is inane: the performances (especially Coleen Gray's, whose idea of acting is to grin as widely as possible and sparkle her eyes. One wishes she had never gone into the business.), the silly dialogue, the phony script, etc., etc.
It only has two things going for it: A beautiful horse which is a delight to watch, though frustrating as the characters treat him so shabbily, and his mascot and pal, a darling rooster, Obviously trained to be performers, they easily outshine all their human co-actors.
Oh, and the music. Insipid, especially a song called "The Sunshine Cake." Sentimentality at its most obnoxious. Bing finally does sing "Camptown Races," but by this time you don't care.
There are better horse movies. There are much better Crosby movies. Can't think of one good reason to view this one unless you want to waste your time!
Capra near his worst
This film marks the beginning of the end for Frank Capra. His creativity appears to have deserted him -- he makes extensive use of footage from his own, far superior Broadway Bill. It is understandable that he would use footage from the earlier film's climactic, thrilling horse race. But he also intercuts entire scenes from the earlier film, then brings back the actors and apparently expects us not to notice that they're 14 years older! The only point of interest is one of the last appearances of Oliver Hardy. Otherwise, you'd be best advised to catch Broadway Bill instead.
A cheerful horse trainer finds he has a winner. A very entertaining, lighthearted film which is very thirties, with Capra's early style in full bloom. For years, this film was actually considered lost. Good thing it wasn't! The title refers to a thoroughbred horse. Trivial though the plot may be, this film has great style: a happy film to watch. Trivia information: This film was remade as RIDING HIGH with Bing Crosby and Colleen Gray in 195O. Location footage was shot at the Tanforan Racetrack in San Mateo county in California. Watch for a 23 year-old blonde Lucille Ball as an extra - a switchboard operator! The cast is inspired and entertaining: Myrna Loy as Alice, Helen Vinson, Margaret Hamilton, Ward Bond, Inez Courtney and Jason Robards (Sr.). The nearly forgotten Warner Baxter plays... More Info about this DVD Actor(s): Warner Baxter - Myrna Loy Director(s): Frank Capra DVD Release Date: Released the 31 August 2004 Usually ships within 24 hours
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In retrospect, George Seaton's adaptation of The Country Girl seems like the movie that was made to prove that both Bing Crosby and Grace Kelly could act. The tale of an alcoholic actor and singer (Crosby) and his long-suffering wife (Kelly) whose marriage is put to the test when he gets a second chance at stardom, Clifford Odets' drama is chock full of twists and turns designed to give actors a grueling workout, with its hidden secrets, tortured love story, and frank depiction of the horrors of alcohol abuse. Crosby and Kelly sank their teeth into the meaty roles with gusto (it helped that a rock-solid William Holden was there for each to spark off of), and both were showered with accolades that remained high points of their careers. Crosby was lauded with kudos for turning... More Info about this DVD Actor(s): Bing Crosby - Grace Kelly - William Holden Director(s): George Seaton DVD Release Date: Released the 21 September 2004 Usually ships in 24 hours
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The Greatest Show on Earth is a heaping helping of flapdoodle served up by one of Hollywood's canniest entertainers: producer-director Cecil B. DeMille. This overripe melodrama purports to be life inside the Ringling Brothers Circus; maybe it's not, but the circus ought to be like this. The actors wrestling with the purple dialogue are: early-career Charlton Heston, as the tough-as-nails circus manager; Cornel Wilde and Betty Hutton as trapeze artistes; and Gloria Grahame (who won an Oscar), dangling from elephants. Best of all, James Stewart plays a clown who--for mysterious reasons--never removes his makeup. (Stewart took the supporting role simply because he'd always wanted to play a clown.) This is a fried-baloney sandwich of a movie: it ain't sophisticated, and probably... More Info about this DVD Actor(s): Betty Hutton - Charlton Heston Director(s): Cecil B. DeMille DVD Release Date: Released the 06 April 2004 Usually ships in 24 hours
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"Say, he looks like an actor," says the platform conductor. And with 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 in For Me and My Gal opposite Judy Garland, with the pair playing vaudeville performers who team up to find success and, of course, romance. But just when things are looking up, World War I intervenes, and Kelly has to take drastic measures to keep a promise and avoid the war, at least temporarily.
Bad move, Gene. Filmed in 1942, For Me and My Gal vigorously supports the war effort, including teaching Kelly the error of his ways. The old-time setting also allows for a basketful of nostalgic charmers, including "After You've Gone," "Oh You... More Info about this DVD Actor(s): Judy Garland - George Murphy - Gene Kelly Director(s): Busby Berkeley DVD Release Date: Released the 06 April 2004 Usually ships in 24 hours
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