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DVD Easter Parade (Two-Disc Special Edition)
Don Hewes (Fred Astaire) is devastated when his longtime dancing partner, Nadine Hale (Ann Miller), breaks up the team to set out on her own. Determined to prove that he can succeed without her, Astaire vows that he can pick any random chorus girl and make her a star. Fortunately for him, the chorus girl he picks happens to be one of the greatest entertainers of the 20th century, Judy Garland (playing Hannah Brown). Easter Parade turned out to be the first and only collaboration between the two screen legends. Garland made the 1948 film despite ongoing health problems then had to pull out of a planned follow-up, The Barkleys of Broadway (Ginger Rogers replaced her); Astaire had retired following Blue Skies in 1946 but was brought in for this film as an emergency replacement after Gene Kelly broke his ankle playing touch football. Fortunately, Easter Parade always feels like an Astaire film rather than a Kelly film, from its Pygmalion-esque plot (which helps explain the principals' 23-year age disparity) to its score of Irving Berlin standards (some new, some recycled from earlier films). The film capitalizes on the strengths of both stars, Astaire in dance solos, including "Drum Crazy" and "Steppin' Out with My Baby" (MGM's take on Astaire's earlier, persona-defining "Top Hat, White Tie, and Tails"), and Garland in vocal solos, including the torchy "Better Luck Next Time." The stars especially shine, however, when they perform together in their vaudeville numbers, most notably the persona-defying hobo routine "We're a Couple of Swells." Watch this classic every Easter. --David Horiuchi
Review(s): DVD Easter Parade (Two-Disc Special Edition)
I Loved This Movie!
Easter Parade is a wonderful movie, I first saw it last Easter on TCM and I really enjoyed watching this delightful musical and I think the whole cast is superb! Not only are Judy Garland Fred Astaire topnotch but so is Ann Miller who really was an amazing dancer and quite a good actress too and I was also impressed with a very young and handsome Peter Lawford who I think is very underrated and very underappreciated! This is an absolutely charming movie and I'm so happy that it has finally been put on DVD and I very highly recommend it!
One of the best musicals !!! ( I dun giv it 5 stars just out of perfectionism, hehe)
I have to say that any musical with Judy is just wonderful to watch... With her, there's always good acting, funny and touchig, and the wonferful singing of course... And then you add to that Great dancing from someone like Fred Astaire, and you just can't ask for more!!!!
It's a shame they only had time to make this only one movie together...
I advice to anyone who loves Judy to also see all 3 movies she did with Gene Kelly... Together with Easter Parade, For me & my gal, The Pirate (duno y it din do well back then, its one of my favorites), and Summer Stock, are just pure joy to watch...
One last comment... WHY THE HELL DID THEY DECIDE TO DELETE JUDY'S NUMBER MR.MONOTONY ????????????????????????!!!!!!!! (it's one of her best numbers, together with Get Happy, or For me and my gal, or Mack the Black....)
Unbelievable Transfer
The highlight of this fabulous 2-disc edition of the Berlin-Astair-Garland "Easter Parade" is the movie itself. The picture quality exceeds in richness, clarity, and color any version, including, I'm sure, the original theater release. As soon as Fred Astair appears and you see the vivid purple boutineer on his lapel, you know you are in for a visual treat.
But it doesn't stop there. The sound quality has also been upgraded. It's a pure delight to view and hear.
There is not a bad song or dance number in the lot, and a good number are true classics. Examples: the two-bum piece, "A Couple of Swells," is one of the most beloved pieces of film in existence; Ann Miller, who, we learn in an accompanying interview, was recoivering from a broken back and in serious pain, does what she considers her finest number. The list goes on and on, not excluding the unutterably touching title song sung by Judy to Fred, who seems more moved than the audience.
If you have any love at all for the golden age of MGM musicals, this one's a must.
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