 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
I managed to get an early copy of the new Fox Daddy Long Legs DVD and I'm here to tell you it's one of the great scope DVD transfers. The film is charming, if a bit overlong, Astaire and Caron are winning, but it's the 4.0 stereo music, songs, and dances that are the wow factor here. It just leaps out of the speakers with that incredible Fox stereo sound. The Johnny Mercer songs sound great, but the cherry on the sundae is the Alex North ballet, nearly ten minutes long - just fantastic and sounding like it was recorded yesterday. A must-have.
Also picked up an early copy of Lust for Life, which I'm looking forward to.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
does anyone know when the DVD will be released?
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
I'll be sure to get this DVD and I'm glad to hear that the sound is worthy of the occasion. Dreamer that I am, I'd hoped that "extras" might include the complete vocal on the opening "Birth of the Beat," which exists only in its first few bars in the film. And I'd love to have seen the final dance in its original form without the lengthy cutaways to the sight gag with Ritter and Clark. "Dream" was one of the primary reasons why Astaire wanted Mercer on the project in the first place, but in the final cut you hardly get to see the dance.
Anyhow, glad the disc has been released. Saw the film in Cinemascope on the big screen a couple of times, and it'll be good to have it at home. (And yes, that ballet has always been one of my favorite North creations.)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Does the DVD include the "Darkness Into Light" short that often appears on TCM? Nope, it doesnt.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Does the DVD include the "Darkness Into Light" short that often appears on TCM?
The DVD is a sad disappointment.
This is, in many ways, Minnelli's masterpiece...its original colors were unparalleled in cinema.
This DVD is, compared to the original, a sick representation of the beauties Minnelli filmed.
This film is desperately in need of a first-rate restoration.
WB should recall the DVD out of shame for the atrocity it has wrought.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
Posted: |
Apr 9, 2006 - 4:42 PM
|
|
|
|
By: |
manderley
(Member)
|
.....Does the DVD include the "Darkness Into Light" short that often appears on TCM?
Nope, it doesnt.....
It IS odd that Warners has slipped up and not included this very interesting "making of" short on the DVD of LUST FOR LIFE. (I wonder what's behind it.)
There is also an interesting short called, I believe, JUNGLE SAFARI, which was ostensibly a Technicolored-promo for Ford trucks, but which tied into the location shooting of KING SOLOMON'S MINES in 1950. This was NOT included on the KING SOLOMON'S MINES dvd either, but it runs occasionally on TCM.
Another VERY interesting MGM promo film is CHALLENGE THE WILDERNESS, a ten-minute B&W theatrical short which details the really difficult location shooting for the William Wellman/Robert Taylor film, WESTWARD THE WOMEN. This one is a really fascinating watch for behind-the-scenes buffs, and I keep hoping they'll one day put this onto a dvd of WESTWARD THE WOMEN for us.
WOMEN was, in its day, a big-budget, very successful, highly regarded, alternately action-filled and tender look at the pioneer women who trekked west to marry men and build new families and lives. This fine film is unaccountably and undeservedly forgotten today, IMO.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
My wife loves this film in fact we watched it the other night on a HD movie channel our cable provides.
Don't forget North's Ballet suite is coupled with The Racers thru Varese's CD Club.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: |
Jun 15, 2013 - 8:23 PM
|
|
|
|
By: |
Regie
(Member)
|
I managed to get an early copy of the new Fox Daddy Long Legs DVD and I'm here to tell you it's one of the great scope DVD transfers. The film is charming, if a bit overlong, Astaire and Caron are winning, but it's the 4.0 stereo music, songs, and dances that are the wow factor here. It just leaps out of the speakers with that incredible Fox stereo sound. The Johnny Mercer songs sound great, but the cherry on the sundae is the Alex North ballet, nearly ten minutes long - just fantastic and sounding like it was recorded yesterday. A must-have.
Also picked up an early copy of Lust for Life, which I'm looking forward to.
I haven't seen this film for years and I did not know anything about Alex North's "ballet". Tell me more please. Leslie Caron isn't a fave of mine - her acting wasn't much good, but her dancing was excellent (particularly in "American in Paris"). We won't even discuss her voice!!
Can live without "Lust for Life". Actually, I've been a cineaste for well over 50 years and it has occurred to me only recently (I must be slower than most) that Kirk Douglas over-acted like a big lump of ham in just about every single film he ever made, thus spoiling them for me. Have you seen him in Billy Wilder's "Ace in the Hole" - aka "The Big Carnival" - (a disturbing film, which he practically ruined with his in-your-face performance)?
I don't like 'home theatre' or 'surround sound' - when films get much, much better I'll think about it. People talk about excellent sound on DVDs, Blue Ray etc., and I haven't got my head around any of this newer generation of the DVD. I have a new Loewe television set, which we bought for the sound - but my hi-fi system is a product of the 1980's and still going strong (I paid a fortune for B&W speakers way back then).
What is 4.0 stereo music? I used to know it all...once!!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Always loved Kirk Douglas, still do. Sorry if he rubs you the wrong way, but that's what makes horse races. (FWIW, Douglas is a big Astaire fan.)
Since this thread was started, I've seen much footage from Jean Negulesco's color home movies on the set of DADDY LONG LEGS. A reissue should definitely be released some time which takes advantage of those magical reels.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
