«EXCELLENT»
One of my all time favorites. I recommend it to everyone, young or old. Amazon service was very good.
[Monday, December 22, 2008]
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«Disappointing»
Once again I fly in the face of the majority. I find many problems with this film. Oh, I love Rosalind Russell and the rest of the cast. And I find it enlightening to see the sources for lines of dialogue and song cues (and even lyrics) that influenced the writing of the musical version, MAME. Obviously Jerry Herman paid close attention to the movie while writing the score. But Director Morton da Costa got a little carried away with his stagey gimmick of having scenes end with a fade out and a single spot on Rosalind Russell. He used this trick a lot in THE MUSIC MAN, too, though with less frequency and thus more taste. In fact, I recall only one scene that DIDN'T end this way. And his direction is rather too slow-paced and low-key for the madness of the story. Also, the character of the Japanese houseboy, Ito (Yuki Shimoda), is embarrassing. He's of the "giggling Asian," "Me come...me look...me go" school of acting, no doubt as he was directed. You'd think it was offensive even in 1958, but I suppose it wasn't. Now, it just doesn't make it.
Among the bonus features (sparse as they are) is a trailer for MAME, starring Lucille Ball and Robert Preston. This seems to be a rather odd choice. Does one really WANT to encourage comparisons between the two films? I think not. (MAME should be filmed again, by the team who did CHICAGO, and starring someone more suited -- age-wise -- to the lead than poor over-the-hill Lucy was at the time.)
Don't get me wrong: this isn't a BAD film at all, and some parts are wonderful. (The entire Upson clan is a hoot!) But in the hands of a better director, it could have been a classic. Oh, I suppose it IS a classic. But I don't think it deserves all those stars it could have earned.
[Friday, December 19, 2008]
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«An oldie but goodie»
What can I say...It is a classic and the DVD itself is of great quality
[Tuesday, October 28, 2008]
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