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51 of 52 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
These films showcase most of the best dancers Fred teamed up with, although I'd have liked Leslie Caron or Audrey Hepburn to be here so as to provide a definitive collection of the best.
Easter Parade features Judy Garland. Made in 1948 as a young adult, it shows her at her best with classics such as 'We're a couple of Swells' and includes an engaging story. For Broadway Melody he teams up with Eleanor Powell. There's not much in the way of a story other than to provide an excuse for extended dance sequences such as the lengthy Begin the Beguine. The only question I've never been able to decide is whether Eleanor was Fred's greatest partner or Cyd Charisse. The chance to make the comparison comes with Band Wagon with Cyd at her greatest and Fred still as charismatic as ever. This is without doubt one of the greatest ever musicals.
Not quite so touched with greatness are the other two features. The Barkleys of Broadway features Ginger Rogers and is an oddity. Made 10 years after their previous film, it re-united them for their only colour feature, but they are not quite as good as they were in their pomp in the 1930s. It does feature though the sublime 'They can't take that away from me'. And finally Finian's Rainbow teams Fred up with someone who is on nobody's list of top 25 dance partners... Petula Clark! Fred was pushing 70 and had given up film dancing after Silk Stockings 10 years earlier. Directed by Ford Coppola, this should have been great, but instead is another oddity.
One movie aside, this is a good collection of Fred movies.
Easter Parade features Judy Garland. Made in 1948 as a young adult, it shows her at her best with classics such as 'We're a couple of Swells' and includes an engaging story. For Broadway Melody he teams up with Eleanor Powell. There's not much in the way of a story other than to provide an excuse for extended dance sequences such as the lengthy Begin the Beguine. The only question I've never been able to decide is whether Eleanor was Fred's greatest partner or Cyd Charisse. The chance to make the comparison comes with Band Wagon with Cyd at her greatest and Fred still as charismatic as ever. This is without doubt one of the greatest ever musicals.
Not quite so touched with greatness are the other two features. The Barkleys of Broadway features Ginger Rogers and is an oddity. Made 10 years after their previous film, it re-united them for their only colour feature, but they are not quite as good as they were in their pomp in the 1930s. It does feature though the sublime 'They can't take that away from me'. And finally Finian's Rainbow teams Fred up with someone who is on nobody's list of top 25 dance partners... Petula Clark! Fred was pushing 70 and had given up film dancing after Silk Stockings 10 years earlier. Directed by Ford Coppola, this should have been great, but instead is another oddity.
One movie aside, this is a good collection of Fred movies.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
I would also like to add a very important aspect of this dvd set and which is relevant to all those who are hard of hearing or deaf and that is that this set carries subtitle in english on all the films. I find many instances of this lack of information with Amazon and other retailers. They really need to get their act together as some 10% of the population suffer from hearing disorders and rely on such helpful technology to follow the storylines and so enjoy the film. Wake up Amazon to all the lost revenue you must be suffering for if this information is not provided than you are losing out on an additional possible 10% increase in your film sales on DVDs.
3 of 4 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD|Amazon Verified Purchase
This 6 disc set is of incomparable value for money, and for entertainment.Songs such as Easter Parade, and A Couple of Swells with Judy Garland appear fresh, and not just the standard classics they have become.I have never seen Broadway Melody 1940 before, and Fred's dancing is a revelation of ingenuiety, as is the original version of Begin the Beguine.In this film I do not think Eleanor Powell is his most ideal co star, but Fred and George Murphy and Cole Porter songs are supreme.Finians Rainbow sees Fred Astaire as a playfull ageing Irishman seeking a crock of Gold in the Southern States of America with Petula Clark as his daughter, and Tommy Steel as a Leprechaun trying to protect it. There is some hillarious comedy from the Black and White supporting cast on the Plantation. Strangely enough I do not recall seeing The Barkleys of Broadway, but here back with Ginger Rogers after ten years, the dancing is absolute perfection and elegance.A surprise scene shows Ginger as a dramatic Sahra Burnheart.Finally The Band Wagon features Fred as a star making a comeback with Oscar Levant and Cyd Cherise. The songs That's Entertainment, All by Myself, Dancing in The Dark, and A Shine on Your Shoes, were the original versions in this truly amazing all dancing all singing film.This is a set not to be missed, whether an ardent fan, or a new one.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
pleasure for old folks
these dvds were bought and sent to my mother in her care home. they have been much appreciated by all the residents.
Published 5 months ago by irene
Great Collection
I was delighted to get the Fred Astaire collection. I was looking for Band Wagon and Broadway Melody and was so happy to get Easter Parade which is great and Barclays of Broadway... Read more
Published 20 months ago by Don
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