- Actors: Judy Garland, Fred Astaire, Peter Lawford, Ann Miller, Jules Munshin
- Directors: Charles Walters
- Writers: Albert Hackett, Frances Goodrich, Guy Bolton, Sidney Sheldon
- Producers: Arthur Freed, Roger Edens
- Format: Original recording remastered, PAL, Colour
- Language English
- Classification: U
- Studio: Warner Home Video
- VHS Release Date: 30 April 2001
- Run Time: 99 minutes
- Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars See all reviews (20 customer reviews)
- ASIN: B000057CLC
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 9,129 in Video (See Top 100 in Video)
Product details |
Product Description
Amazon.co.uk Review
One of the finest American musicals, Vincente Minnelli's Meet Me in St Louis is an intentionally self-contained story set in 1903, in which a happy St Louis family is shaken to their roots by the prospect of moving to New York, where the father has a better job pending. Judy Garland heads the cast in what amounts to a splendid, end-of-an-era story that nicely rhymes with the onset of the 20th century. The film is extraordinarily alive, the characters strong and the musical numbers are so splendidly part of the storytelling that you don't feel the film has stopped for an interlude. --Tom Keogh, Amazon.com
In Easter Parade, 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 capitalises 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". --David Horiuchi, Amazon.com
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
36 of 37 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
This DVD has restored a film from the MGM period of great musicals to its original state.Ive seen this film on many occaisions but never with such outstanding colour sound and clarity.Full marks!!!!
Also included is a commentary by John Fricke who gives you tons of information in a casual and not preaching manner.A must buy for all who apreciate the musicals of the Golden Age
Also included is a commentary by John Fricke who gives you tons of information in a casual and not preaching manner.A must buy for all who apreciate the musicals of the Golden Age
9 of 9 people found the following review helpful
Format:VHS Tape
This is a charming musical, one of the best Fred Astaire's
films with delightful songs written by Irving Berling.
Fred Astaire plays a famous dancer(as usually) who is betrayed by
his beloved partner.He decides to make the first chorus
girl he sees(Gudy Garland) his next partner - an act of revenge.
This is of course only beginning of the story.
Astaire and Garland perform many unforgettable dances and songs,
the story is funny and just enough complicated and psychological for musical,supporting actors are also great.
An interesting fact is that Fred Astaire played this part instead of Gene Kelly
because Kelly injured his leg a few days before beginning of the production.
Actually this film was Astaire's comeback after his retirement in 1946.
films with delightful songs written by Irving Berling.
Fred Astaire plays a famous dancer(as usually) who is betrayed by
his beloved partner.He decides to make the first chorus
girl he sees(Gudy Garland) his next partner - an act of revenge.
This is of course only beginning of the story.
Astaire and Garland perform many unforgettable dances and songs,
the story is funny and just enough complicated and psychological for musical,supporting actors are also great.
An interesting fact is that Fred Astaire played this part instead of Gene Kelly
because Kelly injured his leg a few days before beginning of the production.
Actually this film was Astaire's comeback after his retirement in 1946.
34 of 37 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
"Easter Parade" is one of the most famous of the MGM musicals from the 1940s, combining for the only time the talents of two of the biggest stars in the genre: Judy Garland and Fred Astaire. Astaire is Don Hewes, a ballroom dancer abandoned by his parter (Ann Miller), who decides to make a chorus girl (Garland) into his new partner. What follows is a funny and romantic musical with some very good Irving Berlin songs.
This is definitely one of Garland's best films, and shows how good a comedienne and a singer she was - her timing during the scene where she dances with Astaire imitating Miller is a gem. I am not a very big fan of Astaire or his style of musical, but his numbers are quite good.
The DVD presents the newly restored copy along with an audio commentary, a making-of which is focused mostly in the songs, a Judy Garland trailer collection and outtakes for a deleted number, similar to Judy did later with "Get Happy" in "Summer stock".
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
really good
picture was great quality, don't think it was my favourite musical but it was pretty good:)
packaging was fine.
haven't watched the special features yet but want to.
packaging was fine.
haven't watched the special features yet but want to.
Published 22 days ago by rc
Easter Parade DVD
Fantastic DVD and great quality with sub-titles my Grandmother loves it as it's a film from her youth and brings back happy memories. Read more
Published 5 months ago by G. W. Lewis
DVD
Excellent servic; excellent product. g'DAUGHTER (8) NOW KNOWS ALL THE WORDS TO 'WE'RE A COUPLE OF SWELLS BUT REFUSES TO BLACK HER FACE
Published 7 months ago by H. R. Bennett
The Musical of the Musicals
If you are a musical lover this is a must. Frad Asair and Judy Garland together with Irving Berlin's music was bound to be an ageless top hit.
Published 7 months ago by Kristina Suder
A couple of swells and a tuneful piece of work.
Perhaps not quite reaching the heights that the talent involved suggests it should, Easter Parade is still none the less a delightful musical full of skill, vigour and heart... Read more
Published 13 months ago by Spike Owen
Food for the soul!
Fred Astaire and Judy Garland - what else is there to say?
The musical is a total feast and food for the soul.
Fantastic music, dancing, singing and acting. Read more
The musical is a total feast and food for the soul.
Fantastic music, dancing, singing and acting. Read more
Published 22 months ago by Alice
Entertaining
For a musical of its time it is extremely witty and enjoyable. I love musicals and this is not my favourite but certainly one of the best.
Published 24 months ago by Ms. S. Samad
EASTER PARADE (dvd)
This is one of the oldies and goodies from the world of musicals. It was made in 1948, but it is still going strong in 2009.
Published on 28 Dec 2009 by Eejram
easter parade peter lawford judy garland and fred astaire
justs love any film with peter lawford also love judy garland not to gone on fred astaire .its a great movie if your into musicals. Read more
Published on 28 Sep 2009 by Yvonne to shop
Fred and Judy - who could ask for anything more?
This film is a joy from start to finish and, as has been mentioned elsewhere, the colour and sound reproduction on the DVD are excellent. Read more
Published on 8 April 2008 by still searching
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