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Product Description
George Cole and Mylene Nicole star alongside The Ted Heath Band in this sparkling British musical comedy set in the world of London s Tin Pan Alley. Ken Millar (George Cole) and Ray Thompson (Terence Morgan) are two struggling young songwriters dreaming of hitting the big time with their catchy melodies. Everything changes however, when the duo meet a pretty French singer, Georgie (Mylene Nicole).
Product Description
United Kingdom released, PAL/Region 2 DVD: LANGUAGES: English ( Mono ), SPECIAL FEATURES: Interactive Menu, Scene Access, SYNOPSIS: No relation to the 1939 Claudette Colbert-James Stewart comedy of the same name, It's a Wonderful World is essentially a vehicle for British-based bandleader Ted Heath. The thinnish plot is set in motion by would-be songwriters Terence Morgan and George Cole, who manage to sell a tune by claiming that it was composed by a reclusive musical genius. When the tune hits the top of the charts, Morgan and Cole find themselves in the embarrassing position of having to produce the "real" composer. Director Val Guest manages to extract new laughs out of such old setpieces as showing a snobbish audience being gradually won over by pop music. The principal attraction of It's a Wonderful World--to modern viewers, at least is the presence of Ted Heath, whose screen appearances were all too few and far between. ...It's a Wonderful World
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
4 of 7 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD|Amazon Verified Purchase
I wasn't even born when this movie was made, but have always been a fan of British music, especially swing and rock. The Ted Heath Orchestra, (or Ted Heath and His Music as it was once referred to), was one of the most articulate and diverse orchestras of the era. Singer Dennis Lotus was the U.K's "Frank Sinatra", and a superb performer and still sings occasionally today.
Drummer Ronnie Verrell is also featured in some musical numbers, along with Don Lusher, and all the Ted heath stars, many who went on to play with Jack Parnell in the 60's and 70's, and some are still alive, (and even still playing) today. The DVD is great for the music alone. The story is simply just a bit of harmless fun. Almost borders on a 50's style "chick flick", corny at times, but an easy to follow storyline. I bought this DVD for the music and musicians mainly, but the story is far from boring. I gave this 5 stars for the superb musical performances from the Heath band. The transfer to DVD is very good for a color film so old. Sound is also quite good and Ted Heath even has some speaking parts as well. Very enjoyable, and recommended to anyone who likes real swing music, and wants to see the Heath band on stage in a "movie making" role.
Drummer Ronnie Verrell is also featured in some musical numbers, along with Don Lusher, and all the Ted heath stars, many who went on to play with Jack Parnell in the 60's and 70's, and some are still alive, (and even still playing) today. The DVD is great for the music alone. The story is simply just a bit of harmless fun. Almost borders on a 50's style "chick flick", corny at times, but an easy to follow storyline. I bought this DVD for the music and musicians mainly, but the story is far from boring. I gave this 5 stars for the superb musical performances from the Heath band. The transfer to DVD is very good for a color film so old. Sound is also quite good and Ted Heath even has some speaking parts as well. Very enjoyable, and recommended to anyone who likes real swing music, and wants to see the Heath band on stage in a "movie making" role.
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
5 reviews
9 of 9 people found the following review helpful
A neglected comedy gem
24 Dec 2010
Format:DVD|Amazon Verified Purchase
This is a neglected, but very, very funny film. James Stewart is on the run from the police, but his troubles have hardly begun compared to when he runs into dizzy dame Claudette Colbert.
The scene in the apple orchard is simply side-splitting, with Colbert proving what a brilliant comedienne she could be.
This film is full of crazy characters, including Edgar Kennedy at his most incompetent. "Screwball" really is the correct word for this one, and it is up there with the very best of them.
I should point out that this is an official DVD-R download from Warner which played with no problems. However, it has to be said that the copy of the film used here is fairly poor with numerous picture faults. A copy from U.K. TV which I saw wasn't any better, so perhaps this is the best that has survived - which is a shame.
Don't let this put you off, because it would be unfortunate to miss seeing this brilliant film. Highly recommended with slight reservations.
The scene in the apple orchard is simply side-splitting, with Colbert proving what a brilliant comedienne she could be.
This film is full of crazy characters, including Edgar Kennedy at his most incompetent. "Screwball" really is the correct word for this one, and it is up there with the very best of them.
I should point out that this is an official DVD-R download from Warner which played with no problems. However, it has to be said that the copy of the film used here is fairly poor with numerous picture faults. A copy from U.K. TV which I saw wasn't any better, so perhaps this is the best that has survived - which is a shame.
Don't let this put you off, because it would be unfortunate to miss seeing this brilliant film. Highly recommended with slight reservations.
10 of 11 people found the following review helpful
Worth a look, but should have been much better
20 July 2010
Format:DVD
It was hard to believe I had never seen this film before. In fact, I had never even heard of it. Jimmy Stewart, Claudette Colbert, a script by Ben Hecht? Leonard Maltin describes it as "very, very funny." I figured I was in for a real treat. Unfortunately, it turned out that there were good reasons for this being a rather obscure film -- it's just not very good. The main problem is the script. The idea is pretty good: Stewart plays a private detective who gets arrested while trying to clear a millionaire client of murder. He escapes and has various adventures with Colbert while on the run. Unfortunately, it's just not very funny (I don't know what Maltin was thinking). There is an over reliance on slapstick and physical humor -- Stewart wearing as a disguise glasses that he can't actually see through, his partner repeatedly getting hit on the head, and so on. Anyone looking for snappy dialog from Ben Hecht won't find it here. Much as I love Jimmy Stewart, his performances could sometimes edge into the shrill. That happens a number of times in this one, perhaps because he is trying to use the energy of his delivery to compensate for the weakness of some of the dialog.
If you are a 1930s movie buff, this one is worth seeing, but I give a disappointing 2 1/2 stars.
If you are a 1930s movie buff, this one is worth seeing, but I give a disappointing 2 1/2 stars.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
An Enduring 1930's Comedy
10 Oct 2011
Format:DVD
When this film was made, Colbert had been around long enough to have had a year as highest paid actress in Hollywood and a year as highest paid performer. She was both a sure-thing box office hit and a highly respected professional. She was versatile: comedy or drama, she could do it all. Steward was acquiring versatility: he had featured with tough guy, Edward G. Robinson, and done comedy (and even a song) in a film with Eleanor Powell. He was fast moving into stardom,
Both show their comedy side in this dizzy dazzler, with Stewart as a private detective, on the way to Sing Sing (although it doesn't say so), who would do anything for a buck (or, as in this case, 100,000 bucks--more than a million in today's coin of the realm). Not to reveal any more than necessary, his path crosses with a daffy poetess, who becomes attached to him. The plot line: how is he to clear himself, while saving his client from THE (electric) CHAIR. Edgar Kennedy and Guy Kibbee are excellent in their patented comedic roles and Nat Pendleton is the epitome of the Dumb Cop. In a brief appearance, the virtuoso of innumerable radio roles (and later a frequent guest on the Jack Paar Show), Hans Conreid, is recognizable.
Most of the comedy is anything but subtle. Physical gags and outrageous mugging are the norm. So, too, are the expert comedic way with lines of both stars.
I wouldn't call this a classic film, if only because it does almost anything for a laugh. I would say that many people will find this 70 some odd year old film a pleasure.
Both show their comedy side in this dizzy dazzler, with Stewart as a private detective, on the way to Sing Sing (although it doesn't say so), who would do anything for a buck (or, as in this case, 100,000 bucks--more than a million in today's coin of the realm). Not to reveal any more than necessary, his path crosses with a daffy poetess, who becomes attached to him. The plot line: how is he to clear himself, while saving his client from THE (electric) CHAIR. Edgar Kennedy and Guy Kibbee are excellent in their patented comedic roles and Nat Pendleton is the epitome of the Dumb Cop. In a brief appearance, the virtuoso of innumerable radio roles (and later a frequent guest on the Jack Paar Show), Hans Conreid, is recognizable.
Most of the comedy is anything but subtle. Physical gags and outrageous mugging are the norm. So, too, are the expert comedic way with lines of both stars.
I wouldn't call this a classic film, if only because it does almost anything for a laugh. I would say that many people will find this 70 some odd year old film a pleasure.
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