What Movies Have Been Playing On Your DVD/Video Lately?

Gray · Post by **Gray** » Sun Mar 09, 2008 3:31 pm

Amanda and I went to see a new 70mm print of the 1968 Julie Andrews vehicle 'Star!' last night at the Bradford Film Festival.
It is a biography of Gertrude Lawrence and on the deeply curved Cinerama screen it looked beautiful, maybe a missing a smidge of sharpness and a touch of colour, but beautiful nevertheless.
The sound was glorious.

Terence Lee · Post by **Terence Lee** » Sun Mar 09, 2008 6:06 pm

Hi Gray

I have always wanted to view this movie as it was the one that effectively killed Julie Andrew's film career in Asia. It flopped very badly here. Perhaps it was the longer hair style that did not suit Julie.

Gray · Post by **Gray** » Mon Mar 10, 2008 9:27 pm

Hi Terence

'Star!' was a film I also wanted to see as it contributed in the late 60's to the demise of 20th Century Fox along with Dr Dolittle & Hello Dolly!

All big, expansive but very expensive movies, and all flopped over here in the west too!
'Star!' suffers from a hefty running time, it is simply too long for the content within.
It was re-cut heavily by the studio (they removed an hour of screen time) and they tried re-issuing it in order to claw back some box office, but it made no difference.
I have to say I thought Julie Andrews was weak in the lead role, her singing and dancing was great, but she fell away in the dramatic side of the things.
She didn't carry the picture in the same way that Streisand did in Funny Girl.
That being said, I am glad I saw the movie in 70mm on a giant, curved Cinerama screen as without doubt I saw it at it's best.
I would recommend you see it Terence, if you can, the numbers are electric and just about carry the film, but only just!

Fox are preserving their back catalogue of films hence the new 70mm print of Star! and here's an incredible story for anyone who is interested. This new print doesn't have the Overture which was a real shame, aparantly Fox couldn't find one.
But the projectionist at the Media museum in Bradford ran down to the basement whilst the film was playing and found buried in the museum vaults a reel dating back to 1968 that contained the Overture! Incredible! So we got to see the Overture after the movie had finished as the projectionist ran the old reel for the first time in years:)
This Overture reel had faded pink and was scratched, but at least Fox now have the Overture to restore!
We were also visited by the man from Burbank USA who had restored the movie for a Q&A session at the end of the presentation.
He couldn't believe it when the museum curator announced they had discovered an Overture reel!:) He was over the moon!
What a coincidence!

ROBERT M. · Post by **ROBERT M.** » Mon Mar 10, 2008 11:23 pm

Enjoyed reading your story Gray

Lena & Harry Smith · Post by **Lena & Harry Smith** » Mon Mar 10, 2008 11:42 pm

An interesting article here www.brightlightsfilm.com/44/star.htm

Gray · Post by **Gray** » Tue Mar 11, 2008 7:45 am

Hi Lena & Harry

Thanks for the link to the review, I do agree with it!
But I did enjoy the spectacle of the film in the cinema!

Thanks Robert.

ROBERT M. · Post by **ROBERT M.** » Wed Mar 12, 2008 1:43 am

Watched the 1945 technicolour film (from 20th Century Fox

) - The Dolly Sisters on DVD tonight starring Betty Grable, John Payne and June Haver

Gray · Post by **Gray** » Wed Mar 12, 2008 7:59 am

Do you have that movie on dvd or video tape, Robert?

mariana44 · Post by **mariana44** » Wed Mar 12, 2008 10:54 am

Gosh-I remember that film "The Dolly Sisters" from when I was a child--I did not know it is now on dvd--is that a Uk release or did you have to get it from USA, Robert ?

mariana44 · Post by **mariana44** » Wed Mar 12, 2008 11:01 am

I have just spotted it in Amazon --new for Â£4.97 -[plus P/P]

ROBERT M. · Post by **ROBERT M.** » Wed Mar 12, 2008 2:09 pm

I bought "The Dolly Sisters" in a 8 box DVD set of Hollywood Musicals collection from HMV a few weeks ago. Â£17.99 for all eight film's, which work's out at Â£2.25 each

ROBERT M. · Post by **ROBERT M.** » Wed Mar 12, 2008 2:13 pm

Just checked HMV, and the set now cost's Â£24.99, about Â£3.10 for each film. But the 8 box set has been reduced from Â£49.99

john · Post by **john** » Wed Mar 12, 2008 5:35 pm

Watched "Inn For Trouble" last night with Peggy Mount, one of my all time favourites. I believe this was based on a tv show she was in from the fifties called "The Larkins", a comedy series. She was good in everything she did though, probably my favourite film of hers was the fab "Sailor Beware".

Gray · Post by **Gray** » Wed Mar 12, 2008 9:51 pm

What were the other movies in the box set please, Robert?

John - I cannot recall that film at all...

Lena & Harry Smith · Post by **Lena & Harry Smith** » Wed Mar 12, 2008 11:56 pm

We agree John, We remember "The Larkins" with Peggy Mount and David Kossoff that was a favourite TV series in the Fifties.
Apparently Peggy Mount was nothing like the character that she played as the the domineering wife...but a very sweet and kind lady.
A great pity that these series and so many others like them couldn't be shown again