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- Robert Harris
Warner's latest box set, Classic Musicals from the Dream Factory, gives us five M-G-M musicals new to DVD. Four Technicolor productions vary in image quality, while the fifth is early Eastman Color, CinemaScope and stereo.
The first two are of equal fine quality:
Summer Stock - 1950 - 3-strip Technicolor origination - A nice-looking comp of the three elements, which conform nicely, inclusive of transitions. A delightful film with an outstanding cast. The final appearance made by Ms. Garland in an M-G-M production. Her performance of "Get Happy" is worth the price of Technicolored admission.
Three Little Words - 1950 - 3-strip Technicolor origination - Again, the elements have been nicely put together, with proper color, densities, etc. This bio-musical of the team of Kalmar and Ruby, played by Astaire and Skelton remains great fun. Another quality production. There's probably an MOW waiting to made about the career of Vera-Ellen.
Before anyone asks the question let's visit the answer:
Can these films look better via Warner's Ultra-Resolution process?
Yes.
For the first two, one would receive an sharper, better image, with finer shadow detail. What we have, however, is more than acceptable.
From here the quality begins to fall:
Till the Clouds Roll By - 1946 - 3-stript Technicolor origination - Another in the series of bio-musicals (or musical biopics), this time the story of musical legend Jerome Kern, played by Robert Walker (Strangers on a Train). A huge production with many from the M-G-M stock company. For years this film was considered to be public domain, although derivative rights abound. I'm pleased that WB has finally gone back to original elements and released. The film looks fine in most sequences, but has registration problems during most transitions and some entire sequences. When it looks good, it looks great, when it doesn't...
Ultra-Rez could come in handy with Til the Clouds...
It's Always Fair Weather - 1955 - Eastman Color - CinemaScope - Looks fine for Eastman of this era. A film that I've always found a bit odd, and somehow outside of the mainstream of the M-G-M musicals, but a part of the legend, nonetheless.
Ziegfeld Follies - 1946 - 3-strip Technicolor origination - An important omnibus production from M-G-M. The original picture negatives for ZF were destroyed in a nitrate fire. The resultant transfer, derived from the extant black and white masters unfortunately, leaves much to be desired. Without spending a fortune, there is little that can be done. ZF offers a track re-mixed in stereo.
A quality package of classic musicals, for which the price is right. $37.75 delivered from Deep Discount.
Recommended.
RAH
The first two are of equal fine quality:
Summer Stock - 1950 - 3-strip Technicolor origination - A nice-looking comp of the three elements, which conform nicely, inclusive of transitions. A delightful film with an outstanding cast. The final appearance made by Ms. Garland in an M-G-M production. Her performance of "Get Happy" is worth the price of Technicolored admission.
Three Little Words - 1950 - 3-strip Technicolor origination - Again, the elements have been nicely put together, with proper color, densities, etc. This bio-musical of the team of Kalmar and Ruby, played by Astaire and Skelton remains great fun. Another quality production. There's probably an MOW waiting to made about the career of Vera-Ellen.
Before anyone asks the question let's visit the answer:
Can these films look better via Warner's Ultra-Resolution process?
Yes.
For the first two, one would receive an sharper, better image, with finer shadow detail. What we have, however, is more than acceptable.
From here the quality begins to fall:
Till the Clouds Roll By - 1946 - 3-stript Technicolor origination - Another in the series of bio-musicals (or musical biopics), this time the story of musical legend Jerome Kern, played by Robert Walker (Strangers on a Train). A huge production with many from the M-G-M stock company. For years this film was considered to be public domain, although derivative rights abound. I'm pleased that WB has finally gone back to original elements and released. The film looks fine in most sequences, but has registration problems during most transitions and some entire sequences. When it looks good, it looks great, when it doesn't...
Ultra-Rez could come in handy with Til the Clouds...
It's Always Fair Weather - 1955 - Eastman Color - CinemaScope - Looks fine for Eastman of this era. A film that I've always found a bit odd, and somehow outside of the mainstream of the M-G-M musicals, but a part of the legend, nonetheless.
Ziegfeld Follies - 1946 - 3-strip Technicolor origination - An important omnibus production from M-G-M. The original picture negatives for ZF were destroyed in a nitrate fire. The resultant transfer, derived from the extant black and white masters unfortunately, leaves much to be desired. Without spending a fortune, there is little that can be done. ZF offers a track re-mixed in stereo.
A quality package of classic musicals, for which the price is right. $37.75 delivered from Deep Discount.
Recommended.
RAH
