- Joined
- Feb 8, 1999
- Messages
- 18,430
- Real Name
- Robert Harris
Even though it's an occasionally odd, and imperfect musical, Annie Get Your Gun remains one of my absolute favorites.
Re-cast due to the death of Frank Morgan and the illness of Judy Garland, I've always though it would have been better had they placed Ethel Merman in the lead role.
Betty Hutton lovingly bounces about and mugs her way, using her comedic talents, and at 28, appeared more in tune for the role.
But Annie is supposed to be far younger than Ms. Merman's 41 years. What worked on stage - I saw her in the wonderful 1966-67 NY run - from a proper seating distance, won't work for close-ups on screen.
The new Blu-ray, from Warner Archive, is from the finest surviving nitrate elements - mostly the original negatives, with a couple of reels (lost in the Rochester fire) filled in with nitrate masters.
I'll leave it to readership to try and figure out what's original and what ain't.
AGYG is another three-strip success for Warner Archive, and should be in every serious library.
Image – 5
Audio – 5
Pass / Fail – Pass
Upgrade from DVD – Without a doubt
Very Highly Recommended
RAH
Re-cast due to the death of Frank Morgan and the illness of Judy Garland, I've always though it would have been better had they placed Ethel Merman in the lead role.
Betty Hutton lovingly bounces about and mugs her way, using her comedic talents, and at 28, appeared more in tune for the role.
But Annie is supposed to be far younger than Ms. Merman's 41 years. What worked on stage - I saw her in the wonderful 1966-67 NY run - from a proper seating distance, won't work for close-ups on screen.
The new Blu-ray, from Warner Archive, is from the finest surviving nitrate elements - mostly the original negatives, with a couple of reels (lost in the Rochester fire) filled in with nitrate masters.
I'll leave it to readership to try and figure out what's original and what ain't.
AGYG is another three-strip success for Warner Archive, and should be in every serious library.
Image – 5
Audio – 5
Pass / Fail – Pass
Upgrade from DVD – Without a doubt
Very Highly Recommended
RAH