Let's speculate about the rumored Universal boxed set of musicals

Does anyone want to speculate what might be included in a Universal Musical boxset???? There were vague rumors they were doing one which would feature Walking My Baby Back Home (53), such a tuneful, bouncy musical that I have always loved (it's been playing on the late night movie for years over here).

Supposing they include 4 more titles, what would your choices be?

Of course, we still don't know if they ever intend to do a Deanna Durbin vol. 2 in R1, but if not, I hope some would show up in a musical boxset, especially His Butler's Sister (43), One Hundred Men and a Girl (37) and Three Smart Girls Grow Up (39).

If I don't count the Durbins, I would love to see any of the following on DVD:

So This Is Paris (54) - Sailors on leave in Paris - Sounds familiar? Maybe, but the fun is really contagious with Tony Curtis (better at dancing than at singing), Gene Nelson, Gloria De Haven and some extremely entertaining song and dance numbers.

She Loves Me Not (34) (Paramount, but belongs to Universal) - Probably of the funniest comedies of the 30s with superb songs by Crosby and a dynamic performance by Miriam Hopkins.

The Fleet's In (1942) (Paramount, but belongs to Universal) The Jimmy Dorsey band, Dorothy Lamour, William Holden, Betty Hutton and some of the best-known songs of the 40s.

The Second Greatest Sex (55) - Obviously inspired by Seven Brides,hardly in the same league, but a really noteworthy musical just the same with plenty of great dancing, dubbed leads (Crain and Nader) and fabulous supporting roles (Kitty Kallen in her film debut and Keith Andes doing his own great singing among many others.)

What would your choices be?

Re: Let's speculate about the rumored Universal boxed set of musicals

This rumor was on the MoviesUnlimited website a few months ago with regards to Walking My Baby Back Home (53) being included in such a set. So there is certainly nothing wrong with listing our wishes I think I would not start a thread if there was no purpose.

No clue if it would include both Universal and Paramount films of course.

But I would LOVE to see the B musicals with Donald O'Connor, Gloria Jean, Grace McDonald and so many others see the light on DVD. Bowery to Broadway (44) is a fabulous film, ditto The Merry Monahans (44), My Gal Loves Music (45), Penthouse Rhythm (44), Gals Inc. (43) and my favorite of all That Night with You (45) with Susanna Foster.

Would LOVE to see a beautiful-looking transfer of Lady in the Dark (44) - it's practically a non-musical as so very few songs remain, but I have always loved it even though it's an old yellowish copy taped off TV Ontario years ago! What a great channel - I had all the Durbins on tape in 1985 thanks to them.

So very sorry to hear about Betty Hutton - what a talent she was, so enthusiastic and yet so vulnerable. Her interview with Robert Osborne a few years back really touched me.

Re: Let's speculate about the rumored Universal boxed set of musicals

From MoviesUnlimited update:


(My)Question: ...Lastly, do you think we will be lucky enough to get a second Deanna Durbin collection from Universal before too long? Thank you very much!!!
-- (via email)

Answer: Universal is considering going to the Deanna Durbin well again, probably in early 2008.

Re: Let's speculate about the rumored Universal boxed set of musicals

As mentioned in first post, there were rumors about such a set on the MoviesUnlimited website, that's all, so it cannot be taken completely for granted.

Yet, considering Universal's upcoming collections for westerns and pirate films, it would not be surprising to see one or two volumes for musicals too!