A Few Words About A few words about...™ Kismet -- in Blu-ray (1 Viewer)

[Matt Hough]

Yes, just listen to her cast recordings (Destry Rides Again is a favorite) and soundtrack albums and you'll know it's the same magnificent, belting-to-the-rafters voice.

 

[Ethan Riley]

I think she was a great, under-utilized talent. She and Virginia O'Brien should have made many more movies. I love her.

 

[verneaux]

Back in the 70's Ohio had the Kenley Players where John Kenley would present shows over the summer. I remember a production of Kismet with Dolores Gray reprising her role. Still sounded good altho her vibrato was getting a little wide. Hal Linden was starred and he was great.

 

[lionel59]

A friend of mine was working in theatre in London in the mid-'80's and met Dolores ('Dolly') Grey. She was performing in something and apparently "still had it". I recall hearing she was a fan of British-style Fish and Chips. I enjoy her performance in DESIGNING WOMAN with Gregory Peck, particularly in the restaurant scene. Her big number in IT'S ALWAYS FAIR WEATHER is a real highlight in that movie and was showcased in THAT'S ENTERTAINMENT III. She just about steals that movie too. Great comedienne.

 

[classicmovieguy]

Dolores co-starred in the 1987 London production of Sondheim's "Follies", maybe that is when your friend met her.

 

[classicmovieguy]

Here is a picture of Ms Gray in that production:

 

[lionel59]

Yes, I think that was it. Thanks.

 

[Robin9]

Yes, just listen to her cast recordings (Destry Rides Again is a favorite) and soundtrack albums and you'll know it's the same magnificent, belting-to-the-rafters voice.

She didn't always belt it to the rafters. Her excellent album Warm Brandy consists of quiet, intimate interpretations of romantic songs. I wish she had made more recordings.

 

[classicmovieguy]

"Warm Brandy" is a gem. I also love "Two on the Aisle" and "Destry", though I wish "Sherry!" had been recorded with its original cast. There was a *very* belated studio album done 10 years or so ago, with Carol Burnett in Gray's role (its a musical version of "The Man Who Came to Dinner"), but who could ever beat Gray?

 

[haineshisway]

Wonderful transfer (and yes, Noel, the color is great), and amazing sound.

 

[rsmithjr]

The sound is great.

For once, we have something that sounds like 4-track magnetic in the 50's. So many films are over-processed with a serious reduction of the width of the front sound stage.

 

[Matt Hough]

My copy came today. I had originally planned to watch it tomorrow night, but as I had no reviewing activities tonight, I just couldn't wait to pop it in.

It's just as terrific as most everyone has said. The sound is full and lush, and the picture sparkles - one of the best of the Eastman Color Cinemascope transfers that I've seen. I actually liked the way it looked better than Hit the Deck.

But frankly, Warners has a perfect batting average with their Blu-ray releases through the Archives. They've all been splendid.

 

[AnthonyClarke]

this is slightly off-topic, but I thought I should share it.
A new production of 'The King and I' opened here in Melbourne last week. It was reviewed in this morning's 'Age' newspaper.
First paragraph reads:
'The King and I' is one of the classic Rodgers and Hammerstein musicals (the other is 'Kismet') that looks decidedly un-PC in what has, after all, been dubbed "The Asian Century".
Does this mean 'Kismet' should have been included in the new R & H box set? And why not 'Kiss Me Kate' too!

 

[bigshot]

I don't know about decidedly un-PC, but it sure ain't authentic by any stretch of the imagination!

 

[classicmovieguy]

Ugh - somebody didn't do their homework. I also get irritated when I see Rodgers misspelled as "Rogers".

 

[bigshot]

And that reviewer must not have seen the commercial with John Williams sitting in the wing back chair saying, "Did you know Strangers in Paradise was actually Polevetsian Dance number 2 by Borodin?"

 

[bigshot]

 

[davidmatychuk]

And that reviewer must not have seen the commercial with John Williams sitting in the wing back chair saying, "Did you know Strangers in Paradise was actually Polevetsian Dance number 2 by Borodin?"

And has anyone ever said those words more beautifully? I could hear his voice as I read those words. Unforgettable.

 

[Malcolm Bmoor]

Attributing KISMET to R&H is a giveaway that, like many others, that paper is not employing a knowledgable theatre critic.

It's an increasing trend as, after all, everyone is entitled to an opinion so why not use somebody - anybody - who happens to be available?

Here in London there was a theatre critic who was (mainly) knowledgable but lazy and he was once caught out reviewing a performance that had been cancelled. As he'd not been there he hadn't known.

It's not uncommon for production adverts to appear with Richard Rodgers' name mis-spelt.

 

[classicmovieguy]

It's not uncommon but I find it rather lazy and ignorant. It doesn't take a lot of effort to get the right facts and spelling; after all, these people are "professionals".