Press Release Warner Archive Collection Press Release: Words and Music (1948) (Blu-ray) (1 Viewer)

[Ronald Epstein]

Coming from the Warner Archive Collection on August 27, 2024!
New 2024 1080p HD master from 4K Scans of Original Nitrate Technicolor Negatives

WORDS AND MUSIC (1948)
BD-50
Running Time: 121 Minutes
COLOR
DTS-MA HD 2.0
16x9 1.37:1 with side mattes
Subtitles: English SDH

Cast: Mickey Rooney, Tom Drake, Janet Leigh, Perry Como, Betty Garrett, Judy Garland, Gene Kelly, Lena Horne, June Allyson, Ann Southern, Mel Torme, Vera-Ellen, Cyd Charisse.

SPECIAL FEATURES: Commentary by Film Historian Richard Barrios, Featurette :A Life in Words and Music, Unused musical sequences: You’re Nearer (Perry Como), Lover (Perry Como & M-G-M Orchestra and Chorus). Audio-only musical outtakes. Classic MGM cartoon: THE CAT THAT HATED PEOPLE, Classic MGM Short: GOING TO BLAZES!

Mickey Rooney, Tom Drake, Betty Garrett, Janet Leigh, and a host of top musical performers headline M-G-M producer Arthur Freed’s extravagant biographical tribute to the prolific songwriting duo of Richard Rodgers and Lorenz Hart. In the early 1920s, the diminutive Hart (Rooney) teams up with Rodgers (Drake) to launch a successful 24-year music career, penning nearly 500 songs with him until Hart's death in 1943 at the age of 47. Rodgers marries his dream girl (Leigh) while Hart pines after Peggy (Garrett), eventually spiraling into depression and death after her rejection. June Allyson, Perry Como, Ann Sothern, Mel Tormé, Cyd Charisse, Judy Garland, and Lena Horne are just some of the singing sensations featured. This is the last movie in which Garland and Rooney appeared together. It also boasts the first full-length modern ballet piece in a Hollywood movie: Choreographed and danced by Gene Kelly, with Vera-Ellen as his partner, "Slaughter on Tenth Avenue" provides the show-stopping seven-minute finale to the film. Among the hit songs performed are " "Blue Moon," "Thou Swell” "Manhattan," "Johnny One Note," "I Wish I Were in Love Again," "Where or When," and "The Lady Is a Tramp."

 

[Ronald Epstein]

Thank you for supporting HTF when you preorder using the link below. As an Amazon Associate HTF earns from qualifying purchases. If you are using an adblocker you will not see link.

Amazon.com

 

[DigniT@DigniT!]

Terrific

 

[Konstantinos]

It's only fitting for this to be announced today, as it's Richard Rodgers's birthday!
I have seen it in the past but I don't remember anything of it.

 

[Richard M S]

Wow, it will be derived from the Original Nitrate Technicolor Negatives; it should look incredible!

Is the Richard Barrios commentary new?

 

[Mark B]

Wow, it will be derived from the Original Nitrate Technicolor Negatives; it should look incredible!

Is the Richard Barrios commentary new?

Commentary was on the DVD.

 

[Jay_Z_525]

Can’t wait for this one.

 

[DannyLewis]

Very, very excited about this one! Since WAC started releasing restorations from 3 strip Technicolor negatives, I though this title would be the perfect candidate for such treatment! I'm sure it wll look spetacular!

 

[Ronald Epstein]

Thank you for supporting HTF when you preorder using the link below. As an Amazon Associate HTF earns from qualifying purchases. If you are using an adblocker you will not see link.

Amazon.com

 

[Jay_Z_525]

This week is looking up!

 

[JPCinema]

Still no estimate for my order :-(

 

[Will Krupp]

Still no estimate for my order :-(

Why don't you just delete and reorder it? Did you save a significant amount of money on the pre-order?

 

[JPCinema]

Just received a notice that is it arriving thursday

 

[RichMurphy]

Still "backordered" on Deep Discount.

 

[Jay_Z_525]

Blu-ray just arrived and I’m scrubbing through it quickly (I’ll watch it in full tonight) and it’s stunning.

Ann Sothern in technicolor is a treat for the eyes!

 

[Richard M S]

This is definitely a must-buy for fans of musicals or Technicolor restorations!

I agree with the above comment, Ann Sothern looks terrific in Technicolor.

Cyd Charisse really stands out as well. I never thought much of the On Your Toes segment, but in this restoration it looks so spectacular; in fact it was the first number I returned to after watching the film. Suddenly I noticed the "forest" on stage with the dancers was composed of the exact same trees used in the "This Heart Of Mine" number from Ziegfeld Follies - they just added leaves. The Blue Room number equally stands out; one notices subtle differenced between the shades of blue more than ever

There's not much one can do with the Tom Drake scenes, so I admittedly skipped over them. However so vivid is the restoration that when he is sitting with Janet Leigh after Lena Horne sings, the cake on his plate is so vivid you almost think you could reach in and eat it.

 

[Will Krupp]

Ann Sothern in technicolor is a treat for the eyes!

Guess that answers her "rainbow" question. She's standing IN it!