Collection of films starring legendary song and dance man Fred Astaire. In 'Easter Parade' (1948), Astaire came out of retirement to play one half of a dance team who is ditched by his partner. Deciding he can make a star out of anyone he wants, he chooses a lowly chorus girl (Judy Garland) as his new partner. Songs include 'A Couple of Swells', 'Stepping Out With My Baby' and 'Shaking the Blues Away'. Also starring Ann Miller and Peter Lawford, the film also features an appearance by a 2-year-old Liza Minelli. In 'Broadway Melody of 1940' (1940), dancers Johnny Brett (Astaire) and King Shaw (George Murphy) are struggling to make a living in New York. When a producer is on the look out for a dance partner for star Clare Bennett (Eleanor Powell) he decides he wants Johnny, but when he goes to offer him the role, Johnny panics when he mistakenly thinks the producer is a debt collector and gives King's name instead of his own. King is now the star of the show and Johnny has missed out, that is until King gets drunk on opening night and a replacement is needed. In 'Finian's Rainbow' (1968), Francis Ford Coppola's first big-budget feature, Astaire stars as a simple-minded Irishman fleeing to America with a crock of gold. He is pursued by a leprechaun (Tommy Steele), the rightful owner of the stolen booty. The film was based on the hit stage musical. In 'The Barkleys of Broadway' (1949) Astaire and Ginger Rogers play a showbiz couple who are always bickering - but true love prevails. This film was their first together for ten years. The songs, by Harry Warren and Ira Gershwin, include 'They Can't Take That Away from Me' and 'You'd Be Hard to Replace'. Judy Garland was the first choice for the female lead, but withdrew because of illness. In 'The Band Wagon' (1953) a has-been star of movie musicals (Astaire) agrees to take part in a Broadway show, playing opposite a ballerina (Cyd Charisse). The stars fear they cannot work together, but the show's success is under a bigger threat from its pretentious musical director (Jack Buchanan), who turns a simple story into an overblown monster. When opening night is a flop, it is up to the cast to save the show.
D**S
Fred Astaire collection DVD
This 6 disc set is of incomparable value for money, and for entertainment.Songs such as Easter Parade, and A Couple of Swells with Judy Garland appear fresh, and not just the standard classics they have become.I have never seen Broadway Melody 1940 before, and Fred's dancing is a revelation of ingenuiety, as is the original version of Begin the Beguine.In this film I do not think Eleanor Powell is his most ideal co star, but Fred and George Murphy and Cole Porter songs are supreme.Finians Rainbow sees Fred Astaire as a playfull ageing Irishman seeking a crock of Gold in the Southern States of America with Petula Clark as his daughter, and Tommy Steel as a Leprechaun trying to protect it. There is some hillarious comedy from the Black and White supporting cast on the Plantation. Strangely enough I do not recall seeing The Barkleys of Broadway, but here back with Ginger Rogers after ten years, the dancing is absolute perfection and elegance.A surprise scene shows Ginger as a dramatic Sahra Burnheart.Finally The Band Wagon features Fred as a star making a comeback with Oscar Levant and Cyd Cherise. The songs That's Entertainment, All by Myself, Dancing in The Dark, and A Shine on Your Shoes, were the original versions in this truly amazing all dancing all singing film.This is a set not to be missed, whether an ardent fan, or a new one.
G**N
You get what it says you get.
Very good if you're a Fred Astaire fan!
M**C
Great item
Really enjoyed this collection of films. Would recommend to any Fred Astaire fans.
I**E
pleasure for old folks
these dvds were bought and sent to my mother in her care home. they have been much appreciated by all the residents.
S**S
Makes you want to dance!
Been an older generation but not born in the thirties I love and am mesmerised at the ability of Fred Astaire what a wonderful technician in his chosen profession!
T**R
This DVD Set Carries Subtitles In English And Other Languages
I would also like to add a very important aspect of this dvd set and which is relevant to all those who are hard of hearing or deaf and that is that this set carries subtitle in english on all the films. I find many instances of this lack of information with Amazon and other retailers. They really need to get their act together as some 10% of the population suffer from hearing disorders and rely on such helpful technology to follow the storylines and so enjoy the film. Wake up Amazon to all the lost revenue you must be suffering for if this information is not provided than you are losing out on an additional possible 10% increase in your film sales on DVDs.
A**S
3 DVD set is a collection of the flops of a great star.
I greatly looked forward to seeing Fred Astaire films I had never seen before but the first one I watched, the "Over the hill gang rides again" was a sequel of a made for TV western movie that was so dull out of the 5 of us that sat down to watch it I was the only one who made it to the end. Astaire is more of a cameo in the film and while there are great films in which he does not dance, here he does no dancing and the film is anything but great.The other two films are not very good films, but they at least allow the star to shine. While neither is a good film as a whole, Royal Wedding includes the famous dancing on the roof scene which makes it worth having, and Second Chorus has Artie Shaw playing himself as one of the secondary characters.The sound quality on all three films is extremely bad (sadly including the music).Fred Astaire was a great performer, so even given these mediocre to awful platforms he was able to stand out, but the only thing in the entire set worth owning is the dancing on the ceiling scene. If you want that you could just get Royal Wedding alone (hopefully with a restored soundtrack).
L**P
Just love watching Fred Astaire
Meant to be my Christmas present, but watched a couple of the films Easter Parade, and Broadway, Just love watching Fred Astaire, he was a master of his craft.
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