Classic Musicals Collection - The Cole Porter Gift Set (High Society / Kiss Me Kate / Les Girls / Broadway Melody of 1940 / Silk Stockings)

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The Cole Porter Collection provides an overview of the swellegant songwriter's witty lyrics and well-known melodies through five MGM musicals. The black-and-white Broadway Melody of 1940 features the brilliant dancing of Fred Astaire (in his MGM debut) and Eleanor Powell (in her fourth Broadway Melody picture). By the 1950s, we recognize the splashy colors that would become MGM's distinctive style in four pictures inspired by familiar sources. Kiss Me Kate (1953) is the adaptation of the Broadway musical, starring Howard Keel and Kathryn Grayson as the couple whose offstage feud mirrors their roles in Shakespeare's The Taming of the Shrew. The best of the batch, High Society (1956), stars Bing Crosby, Grace Kelly, and Frank Sinatra in a musical update of The Philadelphia Story, while the 1957 films Les Girls (with Gene Kelly, Kay Kendall, Tania Elg, and Mitzi Gaynor) and Silk Stockings (with Astaire and Cyd Charisse) retell Rashomon and Ninotchka, respectively. Favorite songs in the set include "Begin the Beguine," "I Concentrate on You," "Wunderbar," "So in Love," "Brush Up Your Shakespeare," "Well, Did You Evah?", "You're Sensational," and "All of You." The films boast sharp transfers, making-of segments hosted by legends such as Cyd Charisse and Ann Miller, vintage shorts and cartoons, and Dolby Digital 5.1 sound (except Broadway Melody, which is in satisfactory mono). --David Horiuchi

Customer Reviews:

Honest personal opinion on the Cole Porter Gift Set.......2006-07-16

I was very disappointed and feel that the only DVD worthwhile in this set is "High Society"--that deserves 5 stars! The other DVDs lack the quality and better-known Cole Porter song content. I would recommend buying High Society by itself, which, ironically, was my initial intention.

two musicals missing in this box set !!!!!.......2003-05-04

Great box, great musicals too, all remastered. Meanwhile, I don't understand why "Kiss Me Kate" is not letterboxed as I have a widescreen version of this movie on laserdisc. "Panama Hattie" and most of all, "The Pirate" are not included in this box set, why ?

At last, 5 remastered Cole Porter Musicals now on DVD!!.......2003-05-04

This review is mainly about the DVD presentation of these MGM musicals, "Cole Porter Collection" box set. The movies are ALL CLASSICS and worth the price of admission.

First of all I must congratulate Warner Brothers Home Video for their outstanding job in putting together this 5 DVD Cole Porter musical set!!! This 5 Musical box set have all been digitally remastered both picture & sound. The black/white picture quality is outstanding, the TECHNICOLOR pallet is eye popping/vivid, and the sound is crystal clear. There is an abundance of film related extra features included for each film too. Cole Porters music is at its best throughout this collection.

Qualifying Statement: I have a Home Theatre including; a 55" 16:9 WideScreen HDTV with a Progressive Scan DVD player/recorder and a Dolby ProLogic Surround System. My movie library consists of over 500 DVDs, mostly remastered & preserved in their original theatrical presentation release (full screen or widescreen anamorphic aspect ratio).

NOTE: FULL SCREEN - 4:3 (1:33 to 1 ratio) made for tv or films released before 1953. WIDESCREEN (movies made after 1953 to compete with television) - 4:3 LETTERBOX (horizontal top & bottom black bars on tv, add left & right vertical black bars too on 16:9 WideScreen HDTVs) adjusted for any aspect ratio 166/185/225 to 1 etc. It is still letter box.) ANAMORPHIC WIDESCREEN IS THE ONLY TRUE HDTV 16:9 PRESENTAION. This format automatically adjusts to the television being used. To get the High Definition picture the DVD MUST BE ANAMORPHIC & ENHANCED FOR 16:9 WIDESCREEN TELEVISIONS!!!!!!!!

Now in SUMMARY: Full Screen - "BROADWAY MELODY OF 1940" starring the best tap dancing duo of all time Fred Astaire & Eleanor Powell. This in my opinion is the best musical of this box set. The picture & sound quality is absolutely astounding. The dancing and Porters music is the best!!!! The musical film finale "Begin the Beguine" is fantastic. The extra features include; Ann Miller hosts a background documentary Cole Porter in Hollywood: Begin the Beguine (great info), Our Gang (Spanky etc)episode "The Big Premiere", Behind the Scenes Notes and trailer. This is a Black/White Full Screen film. What a musical. this film alone is worth the price of admission. "KISS ME KATE" starring Howard Keel, Kathryn Grayson and Ann Miller. This 1953 TECHNICOLOR DOLBY 5.1 musical is beautiful to watch and the stars voices are wonderful. The dancing choregraphy of genius Hermes Pan is outstanding, with young dancers,Bob Fosse, Carol Haney and Ann Miller. Extras include; Ann Miller hosts Cole Porter in Hollywood: Too Darn Hot, Music Track Only, Vintage documentary short "Mighty Manhatten, New Yorks Wonder City", Behind the scenes notes and trailer.

ANAMORPHIC WIDESCREEN - "HIGH SOCIETY" Cole Porters 1956 musical remake of the 1940 comedy hit, "The Philadelphia Story". This time starring Grace Kelly (her last film before marrying the Prince of Monaco), Bing Crosby and Frank Sinatra. This is my second favorite of this box set. The screen play, the music and the stars are perfectly cast. Note: Crosby & Kelly make the "True Love" duet and it becomes a gold record. This TECHNICOLOR widescreen remastered picture presentation is better than the original theatrical release with Dolby 5.1 sound. Porters songs are at their best. We even have Louis "Satchmo" Armstrong jiving too.
Extras include; Celeste Holm hosts Cole Poter in Hollywood; True Love, Premiere Newsreel, Audio-Only radio ads featuring Crosby, Kelly & Sinatra, Millionaire Droopy Cartoon, behind the scenes notes and trailer. Don't miss "HIGH SOCIETY" with the regal elegant beauty of Grace (actually wearing her real engagement ring - what a rock), the crooner Crosby and Old Blue Eyes Frank this is an outstanding delight to watch and listen too!!!! "SILK STOCKINGS" - Porters 1957 musical adaptation of Garbos "Ninotchka" - starring Fred Astaire & Cyd Charisse. This TECHNICOLOR WIDESCREEN DOLBY 5.1 presentation is beautiful to watch and provides us with their last MGM musical. Extras include; Cyd Charisse hosts Cole Porters in Hollywood: Satin and Silk, 2 vintage musical shorts - Paree, Paree (1934 singing Bob Hope) and The Poet and Peasant Overture (presenting the MGM orchestra), behind the scenes and trailer. "LES GIRLS" this 1957 musical starring Gene Kelly, Mitzi Gaynor, Kay Kendall and Taina Elg. Directed by George Cukor this Widescreen Technicolor Dolby 5.1 DVD is beautiful to watch but is the least known of Porters musicals. Extras include: Taina Elg hosts Cole Porters Hollywood: Ca C'est L'amour, vintage cartoon - Flea Circus, behind the scenes notes, trailer.

If you are a Cole Porter fan or you love musicals, this DVD box set is for you. Warner Brothers has done a marvelous job preserving, restoring and digitally remastering these films. A complete delite.

I recommend at a minimum rent "BROADWAY MELODY of 1940" and "HIGH SOCIETY" these 2 musicals are a must for your DVD library. Overall I love this box set. Enjoy.

Why Not 'Begin the Beguine' with this GREAT Collection?.......2003-04-24

Cole Porter was one of the greatest composers of all time and this a wonderful salute to him. The DVDs in this collection are:

Kiss Me Kate: A wonderful story of how two ex-spouses in a musical adaption of Shakespeare's "The Taming of the Shrew" act the same offstage as they do on.
Starring: Kathryn Grayson, Howard Keel, Ann Miller

The Broadway Melody of 1940: Wonderful Dance Numbers, Great Stars, Flamboyent Costumes, IT'S GREAT!
Starring: Fred Astaire, Elenore Powell, George Murphy

High Society: It's the musical remake of "The Philidelphia Story". Am ex-husband trys to re-marry his soon-to-be married e-wife, Tracy, and along come the SPY magazine reporters to dig the dirt on Tracy's new wedding.
Starring: Bing Crosby, Grace Kelly, Frank Sinatra

Silk Stockings: The musical remake of "Ninotchka". A film producer uses Paris and himself to try to charm a hard-cut envoy.
Starring: Fred Astaire, Cyd Charisse, Janis Paige

Les Girls: Th story of a showman and his Les Girls as each girl tells their story.
Starring: Gene Kelly, Mitzi Gaynor, Kay Kendall

In my opinion, I think that the not-well-known Cole Porter's "The Pirate" with Gene Kelly and Judy Garland should be in this boxset INSTEAD of "Les Girls".

Why Not 'Begin the Beguine' with this GREAT Collection?.......2003-04-24

Cole Porter was one of the greatest composers of all time and this a wonderful salute to him. The DVDs in this collection are:

The Broadway Melody of 1940: Wonderful Dance Numbers, Great Stars, Flamboyent Costumes, IT'S GREAT!
Starring: Fred Astaire, Elenore Powell, George Murphy

Silk Stockings: The musical remake of "Ninotchka". A film producer uses Paris and himself to try to charm a hard-cut envoy.
Starring: Fred Astaire, Cyd Charisse, Janis Paige

Les Girls: The story of a showman and his Les Girls as each girl tells their story in court.
Starring: Gene Kelly, Mitzi Gaynor, Kay Kendall

Customer Reviews:

Good, Lighthearted family drama.......2007-01-19

Farrah Fawcett stars as Frannie a carefree, frivolous and fun woman who returns home to Silk Hope on her Mother's passing. The movie portrays her attempts to hold on to the family home (her sister and fiance want to sell it) whilst learning to be responsible and changing as a person.

The movie is light hearted with some genuinely funny moments, (Frannie and the pigs), pathos, and drama. Farrah Fawcett is wonderful and is abley supported by Brad Johnson as the love interest.

Worthwhile.

Wholesome .......2007-01-04

I liked the movie because the entire family could watch - for a change, there was no nudity, profanity, etc., thank goodness! I liked the evolution of Fawcett's character, you gathered that she had been and still was, to an extent, conflicted, but evolved to be quite genuine and likeable. I loved the warmness and sensitivity portrayed by Brad Johnson's character (the strong, yet sensitive male). Bottom line the movie was wholesome, man, woman, love..... I even liked the theme song, I think it's called "Carolina Skies". Anyone know where I can get a copy?

Buy this DVD!!! LOL.......2007-01-04

This is a wonderful movie. Farrah Fawcett is absolutely beautiful and superb in this film. I love the down home story line, I love the way Farrah plays "Frannie" in the film. It's a true feel-good movie that your whole family can enjoy.

Better than Expected.......2004-12-20

I liked this movie. When I saw the title and read the short blurb in the movie description, and being fans of Farrah, my wife and I decided to watch it. We liked it. It had a plot, character developement, and good dialogue. We were disappointed in the accident scene as we felt it did not seem to picture the extent of the inuury. One person's character was transparent enough that both my wife and I guessed ahead of time about him. The story also showed how motive and a goal can change a person such as wanting to keep the farm kept Frannie to her task. And she falls in love to boot. It is a decent movie and one we would recommend to anyone who wants to watch and enjoy a wholesome movie and is also a fan of Farrah's. This review is based on the movies shown on TV.

Good Movie........2003-12-05

Very cute Light hearted drama/comedy. Frannie returns home to the town of Silk Hope in one of the Carolinas after her dissapearing to god knows where for three months or so, she finds that things have changed; Her mom has passed away, Her sister wants to sell the House and Farm in which she has grown up on. Frannie realizes that she needs to "TRY" and become a responsible person so that she can buy out her sister's half of the house and Farm because she feels it should remain in the family. The comedy in this movie is that Frannie has a very hard time trying to remain focused on being responsible. Also Frannie for the first time finds herself falling in love, also decides on a whim to pig farm, and in the meanwhile she tries scaring away potential buyers of her land. I think Farrah shines in this movie. By the end of the movie Frannie is not the only person who grows up, Each character involved receives a positive impact set by Frannie's will and determination. Great Picture Quality DVD. No extras, just Scene index and Play. (this was a television movie, so therefore only in Full Screen). Enjoy!! :)

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