Hollywood Musicals - Second Chorus / Mr. Imperium

Product Description

From back cover, "A beautiful singer/dancer turned actress and a playboy crown prince turned monarch have their clandestine romance interfered with as a result of their changing circumstances."

Customer Reviews:

The flop that Lana Turner was ashamed of!.......2005-11-11

To begin with, no one can claim to be a bigger fan of Lana Turner than me. I usually love her films but in this case I was majorly disappointed. In Lana Turner's autobiography she wrote, "I thought the script was stupid. It was the story of a European prince who falls in love with an American nightclub singer. I fought against doing the picture but I lost." Lana also wrote that her co-star, Ezio Pinza, was arrogant, had bad breath, and tried unsuccessfuly to seduce every woman in sight when not working on "Mr. Imperium". Even though I knew what Lana thought of the movie, I still bought the movie (for a dollar), refusing to believe that such a glamorous star could make a flop. I was wrong.

Lana Turner plays the sexy nightclub singer that a European prince (Ezio Pinza) falls in love with, and although she's already got a boyfriend, she slowly falls for the prince. They begin a love affair that will prove to be shortlived. Marjorie Main, Barry Sullivan, and a very young Debbie Reynolds were in supporting roles, but like Lana they certainly deserved better than this near disaster. Ezio Pinza's singing is extremely annoying and pairing him romantically with the beautiful Lana Turner is simply ludicrous and totally unconvincing. The only reason I gave this movie 2 stars is simply for Lana's beauty, but that alone can't save the film. Trust me, this one just isn't worth watching, except of course for the opening scene where Lana wears a very sexy outfit.

not Lana Turner's finest hour..........2005-08-15

MR IMPERIUM is a fine musical from M-G-M, though hardly fits among the studio's all-time classics (hence the reason why this title has slipped into Public Domain territory). Lana Turner's charm and beauty can't help this lumbering turkey. She plays a cabaret star called Fredda Barlo who gets romanced by the son of a European monarch who calls himself Mr Imperium (Ezio Pinza). Marjorie Main and Debbie Reynolds are wasted in supporting roles; and Pinza and Turner have zilch in the chemistry department. Lovers of musicals will get a kick out of it, though.

Average customer rating:

The flop that Lana Turner was ashamed of!
Pleasant Surprise
Nicely Done Romance Musical !!

Mr. Imperium
Starring: Lana Turner , Ezio Pinza , Marjorie Main , Barry Sullivan , and Cedric Hardwicke
Director: Don Hartman
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Musicals & Performing Arts | Genres | DVD | Video

( M ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video
ASIN: B000163WXU

Customer Reviews:

The flop that Lana Turner was ashamed of!.......2005-06-09

To begin with, no one can claim to be a bigger fan of Lana Turner than me. I usually love her films but in this case I was majorly disappointed. In Lana Turner's autobiography she wrote, "I thought the script was stupid. It was the story of a European prince who falls in love with an American nightclub singer. I fought against doing the picture but I lost." Lana also wrote that her co-star, Ezio Pinza, was arrogant, had bad breath, and tried unsuccessfuly to seduce every woman in sight when not working on "Mr. Imperium". Even though I knew what Lana thought of the movie, I still bought the movie (for a dollar), refusing to believe that such a glamorous star could make a flop. I was wrong.

Lana Turner plays the sexy nightclub singer that a European prince (Ezio Pinza) falls in love with, and although she's already got a boyfriend, she slowly falls for the prince. They begin a love affair that will prove to be shortlived. Marjorie Main, Barry Sullivan, and a very young Debbie Reynolds were in supporting roles, but like Lana they certainly deserved better than this near disaster. Ezio Pinza's singing is extremely annoying and pairing him romantically with the beautiful Lana Turner is simply ludicrous and totally unconvincing. The only reason I gave this movie 2 stars is simply for Lana's beauty, but that alone can't save the film. The video from Madacy "Hollywood Classics" is awful, with a shaky picture quality and terrible sound. Trust me, this one just isn't worth watching.

Pleasant Surprise.......2003-08-19

This lesser-known MGM musical turned out to be a pleasant surprise, for a couple of reasons. First, although this edition is from the comparatively low-budget VCI Home Video, the picture quality is excellent. It doesn't compare to DVD, of course, but this print is at least as good as some of the other "official" MGM/UA/Warner releases of vintage musicals I've seen on VHS. Secondly, the movie itself is quite entertaining, with a delightful performance by a young Debbie Reynolds and Lana Turner looking beautiful as always. The story, if not remarkable, is typical of the musical comedy-dramas that were being produced in that era. If you're a fan of Jane Powell and Esther Williams movies, you're bound to enjoy this one.

Nicely Done Romance Musical !!.......2003-06-27

This 1952 movie starts out with a romantic encounter in Italy between Fredda Barlo(Lana Turner),a rising singing starlet and Mr. Imperium(Ezio Pinza),an heir to a throne.Twelve years later they meet again and Mr. Imperium is forced to choose between his love for Fredda or his country.Also,co-starring Debbie Reynolds,Barry Sullivan,Cedric Hardwicke and Majorie Main,it's a nicely done romance musical!!

*10 Movie Set* Three Broadway Girls (1932), Doll Face (1946), Moonlight Sonata (1937), Second Chorus (1940), Mr. Imperium (1951), Manhattan Merry Go Round (1937), Royal Wedding (1951), Happy Go Lovely (1951), Glorifying the American Girl (1930), the Stork Club (1945)

Average customer rating:

*10 Movie Set* Three Broadway Girls (1932), Doll Face (1946), Moonlight Sonata (1937), Second Chorus (1940), Mr. Imperium (1951), Manhattan Merry Go Round (1937), Royal Wedding (1951), Happy Go Lovely (1951), Glorifying the American Girl (1930), the Stork Club (1945)

ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Classics | Genres | DVD | Video
Product Features:

Digitally Remastered For Superior Picture Quality
Dolby Digital Sound
INTERACTIVE MENUS
scene selections
CHAPTER STOPS

ASIN: B000H78XC8

DVD:

DVD

DVD