Reviews

The 1962 motion picture version of THE MUSIC MAN was great. A perfect version of a fantastic musical. There was no reason to remake it, but remake it they did. The whole film was a total waste of time. Matthew Broderick was terrible. His reading of the part was so bland and boring. I didn't believe for a minute that Broderick's Harold Hill could con anyone. Only Kristin Chenoweth as Marion came off as the best performance in this production. I compare this stinker to the other horrible remake that Disney did with SOUTH PACIFIC. If Disney is going to remake films, remake the bad ones like MAME or THE WIZ. The only time Disney improved on a film was with ANNIE.

I was prepared to hate this movie. Another film on Cinderella. What a surprise! The film makers gave this old tale a fresh interpretation. It was like hearing this story for the first time. This is what I call a perfect motion picture. Great direction, acting, score, screenplay, costumes and photography. I vote it the best film of the 90's.

Well, those who wanted Rodgers & Hammerstein's SOUTH PACIFIC remade got their wish. If anyone thinks this horrible remake is better than the 1958 version really needs help. Rodgers & Hammerstein must be rolling in their graves. First off GLENN CLOSE is to old for the role of Nellie Forbush. GLENN CLOSE is to old for the part. The orchestrations can't compare to Alfred Newman's. The house dress that Glenn Close wore at the party is no match to the gown that was designed by the legendary Dorothy Jenkins for Mitzi Gaynor. The production numbers were terrible. I have seen better staged numbers in high school plays. As for the woman who played Bloody Mary; she was the worse. She couldn't act, and her trying to sing Bali Hi was painful. There is nothing to recommend this picture for. Long live the classic 1958 film version.

I got to see THE MIRACLE OF TODD-AO when OKLAHOMA! was re-released in the sixties. The film really showed off the 70mm process. They even had a rollercoaster scene, like in THIS IS CINERAMA. Not as good as the "you are there" effect in Cinerama, but pretty close.

No, DVD is not the second coming, as this latest release of the great motion picture CLEOPATRA confirms. First off they put the entr'acte music at the end of disc one, instead at the beginning of disc two. Why? Next, where is the exit music? Every release of this film has had it. Thank god I have the wonderful laser disc version with its superior sound. The only thing this DVD has going for it is the great documentary: CLEOPATRA THE FILM THAT CHANGED HOLLYWOOD. I have been trying to get a hold of 20th Century-Fox home video to get answers to these questions.

I get so tired of people saying what a lousy motion picture SOUTH PACIFIC is. I have seen the musical on stage and feel the film version improves on it. The casting was perfect. I can not think of anyone else better as Nellie Forbush than Mitzi Gaynor. Seeing SOUTH PACIFIC, for the first time in the TODD-AO 70mm process was truly a life changing experience, for me. This is the film that got me interested in motion pictures. I loved the color changes, which influenced future films, including WEST SIDE STORY. I have shown this film to new generations and everyone loved the use of the color changes. One comment, from another member stated this film screams for a remake. Well, TV remade it. Now you can scream. I had the honor to talk with SOUTH PACIFIC's director Joshua Logan and asked him what Rodgers and Hammerstein thought about the film and Mr. Logan said Richard Rodgers liked it except for the color changes and Oscar Hammerstein liked the whole picture. They also thought the staging of the musical numbers was the best of any of their plays put on film. Now I only wish we could see the original un-cut version of SOUTH PACIFIC, which runs 171 minutes. So, what it comes down to is if you don't like the film version of SOUTH PACIFIC, than you really just don't like Rodgers & Hammerstein's SOUTH PACIFIC.