Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #8984 in VHS
• Released on: 1998-09-01
• Rating: NR (Not Rated)
• Formats: Color, NTSC
• Original language: English
• Number of tapes: 1
• Running time: 95 minutes

Customer Reviews

An uplifting movie - Reeves before he became Hercules
I enjoyed this movie, even though it does take some cheap shots at the musclemen and the health & fitness movement.Jane Powell and Debbie Reynolds are delightful in their roles and their voices are at their peak. You will love hearing them sing.Edmund Purdom and Vic Damone add some worldly class to this film. Reeves definitely has presence here and it's easy to see why he became a star many years later. It was this movie that landed him the role of Hercules.At one point in the movie, Edmund Purdom lites up a cigerette and Reeves pulls the cigarette out of his mouth and says; "What are you trying to do, suffocate us?" In real life, Reeves was opposed to smoking.The movie also has a Mr. Universe contest which Reeves wins after successfully completing a continental clean and press of 400 lbs to break a deadlock with Lynn Lyman.Interesting because in real life back in 1948 Reeves was tied for first place with former weightlifter John Grimek in the Mr. Universe contest in London, England. Grimeks athletic prowess broke the tie and gave him the win, even though Reeves had the best physique.Athena is a good movie. It's a funny, clean movie. Has great songs by Damone, Powell and Reynolds and features many of the top bodybuilders of that era. Something for everybody. I hope they put this one on dvd.

A muscle musical
My wife and I were watching this movie just a few days ago. Debbie Reynolds and Jane Powell are delightful. Music fans will enjoy Vic Damone.Although a far cry from "Singing in the Rain" and "7 Brides for 7 Women", this movie is moderately entertaining.For bodybuilding buffs, it's ridiculous to see Reeves get pounced by scrawny Edmund Purdom and Dick Dubois, a former Mr. America, actually at that time, current 1954 AAU Mr. America crawl away in fear from Damone. This movie didn't do much to inspire faith in bodybuilding or in the health movement. The movie does feature some of the greats of the day. Besides Reeves and Dubois, Jerry Ross, Mr. California, Zabo Koswieski, Mr. Abdominals and others.Nevertheless, it's a fun movie even if it did take a few pokes at musclemen.Would be nice to see a remake of the movie. Problem; who would or could play Reeves? Steve Reeves was a man of real substance. Most of the top champions of today are real substance abusers.

LOVE CAN CHANGE THE STARS
Another spirited musical-comedy in the great tradition of the MGM musicals. This bubbling, tune-filled pleaser is fresh on the heels of "Seven Brides for Seven Brothers" but this time it is seven sisters who take center stage.

Grandpa Mulvane (Louis Calhern) runs a health food and body conditioning spa whose clients are being geared for the Mr. Universe contest. His seven precocious granddaughters help run the establishment with flair. The entire Mulvane family are numerologists who maintain a strict vegetarian diet and have a high respect for things natural.

The apple-cart is upset when businessman Adam, a carnivore, (Edmund Purdom) falls for Athena (Jane Powell) and singer Johnny (Vic Damone) falls for her sister, Minerva, (Debbie Raynolds). The complications continue when Adam knocks Grandpa's prime contestant (Steve Reeves) to the floor over a backstage altercation over Athena at the Mr. Universe contest.

Jane Powell is her loveliest as Athena Mulvane. Her voice is at the peak of her career. She sings the lively "Vocalize", informs us in her own lyrical way that "Love Can Change the Stars", and shows her full musical prowess with Donizetti's showpiece "Chacun le sait" from "The Daughter of the Regiment". Vic Damone delights with "The Girl Next Door", "Venezia" and a reprise of "Love Can Change the Stars". Debbie Raynolds charms with "I Never Felt Better" and "Imagine".

The tongue-in-cheek merriment with the healthy lifestyle advocates, the delightful musical score by Hugh Martin and Ralph Blane, and the talents of some of MGM's top musical stars make this a tuneful package to enjoy anytime you need a light lift in spirits.