Product Description

HOWARD KEEL PLAYS FRANK BUTLER, THE BUFFALO BILL'S WILD WEST SHOW SHARPSHOOTER WHO BREAKS CLAY PIGEONS AND LADIES' HEARTS WITH EQUAL EASE. BETTY HUTTON PLAYS THE SPUNKY BACKWOODS GIRL WHO DARES TO CHALLENGE HIM TO A MATCH. HER NAME: ANNIE OAKLEY.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #9393 in DVD
• Brand: WARNER HOME VIDEO
• Released on: 2000-11-14
• Rating: NR (Not Rated)
• Aspect ratio: 1.33:1
• Formats: Closed-captioned, Color, DVD, NTSC
• Original language: English, French
• Subtitled in: French, English
• Number of discs: 1
• Running time: 107 minutes

Amazon.com
Never before available on home video and unseen on television since 1973, the 1950 production of Annie Get Your Gun has achieved somewhat legendary status, most notably for who would inherit the role Ethel Merman had made famous on Broadway in 1946. MGM originally cast Judy Garland, but her ongoing drug and alcohol problems led to her being fired and replaced by Betty Hutton. Fortunately, the bright and brassy Hutton sparkles in this highly fictionalized story of Annie Oakley, the sharpshooter who wins fame in Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show and wins the heart of fellow sharpshooter Frank Butler (Howard Keel). Dashing baritone Keel was beginning his career as one of MGM's favorite leading men in the 1950s (including Seven Brides for Seven Brothers and Kiss Me, Kate). Together they make gold of the many Irving Berlin hits--"Doin' What Comes Naturally," "Anything You Can Do," "They Say It's Wonderful," "I Got the Sun in the Morning," and the classic anthem "There's No Business Like Show Business."

Annie Get Your Gun is unquestionably a product of the 1950s. Keel's relentless chauvinism and Hutton's constant fawning over him grow tiresome (though she does stand up to him in a battle of the sexes), and the Indians wear full headdresses and face paint, say "Ugh," and destroy modern conveniences. (In the name of political correctness, the 1999 Broadway revival starring Bernadette Peters removed "I'm an Indian Too" and received its own share of criticism from purists.) Quibbles aside, the excellent cast and immortal score make Annie Get Your Gun a classic musical. It's great to have it back. --David Horiuchi

DVD features
Included on this DVD release, and of prime interest to many fans, are two scenes originally filmed by Judy Garland before she was replaced by Betty Hutton. By unfortunate coincidence, those two are the least flattering, with "Doin' What Comes Naturally" portraying Garland as a backwoods hick and "I'm an Indian Too" (filmed on a set strikingly different from what was used in the final Hutton version) showing her in Indian face paint. Garland is warm and likable in the first number, without the broad physical comedy Hutton would use. "I'm an Indian Too," however, is disappointing. A lackluster Garland goes through the motions and is noticeably flat on one note. Clearly, at the time Hutton was the right choice.

In additional outtakes, "Colonel Buffalo Bill" features originally cast Frank Morgan (Buffalo Bill) and Geraldine Wall (Dolly Tate), and Betty Hutton sings "Let's Go West Again," a song cut from the original Broadway production. Irving Berlin convinced the film producers to include it, but it was cut during final editing. The 50th anniversary release also features an all-new digital picture and audio transfer from restored elements, a bonus recording session audio track of the original cast performing "There's No Business Like Show Business," an all-new introduction by Susan Lucci, the original theatrical trailer, and a limited-edition mini lobby card reprint. --David Horiuchi

Customer Reviews

Look out world ! Here comes the "real" Annie
Annie wannabe's, here is the standard to which you strive for. Unfortunately for all of us, she's been locked away in the MGM vaults for the last 50 years. But, if I know Annie, she's coming back, better than ever ! Musical lovers under 50, are you in for a treat. Forget all that you've heard about Judy Garland, and her sad exit from Metro while working on this picture. About Louis B. Mayer begging Hal Wallis at Paramount to loan MGM his hugely popular star, Betty Hutton. About the cold shoulder Betty recieved from cast and crew on the "Annie" set. None of it affects the stunningly exciting final product. THIS IS A GREAT MUSICAL ! The score is as good (or better) than any you've ever heard. Songs you'll remember, and be singing, for the rest of your life. Hopefully we'll be seeing a totally restored version, which means the glorious Technicolor will dazzle you. The young Howard Keel makes his MGM debut here, and will knock you out. Louis Calhern is perfect as Wm. F.(Buffalo Bill) Cody, certainly larger-than-life ! But , this is Betty Hutton's movie, from start to finish. I've always considered it her crowning achievement. It's big, brash, beautiful, funny, and above all, it's FUN !

Annie Get This Movie!
Finally available on video and DVD, Annie Get Your Gun is a wonderful movie musical like they don't make any more. The color, the production, the performances, and the music are terrific. Betty Hutton is perfect as Annie. Giving a performance closer in style to Ethel Merman's, perhaps, but Hutton truly makes the role her own. As Frank Butler, Howard Keel is in fine voice and matches Hutton's strong screen presence. I know it's not politically correct to like the way the Indians are depicted or the "I'm an Indian Too" number, but I do. The humor isn't mean spirited, nor are the Indians portrayed as total goons. In fact, J. Carrol Naish makes a pretty wise Chief Sitting Bull, helping Annie win the heart of Butler. Louis Calhern and Edward Arnold are perfect as the competing showmen Buffalo Bill and Pawnee Bill respectively. Keenan Wynn rounds out the supporting cast as Buffalo Bill's assistant, Charlie Davenport. Besides the great score and cast, the movie contains some beautiful color cinematography. There is a great shot from the air as Annie and Frank compete in skeet shooting that is truly amazing. A great example of what Hollywood was capable of producing during the old studio system, Annie Get Your Gun is sure to please most viewers. And if you're a Betty Hutton fan, you're in for a treat. She's terrific. Both video and DVD versions contain footage not included in the final cut; two musical numbers with Judy Garland (originally cast as Annie) and Frank Morgan as Buffalo Bill (he died before filming was complete and had to be replaced by Calhern). A must for fans of movie musicals.

AT LONG LONG LAST! NOW FOR FRED AND GINGER TOO!
It's been a long wait, but at last, this November, 'Annie Get Your Gun' is being released on DVD. Both the film and the soundtrack have been tied up with copyright problems for more than 20 years. Although Irving Berlin wrote 'Annie', musical rights are controlled by the Rodgers and Hammerstein estate, which stuck to Berlin's request that the film be effectively removed from the market. Why? For no other reason, the legend goes, that he hated Betty Hutton in the role. He wanted Ethel Merman, who was too old. He accepted Judy Garland in the role, but she was 'unwell' and couldn't film it, even though she did manage to record most of the songs. So Betty got the part, starring alongside Howard Keel, and the result is one of the most rambunctiously joyous, energetic and downright wonderful musicals ever made. A must-buy, even if Irving Berlin loathed it! I'll be getting the DVD, and I might even replace my well-played CD -- a home-burnt CD taken off a very old LP! Now my hope is that Warners, which controls the old RKO film library, will finally get around to releasing on DVD the greatest of all American musicals -- the partnerships of Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers -- 'Top Hat', 'Swing Time', 'The Gay Divorcee' and all the rest. Anthony Clarke