Product Description

This 1952 feature stars Scott Brady as Robert "Numbers" Foster a New York bookie with a knack for math. When he becomes the target of an investigation he flees to Florida and waits for his girlfriend Yvonne to testify on his behalf. But during his travels another woman enters the picture (Mitzi Gaynor) and makes things much more complicated.System Requirements:Run time: 90 minutes Genre: MUSICALS/MUSICALS Rating: NR UPC: 024543483571

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #57101 in DVD
• Brand: TWENTIETH CENTURY FOX HOME ENT
• Released on: 2007-11-13
• Rating: NR (Not Rated)
• Aspect ratio: 1.33:1
• Formats: Color, DVD, NTSC
• Original language: English
• Number of discs: 1
• Dimensions: 1.00 pounds
• Running time: 90 minutes

Features

• This 1952 feature stars Scott Brady as Robert "Numbers" Foster, a New York bookie with a knack for math. When he becomes the target of an investigation, he flees to Florida and waits for his girlfriend Yvonne to testify on his behalf. But during his travels, another woman enters the picture (Mitzi Gaynor) and makes things much more complicated. Format: DVD MOVIE Genre: MUSICALS

Amazon.com
Mitzi Gaynor plays a charming fish-out-of-the-Hudson country bumpkin with a heart of gold, plopped into the guys-and-molls world of Damon Runyon's Bloodhounds of Broadway. The film showcases the splendid talents, often underrated, of Gaynor as actress, singer, and, most importantly, dancer--high-stepping, tapping, and even contra-dancing her way across the screen with a winsome smile.

The script is pure Runyon, following some numbers-runners on the lam (one is even named "Numbers"), who end up in rural Georgia bewitched by the sweet innocence of Gaynor's character, Emily Ann Stackerlee, bedecked in Dorothy Gale calico and curly pigtails. The dialogue around her is whizzing with Runyon-isms that pass blissfully over her naive head ("Madison Square Garden!" she exclaims, being told by the hustlers of the joys of Manhattan. "Do they grow beautiful things there?" "Yeah," deadpans Numbers' sidekick, "cauliflowers."). A great throwaway line early in the film has a sweating con worrying about being "subpeeniya'd." The appeal of the film is part wise-guy Runyon, and part captivating Gaynor, who doesn't really belong in the underbelly world she's drawn into, but shines nonetheless. Several song-and-dance bits will appeal to musicals fans, including the old-timey "Cindy," and "Eighty Miles Outside of Atlanta."

Extras are well worth the price of the DVD. There's an informative documentary on Runyon, his newspaper career, and his self-invention as the chronicler of the side-of-the-mouth mutts of Times Square. And a latter-day interview with Gaynor is radiant; clearly having spent her life as a dancer has left its mark on her in her golden years, absolutely lovely and charming with great anecdotes and self-effacing yarns. There are also miniature versions of the original lobby cards. All are guaranteed to put you in a New York state of mind. --A.T. Hurley

Customer Reviews

It's Got Heart, Spunk, and Mitzi Gaynor. Ain't We Got Fun? YES.
If you're asking yourself "What the hell is BLOODHOUNDS OF BROADWAY?", I'll tell you: it is one hell of an entertaining movie musical. Inspired by the stories of Damon Runyon---as was "Guys and Dolls" (1955)--this 1952 Fox film stars Miss Mitzi Gaynor as backwoods-belle-gone-Broadway "Emily Ann Stackerlee." Southern-drawlin' Mitzi impresses a cynical, tough-talking set of New Yorkers with her unassuming charm, her spectacular song-and-dance talent, and her, um, bloodhounds. She ends up falling for one of the toughs; will he return her affection?

A Technicolor gem, BLOODHOUNDS enjoys: fine production values, fun songs ("Cindy," "I've Got a Feelin' You're Foolin'", "Eighty Miles Outside of Atlanta", "Jack of Diamonds", etc.), outstanding choreography by Robert Sidney, and a well-written screenplay winningly performed (and filmed).

Does it sound worth checking out? IT IS.

A buried treasure no more, BLOODHOUNDS OF BROADWAY is an example of American film musical entertainment at its best. It is also an eloquent early example of Mitzi Gaynor's brilliance as an entertainer--one of America's best.

Apparently this DVD release will include as a special feature an on-camera interview with Miss Gaynor.

Mitzi...a new fan.
I am a big film fan and especially of films of the fifties (my era) but I never knew of this film. When I learned of it I bought it straight away and what an excellent film it turns out to be. The young Mitzi Gaynor is such a star.Highly talented in all aspects -acting, singing and especially dancing. After this revelation I must see Golden Girl. Which I saw when I was about twelve and I remember being impressed then.I just hope that it is brought out in as good a version as this DVD. I was impressed also with Scott Brady - as it seems was Mitzi Gaynor in the extra interview.He comes over very stylishly and is another revelation. A very good understated (In the best possible way) performance. A fifties film experience that is a total pleasure.

great musical
this is a great musical from the time when movies were good. I saw it when it first came out & never forget about it. It is now on DVD & I am very pleased & bought it as soon as I found it.