Product Description

Disc 1: Doll Face Disc 2: Greenwich Village Disc 3: If I'm Lucky Disc 4: Something For the Boys Disc 5: The Gang's All Here Remastered

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #47546 in DVD
• Brand: TWENTIETH CENTURY FOX HOME ENT
• Released on: 2008-06-17
• Rating: NR (Not Rated)
• Aspect ratio: 1.33:1
• Formats: Box set, Black & White, Color, DVD, Full Screen, NTSC
• Original language: English
• Number of discs: 5
• Dimensions: 1.00 pounds

Features

• The best-loved and most colorful performer from the canon of Fox musicals finally gets a collection all of her own. Carmen Miranda, the singer/dancer/actress, most famous for her outrageous Busby Berkeley banana hat and her trade-mark sarongs, stars in 5ics movies in one colorful collection. Disc 1: Doll Face Disc 2: Greenwich Village Disc 3: If I'm Lucky Disc 4: Something For the Boys

Amazon.com
Even if it were only to present a batch of Fox musicals in ultra-spiffy versions, this five-film box set would be a valuable slice of film history. The hook here, however, is a glimpse at the short-lived but delirious stardom of Carmen Miranda, that fruitbowl-wearing (and genuinely talented) purveyor of Brazilian samba and silliness. Miranda scores points in all the films here, especially in that Citizen Kane of absurdity, The Gang's All Here (1943), which arrives in this set in a version improved over the one that was included in the first Alice Faye Collection. The plot is best ignored, but director Busy Berkeley's mad inventiveness and the sheer Technicolor outrageousness of it all is hard to resist--and Carmen Miranda is at her daffiest, especially in the banana-licious "Lady in the Tutti-Frutti Hat," a signature number. Greenwich Village is another colorful bauble, with Don Ameche as a "longhair" composer drawn into the less exalted world of show business. As is often the case in these pictures, Miranda is in a frankly peripheral role but gets a lot of screen time anyway--and here her fractured English locutions and exuberant performing style are lusciously showcased. Vivian Blaine, Fox's pinch-hitting musical star for those movies that didn't feature studio queens Alice Faye and Betty Grable, is the true female lead--as she is in four of the five films here.

In Something for the Boys, Miranda and Blaine inherit a decaying Southern mansion, along with distant cousin Phil Silvers (whose quasi-minstrel number is one of the more groan-worthy things in the picture). A few Cole Porter songs and a young Perry Como add musical appeal, and you can't mistake the young Judy Holliday, even if she only appears on screen for a few seconds. Doll Face, which relegates Miranda to sidekick status (and black and white, which just doesn't seem right), is an adaptation of famed stripper Gypsy Rose Lee's play. It's a very "meta" thing about a burlesque queen whose memoir becomes a hit play; Dennis O'Keefe provides the male ballast, and some extremely politically incorrect views, opposite Blaine. If I'm Lucky is another black-and-white picture with La Miranda on the margins, indicating her waning status at Fox. Its tortured plot puts a mild-mannered crooner (Perry Como) in line to run for governor. Some fine extras fill out the box set, with TV appearances by Miranda and an informative 90 minute bio, which includes serious appreciation and a clip of her final performance, taped hours before her death. In Doll Face someone tells her character, "You could be another Carmen Miranda," but there was only the one. --Robert Horton

Amazon.com
It is a testament to Carmen Miranda's status as a larger than life pop culture icon that she warrants a DVD box set for films in which she isn’t even the star. Without her, though, they would be merely pleasant diversions. The best in the bunch, 1943's The Gang's All Here, is a splashy Technicolor riot directed by the legendary Busby Berkeley (this edition, also available separately, is a big improvement over the one included in The Alice Faye Collection). Never mind Alice Faye's showgirl or James Elison's smitten soldier. All eyes are on "The Lady in the Tutti Frutti Hat," who plays matchmaker when she isn't otherwise wowing audiences at a New York nightclub that judging by the spectacular production numbers must have a stage the size of the Roman Colosseum. There is no denying the camp value of a phalanx of showgirls manipulating massive bananas while Miranda sings, "Some people say I dress too gay/But every day I feel so gay/And when I'm gay I dress that way/Something wrong with that?" Suffice to say, they absolutely do not make 'em like this anymore. New to DVD, Something for the Boys (1944) is an entertaining "let's put on a show" musical starring the unlikely trio of Miranda, Vivian Blaine, and Phil Silvers (with hair!) as three cousins who decide to convert the dilapidated mansion they've inherited into a home for army wives. From the same year, and also making its DVD debut, is Greenwich Village, starring Don Ameche as a composer who enters the bohemian world of New York's Latin Quarter, where Miranda works as a fortune teller at William Bendix's "members only" club. Miranda adds exotic color to two black and white musicals, If I'm Lucky (1946), featuring an underwhelming Perry Como as a crooner who is recruited to run for governor, and the snappy Doll Face (1944), based on Gypsy Rose Lee's book about a "burley-q" dancer (Vivian Blaine) who writes a sensational autobiography to legitimize herself with Broadway producers. Miranda may not be the star of these films, but with her stylized outfits, signature crazy hats, hips-don't-lie dancing (on platform heels, no less), and comic malapropisms that make fruit salad out of the English language ("You're making a mountain out of mothballs"), she is definitely the main attraction. She's am earthy force of nature for whom one will suffer Como's sleepy rendition of "Red Hot and Beautiful" in Doll Face to see her perform "Chico Chico." This set contains a cornucopia of extras, the best of which is a documentary about Miranda's remarkable life and one-of-a-kind career. A clip from The Jimmy Durante Show says it all about this ultimate show business trouper. She is stricken during a musical number, but gamely dances offstage, waving and blowing kisses to the audience. She would die 12 hours later. --Donald Liebenson

Customer Reviews

Carmen Miranda, the "Brazilian Bombshell" gets her own box set
Carmen Miranda was rarely the star of those wonderful 1940s musicals at 20th Century Fox, but whenever she was on screen, you couldn't take your eyes off her. Most of her great performances have already been released with the Alice Faye and Betty Grable Collections, but there are still plenty of reasons to rejoice with this collection. Busby Berkeley's The Gang's All Here (her best film) is going to be re-mastered for this collection with the same extras as in the Alice Faye Collection. The other two Technicolor treats in this set are Greenwich Village (with Don Ameche and Vivian Blaine) and Something For The Boys (Vivian Blaine and Perry Como). Both are new to DVD. If you enjoy Carmen Miranda, you will not be disappointed with all three of the Techicolor musicals in this box set. The two black and white films, Doll Face (Vivian Blaine, Dennis O'Keefe and Perry Como) and If I'm Lucky (new to DVD with Vivian Blaine, Perry Como and Harry James) are not her best efforts, but it will be great to see an authorized version of Doll Face. Up till now we had to tolerate really lousy prints since this film is in the public domain. This set will appeal to those fans of Vivian Blaine, Perry Como and Phil Silvers as well. Let's hope Fox releases the Alice Faye and Betty Grable Collections volume 2!
footnote: Now that MGM is releasing two of Carmen Miranda's movies (A Date With Judy and Nancy Goes To Rio), all of Carmen Miranda's films will be on DVD with the exception of Springtime In The Rockies, which will probably be a part of the Betty Grable Collection volume 2. She makes a cameo appearance in Four Jills In A Jeep, so I am not counting that movie here. In closing, check out Jerry Lewis' impersonation of Carmen Miranda in Scared Stiff and Mickey Rooney's great impersonation in Babes On Broadway. It's all great fun!
UPDATE: I received this collection yesterday and the 3 Technicolor films look beautiful. The glorious black & white films never looked better. It's a joy to watch them now. Something For The Boys includes a new, 4-part documentary: "The Girl From Rio". Don't hesitate. This collection is a must for all those who enjoy Fox musicals of the 1940s! If you like Carmen Miranda, you will love it!

Fox releases more of their classic musicals
Fox musicals aren't as well known as the MGM musicals of the 40's and 50's or even the Warner musicals of the 30's. However, they did some pretty good stuff over the years. You have to remember that with these films, as with the MGM films of the same era, that plot is entirely secondary. It is just there to prop up the music and dancing, which are the main events.

The 5 disc DVD set will include:

Greenwich Village (1944) - NEW TO DVD - starring Don Ameche, Vivian Blaine, Carmen Miranda, and William Bendix. Don Ameche is particularly good in his role as a composer. Miranda's numbers include "Give Me a Band and a Bandana," "I Like to be Loved By You," and "I'm Just Wild About Harry," all performed with great energy.
If I'm Lucky (1946) - NEW TO DVD - Vivian Blaine actually has the starring role in this remake of "Thanks a Million". No Technicolor and no real memorable numbers, although it is a pleasant way to pass the time.
Something For the Boys (1944) - NEW TO DVD - Probably the weakest film in the set. Miranda gets top billing, but she gets rather mediocre support, particularly in Perry Como. He is rather wooden in his performance here. Phil Silvers, though, comes off quite well.
Doll Face (1944) - Former Alpha release - Vivian Blaine is a burlesque performer who wants to become a legitimate song and dance gal. This effort to change her act, and the players involved, is the comedy backdrop to the film. Memorable numbers include "Somebody's Walking in My Dream", "Here Come's Heaven Again" and "Red, Hot and Beautiful". Perry Como sings one of his break-through songs "Dig You Late". Carmen Miranda performs "Chico Chico". Based on a play by Gypsy Rose Lee.
The Gang's All Here (1943) - Released last year and remastered for this set. This is probably the best musical in this set. The story is really there just to boost morale during WWII. There are quite a few good supporting players in this one - lanky Charlotte Greenwood, Edward Everett Hornton, Eugene Pallette, and lending musical support is Benny Goodman and his orchestra. Best of all, Busby Berkeley directs.

Unlike most of Fox's recent releases, such as Mr. Moto and Charlie Chan, this set will release all the films as singles at just under fifteen dollars each. No word on extra features yet.

SOMETHING FOR THE BOYS (AND GIRLS) . . . AND DRAG QUEENS!
The original coochy-coochy girl was born in a small town in northern Portugal, became a Samba superstar in Brazil, making 10 films there before being whisked off to Broadway by the Brothers Shubert. From New York it was but a short hop to Hollywood and worldwide recognition.
This set preserves the Lady in the Tutti-Frutti Hat's South American charm and manic energy. Among the gems here are The Gang's All Here, proving that psychedelic color existed way before the '60s; Greenwich Village, with fast peeks at future celebs such as Betty Comden, Adolph Green and Judy Holliday; and Doll Face, based on a script by Louise Hovick, better known as Gypsy Rose Lee.
To be sure, Fox's musicals had neither the edge of Warner Brothers nor the ultra-glamour of Metro, yet for sheer exuberant charm, they can't be beat. Alice Faye, Phil Baker, Don Ameche, William Bendix, Vivian Blaine and Perry Como surround La Miranda in these films, but no one can out shine her. And no one can out "Chicka-Chicka Boom" the Brazilian Bombshell.