The Pirate

Rating:
Summary: THE MOST WONDERFUL FILM OF ALL TIME!
Review: INEXPLICABLY UNAVAILABLE AT THE MOMENT, THE PIRATE IS A BRILLIANT MUSICAL EXTRAVAGANZA SHOWCASING THE TALENTS OF BOTH GENE KELLY AND JUDY GARLAND AT THEIR MOST DAZZLING. IN A HILARIOUS TALE OF LOVE AND MISTAKEN IDENTITY, THIS FILM TWISTS AND TURNS IT'S WAY TO THE BEAUTIFUILLY INEVITABLE CONCLUSION. CONTAINING AN EXTRAORDAINARY MUSICAL SCORE AND SOME FANTASTICALLY ENTERTAINING OVER ACTING BY IT'S STARS, THE PIRATE REMINDS US OF THE JOY TO BE GAINED FROM NOT TAKING LIFE TOO SERIOUSLY. THIS IS MY PERSONAL FAVOURITE FILM OF ALL TIME. JUST SIT BACK AND ENJOY YOURSELF.....

Rating:
Summary: Brilliant!
Review: The funniest line I remember is "Don't call me Pure Sole! It irritates me!" This is a wonderfully acted movie. The songs and dances in this movie are PERFECT! I don't think I like Gene Kelly with a moustache very much!

Rating:
Summary: Fabulous musical made during the prime of MGM
Review: This 1948 film starring Judy Garland and Gene Kelly was not hailed by the critics or movie-going public with the same acclaim as "Meet Me In St. Louis," "The Harvey Girls," or "Summer Stock." In fact, it was the only Garland film to *loose* money during her 15 year tenure at Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. But this movie is still fabulous. Garland and Kelly cannot disappoint. It's 55 years later and they're still a treat to watch. And what a great Cole Porter score! Although Garland was not in the greatest health at this time, just listening to her sing "Mack the Black" proves she's still got it. DO see this movie if you get a chance. Although it may not be up to par with other Garland works such as "St. Louis" and "Easter Parade," its worth a watch.

Currently out of print on VHS and yet to be released on DVD. It is airing on TCM as I write this review (1/1/03). The original soundtrack was released on CD years ago (now out of print), and several songs are available on a few Garland compilation albums from Turner/Rhino.

Rating:
Summary: A SATIRICAL MUSICAL
Review: This is NOT the average musical u might expect from this era. It is a swashbuckling spoof of Douglas Fairbanks Sr, Errol Flynn and their pirate adventures.

BUT it is more. It shows us Manuela(Garland) who enters womanhood and lust for sex and roughesss. YES - strong stuff in 1948. Indeed the musical sequence Vodoo was deleted from the film(Mayer ordered it burned and screamed out "We`ll be raided by the police" when he saw the rushes and reprimanded Kelly severely). Apparently is was a dance-sequence that builded up sexual heat hehehe.

Judy, Gene, Slezak and Cooper are ALL in excellent stage farce form. Gene`s dance displays are on a sensual high - and many has commented 2 me that they identify themselves with Manuela on the brink of sexual discovery...

The score is by Cole Porter(OK) but the scenic design and direction by the color master VINCENTE MINNELLI. It was his last with Judy before they divorced in 1951.

Rating:
Summary: The best Judy Garland-Gene Kelly Musical Comedy
Review: You like Judy Garland and Gene Kelly, and you adore Musical Comedies. The film made shortly after WWII is made in the usual colourful MGM style. Although neither critics nor viewers really liked it when it first came out, it is my personal favourite. It has, like most MGM musicals a scenery-weakness, but both songs and costumes, apart from the actors make up with it. Enjoy this entertaining classic.