Rating: 
Summary: Stunning, glorious & delightful: THE definitive 'Kate'!
Review: Bursting with color and sounding like it was recorded yesterday, this M-G-M musical gem is a revelation, celebrating its 50th anniversary with this wonderful, new DVD release.Kathryn Grayson, Howard Keel, and Ann Miller lead a splendid cast translating Cole Porter's best stage musical to the screen without losing any of its greatness in the process. Too often stage musicals make it to the big screen either miscat, missing songs, or both. This cinematic Kate has virtually every song the stage version had, and a superb group of talents who never fail to deliver the goods. If you saw the recent Broadway production or its pale London incarnation recently shown on PBS, Keel, Grayson, Miller, Bob Fosse, Bobby Van and Tommy Rall show why today's generation of performers can't hold a candle to those whose stars show during the golden age. Warner Video has done a stupendous job bringing KATE to DVD, with breakthtaking clarity, gorgeous colors, and a booming 5.1 soundtrack to boot. There are some nifty extras, including a retrospective documentary hosted by the movie's co-star Ann Miller. A short subject all about Manhattan from the general era of the film's genesis adds to the fun. Another reviewer here seemed to think this DVD didn't look good, but all I can say is he needs to upgrade his television set! KATE looks GREAT, and if you love movie musicals, you won't want to pass this one up.
Rating:
Summary: Keel is keen!
Review: Grayson is good, but Howard Keel steals this show. He shines in the role of the egomaniacal stage ham. His voice and his presence are perfect for the role. Ann Miller and Tommy Rall provide all the dance moves you could ask for in a great musical. If you are a fan of musicals, this is a must for your collection. The DVD also provides some fun behind the scenes information.
Rating:
Summary: Keel is keen!
Review: Grayson is good, but Howard Keel steals this show. He shines in the role of the egomaniacal stage ham. His voice and his presence are perfect for the role. Ann Miller and Tommy Rall provide all the dance moves you could ask for in a great musical. If you are a fan of musicals, this is a must for your collection. The DVD also provides some fun behind the scenes information.
Rating: 
Summary: Underrated Carol Haney
Review: Great movie. Of particular appeal to me was the "From This Moment On" number. First, working the women into the number was ingenious - notice them sitting as the men pass by. But what really floored me in this number was the incredible performance by Carol Haney. If you watch her closely (which I didn't have any trouble doing - by the way!), some of the steps she does are absolutely incredible - extremely athletic. There is a type of a slip step she does - side by side with Bob Fosse - where she slides down with her right leg slipping under her, then coming up with the full weight on her left leg - all without skipping a beat (and she and Bob do that step twice!). She also performs this same step in The Pajama Game (choreography by Bobb Fosse) with the same degree of dexterity. Watch that step and see if you can duplicate it without straining all your leg muscles or landing on the floor - not to mention the timing and balance involved with that step. And also notice how every inch of her body goes into her dancing - not to mention her exquisite sense of continuity and line formations. I understand she was Gene Kelly's assistant. Whew! I believe it. I am always on the lookout for movies in which Carol Haney appeared. And she is not always given a billing. "Invitation to the Dance" and "On the Town" are two other movies in which she appears - ever so briefly.
Rating: 
Summary: Too Darn Dull!
Review: I have long been a fan of this movie, so I was eagerly awaiting the release of the DVD. Was it worth the wait? Sadly not. The image quality is well below standard - soft with no real definition and the colours appear dull and lifeless. Also I got the impression that the image has been cropped on all sides. This appears particularly evident during the "Too Darn Hot" number- it looks tight and crowded . On the packaging it states that the film is in a format preserving the theatrical exhibition aspect ratio of its "premiere engagements". This I assume to be when it was still playing in 3D- would this make a difference? I then did a direct comparison with the video version to find that indeed the DVD has image loss both top and sides. Maybe I'm wrong, but I can only conclude that Warner were trying to recreate an authentic feel to the movie without the trickery. Far better to offer a straight forward 1:1.33 showing maximum image. Anyway I only rated this disc 2 for the soundtrack- it is wonderful to hear a classic movie with a true multi-channel sound. Overall a very disappointing release.
Rating:
Summary: Anticipation!
Review: I must have been fourteen years old when I first saw this movie in 1954. I still remember it being one of the finest MGM musicals ever produced. The singing, the dancing, the comedy, and last but not least, the orchestrations (done by none other than Andre Previn)were unforgetable. I can't wait for this to become available on DVD! ...
Rating:
Summary: KISS ME KATE A JOY TO WATCH
Review: I saw this film for the first time in it's initial release in 3-D and loved it so much that I returned to see it twenty times or more. Anytime it is shown on the big screen in retrospect showings, I try to attend. To me, it is my most favorite MGM musical next to "SINGIN IN THE RAIN." Howard Keel and Kathryn Grayson are outstanding in their roles and do justice to the Cole Porter tunes, even if MGM saw fit to clean them up a bit. Kathryn Grayson's rendition of "I HATE MEN!" sets the standard for all others to follow. Ann Miller is finally showcased in songs and dances where her true talent shines. The male dancers Tommy Rall, Bobby Van and an-oh-so-young but talented Bob Fosse are spectacular to watch, especially in the "FROM THIS MOMENT ON" number where Fosse dances with Carol Haney and his style just burns up the stage. Keenan Wynn and James Whitmore shine in their gangster-hood roles and do a nice soft shoe as well. I cannot say enough good things about this entertaining play-within-a-play musical filled with great Cole Porter tunes.
I have bought this on both vhs and laser disc and sure wish that MGM would get off their proverbial butts and release this on DVD soon.
Rating:
Summary: The Film That Killed 3-D
Review: I saw this film in its initial release in 1953 in 3-D. It was at this time that I read that it was released in 3-D on the East Coast and flat on the West Coast. Supposedly, the film fared much better at the box office w/o 3D, and so the decline of a movie format that should have been kept around for the right movies (adventure, horror, etc, not this one). I have owned copies of Kiss Me Kate in Beta and VHS and now that it has been released in the DVD format, I am glad to say that the transfer is very good, with great colors, especially considering the film is 50 years old. The music is excellent in its 5.1 format, and thus far, I have watched certain chapters so that I can enjoy some of the really great dance numbers. Check out Fosse's uniquely original style in its beginning stages. According to Ann Miller, interviewed in one of the extras, she saw Fosse and Carol Haney rehearsing this number on a sound stage. She then got hold of the director and choreographer Hermes Pan to sneak a peek. Everybody loved it, and thus it was incorporated into the film in the "From This Moment On" number which bears repeated viewing. Fantastic dancing by all -- Miller, Fosse, Haney, Tommy Rall, Bobby Van. Even if one tires of the story, the musical numbers are great to watch over and over.
Rating:
Summary: A great musical!
Review: I very highly recommend this musical. It's a real
treat! I'd give it more stars if I could.
Rating:
Summary: a longtime favorite.
Review: I was 8-years-old when I first saw Kiss Me Kate. I had the chicken pox and I was going through my "musical phase". My mom went out and got several movies for me to watch, this being one of them. I watched it over and over and it quickly became a favorite. Even after the musical phase ended and I hated just about every other movie with singing and dancing in it, I still loved Kiss Me Kate. I'm now 16 and I haven't seen it in years because I haven't been able to find it anywhere. I've finally found a copy here and I hope to soon be watching it, reliving the good old days!
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