Rating: Summary: RITZY LOOKING TRANSFER OF A GREAT MOVIE MUSICAL Review: In hindsight "Silk Stockings" proved to be one of MGM's last great musical acheivements and Fred Astaire's final appearance in a musical worthy of his inimitable talents. Astaire plays, Steven Canfield, a rotten capitalist and movie producer who butts heads with communist, special envoy, Nina Yoshenko, who has been sent from Moscow to Paris to apprehend a wayward Russian composer. The cast also includes Janis Paige in a hilarious and campy lampoon of an 'Esther Williams-type' actress attempting to play Napoleon's Josephine in a musical remake of "War and Peace". Peter Lorre and Jules Munshin are at their comedy best as two communist sympathizers wooed by the pleasures of Paris. AT LAST - a transfer worthy of the elegant Mr. Cole Porter. Warner Home Video gives us a rich looking, robust sounding DVD that really celebrates the performances in this memorable musical. Colors are deep, rich, gorgeous and consistant throughout. Contrast and shadow levels are outstanding. Fine details are amazingly sharp. Edge enhancement, shimmering and aliasing are practically non-existant. There is no pixelization or film or digital grain to speak of, for a thoroughly smooth but sharp visual presentation that will surely please. The audio has been remixed to 5.1 and is marvelous, rich sounding and fully realized within the confines of its dated characteristic. Extras: Another Cole Porter/making-of featurette that is really a throw away, save the few glimpses of Cyd Charisse and Janis Paige that we get. Theatrical trailer and cast bios and a couple of short subjects - not anamorphically enhanced, even though the film (thank heaven) is! Bottom Line: This disc is a must have and the only DVD of the Cole Porter bunch worthy of your hard earned money. BUY IT TODAY!
Rating: Summary: Great Film - Poor Quality Master! Review: Received this great musical on DVD the other day to enhance my collection and was disappointed to find the picture quality substantially inferior to my identical television recording and only a slight improvement upon an old video tape of the same film. Digital enhancement would appear to be needed in this particular case.
Rating: Summary: A film with a champagne effervescence. Review: The film is a chic dancing exhibition which needs to be released, ASAP, on DVD!! From the first sequence ("Too Bad," which features Astaire with three young sirens- including future TV partner Barrie Chase), to the "All of You" seduction dance, to the "Fated To Be Mated" betrothal duet, it's one class act after another. (Only Astaire's solo "The Ritz Roll and Rock" dates a bit, but clench your teeth through it and you're fine.) The highlight for me (should you be wondering, or care) is Charisse's 'coming out' striptease to the title number. Beginning with a pair of stockings, she gets ready for her first date with Astaire (while falling under the spell of Paris), and displays classy sex appeal by whirling through her dressing room wearing only a camisole, earrings, and transparent slip. It has the distinction of being the final major musical film for both of its stars, and is a wonderful swan song to the musical film genre.
Rating: Summary: Enjoyable but not classic movie musical Review: This is a fun musical though not among the top-rank. Of course, anything Fred Astaire was in can't be all bad and there are some very good numbers. Cyd Charisse just isn't that interesting except in the "Silk Stockings" number when she really comes alive.There's also some parts that are dated though Janis Paige is very funny as a "swimming" star in the Esther Williams mode. If you 're not too picky, this is fun.
Rating: Summary: A great cold war spoof with good actors Review: This is a wonderful take on the Cold War---tongue in cheek--in 1957!!! But as such, wait till it is a DVD.
Rating: Summary: ATTENTION to all Dutch viewers!... Review: This is another example of how good Hollywood Musicals are!... There's a great Fred Astaire; a stunningly Cyd Charisse and the greatest Dutch entertainers for years in a supportive part: Wim Sonneveld as the (Russian) composer Peter Boroff. Unfortunately this film doesn't show the talent of Sonneveld; he was a GREAT singer and a GOOD comedian. Nevertheless: this film is a MUST for all the fans of Wim Sonneveld.
Rating: Summary: Cyd Charisse locks her spot as a national treasure Review: While some may roll their eyes at the tepid Cold War comedy of the final all-out musical produced by MGM, none can keep their eyes away from the mesmerizing dancing of Cyd Charisse. Her "Silk Stockings" solo number is arguably the most sensous sequence filmed in the 1950s and "Red Blues" is a complete blast. Oh yeah, Fred Astaire is great, too!
Rating: Summary: Unersappreciated Review: Yes, this is one of the last of the MGM musicals. Tis a pity. Now that CHICAGO is such a hit, they must release other MGM musicals just as good as this. THE BAND WAGON...THREE LITTLE WORDS...EASTER PARADE and SUMMER STOCK, just to name a few. SILK STOCKINGS is a remarkablly good film for it's genre. Nothing could beat CYD and FRED dancing, even if the plot isn't strong. Too bad there wasn't more of JANIS PAGE as one of her numbers seems to have been given the short shift. Otherwise, the film is a standout and a must for musical lovers. Any left? I think so. Give this one a try as well as the other Cole Porter releases. Thanks for these, but we want more!!!
Rating: Summary: Unersappreciated Review: Yes, this is one of the last of the MGM musicals. Tis a pity. Now that CHICAGO is such a hit, they must release other MGM musicals just as good as this. THE BAND WAGON...THREE LITTLE WORDS...EASTER PARADE and SUMMER STOCK, just to name a few. SILK STOCKINGS is a remarkablly good film for it's genre. Nothing could beat CYD and FRED dancing, even if the plot isn't strong. Too bad there wasn't more of JANIS PAGE as one of her numbers seems to have been given the short shift. Otherwise, the film is a standout and a must for musical lovers. Any left? I think so. Give this one a try as well as the other Cole Porter releases. Thanks for these, but we want more!!!
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