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Don Hewes (Fred Astaire) is devastated when his longtime dancing partner, Nadine Hale (Ann Miller), breaks up the team to set out on her own. Determined to prove that he can succeed without her, Astaire vows that he can pick any random chorus girl and make her a star. Fortunately for him, the chorus girl he picks happens to be one of the greatest entertainers of the 20th century, Judy Garland (playing Hannah Brown). Easter Parade turned out to be the first and only collaboration between the two screen legends. Garland made the 1948 film despite ongoing health problems then had to pull out of a planned follow-up, The Barkleys of Broadway (Ginger Rogers replaced her); Astaire had retired following Blue Skies in 1946 but was brought in for this film as an emergency replacement after Gene Kelly broke his ankle playing touch football. Fortunately, Easter Parade always feels like an Astaire film rather than a Kelly film, from its Pygmalion-esque plot (which helps explain the principals' 23-year age disparity) to its score of Irving Berlin standards (some new, some recycled from earlier films). The film capitalizes on the strengths of both stars, Astaire in dance solos, including "Drum Crazy" and "Steppin' Out with My Baby" (MGM's take on Astaire's earlier, persona-defining "Top Hat, White Tie, and Tails"), and Garland in vocal solos, including the torchy "Better Luck Next Time." The stars especially shine, however, when they perform together in their vaudeville numbers, most notably the persona-defying hobo routine "We're a Couple of Swells." Watch this classic every Easter. --David Horiuchi ... Read more

Reviews (3)

The Duke in Cliffhanger Action!
Although this particular serial, one of only three the Duke starred
in, is not up to Republic standards, it is a real actionfest
nevertheless. And the cliffhangers are pretty exciting, too!

Roan's
restoration is as good as any version you'll find, and probably better
considering this is a 1933 effort.

Shot in only 21 days, the serial
boasts not only John Wayne (as hero Tom Wayne), but Francis X. Bushman
Jr., Noah Beery Jr., a brief appearance by Lon Chaney Jr., (billed as
Creighton Chaney), and stunt work by Duke regular Yakima Canutt (who
also plays the villian El Shaitan when masked).

The story is billed
as "a modern retelling" of the classic Dumas story, with
Wayne as D'Artagnan. However, the only thing that remains from the
novel is the three comrades plus one, and the title.

Duke is en
route to visit his sweetheart Elaine in the Sahara (why she's living
there is anyone's guess). On the way, he rescues some French Foreign
Legionnaires from being wiped out by hostile Arabs. From then on, the
three are Tom's pals, and call themselves the Three Musketeers since
they are the only survivors of their outfit left.

El Shaitan is the
leader of a mysterious Arab cult called The Devil's Circle, who are
trying to accquire and take up arms against the Legion (again, no real
reasoning why, other then they are there).

Elaine's brother (Lon
Chaney), is murdered by El Shaitan, and Wayne is incriminated. From
there, Wayne becomes a fugitive from justice as he attempts to track
down and unmask the mysterious El Shaitan.

Ruth Hall, who plays
Tom's sweetheart Elaine Corday is great, although her career amounted
to mostly uncredited bit parts. She appeared in such famous films as
"Easter Parade", "How to Marry a Millionaire", and
"The Farmer Takes a Wife".

Like most thirties action films
and serials, this one features the still-new and ever fascinating
invention of the day, the airplane. Here, Tom is a pilot, as is Elaine
and the evil El Shaitan.

Always interesting to see the young Duke in
action, and this is no dried out piece of toast like some of the
bland, nondescript westerns he was trapped in between "The Big
Trail" (1930)and "Stagecoach" (1939).

John Wayne and the Forign Legion best the Tauregs.
The Three Musketeers is a multi chapter SERIAL, of chapters that are about 15 minutes in length. If you are a SERIAL collector as I am, you will like to see this one. John Wayne is a Legion pilot, and he has three buddies also in the legion including: Ray "Crash" Corrigan as one of the legionnaires! Together they go through and happen upon a group of thieves and murderers. Time and time again, Wayne and his pals get in and out of trouble, in the end, they get their bad guys. This Serial is a must, if you are a fan of serials. Also if you are a fan of very early John Wayne pictures, you will get a kick out of him in a serial.

The first serial on DVD is Great!
This probably is not the serial I would have picked to be the first on DVD (Captain Marvel would be an obvious choice) but it is a good one either way. Roan's restoration is excellent as always. John Wayne makes one of his last attempts to act before making it big and just playing "John Wayne" all the time, and pulls it off in this one, though not nearly as well as in Hurricane Express. Serial veteran Jack Mulhall is a joy to watch, as is Raymond Hatton in this great updating of the Dumas' classic (though it really only takes the name of that fine literary work). Lots of digitally preserved action and cliffhangers make this one a keeper! ... Read more

Description

It's comedy on the high seas when the Marx Brothers sneak aboard an ocean liner and get involved in a crazy set of comedy capers not to be missed. A madcap vintage voyage where pure lunacy rides the waves. ... Read more

Reviews (29)

the immigrant experience & the funniest movie ever made
You can debate forever about which is the greatest of all the Marx Brothers' great movies, but this is the one that makes me laugh the most. In fact, this one makes me laugh as much as any movie I've ever seen. The part where Groucho pretends to be a cat kills me every time, and the Maurice Chevalier gag is pretty amazing too. Monkey Business sustains its zany-paced action better than the others, especially on the ship. As Groucho says, "I'm sorry, the captain's waiting to chase me around the deck..." The basis of the Marx Brothers shtick is reflecting all the nutty immigrants of the 20's and 30's, and here they're literally sneaking into the country illegally by stowing away on an ocean liner. Of course, once here at the fancy-dress ball, Groucho yells at the American Indian "If you don't like it here, why don't you go back where you came from!" Critics may not like this one as much, but it really hits home for me. I love this movie.

ONE OF THEIR BEST MOVIES!!
I have recently become a DIE-HARD Marx Brothers fan. I was introduced to them by my wonderful cousin Lewis. THANK YOU LEWIS!!!!!!!!!! The Marx Brothers are FANTASTICALY HILARIOUS!! Monkey Business was the first movie of their's that I saw, and its, so far, the best. Even thought the others I have seen come close behind, there's just something about Monkey Business. Its down-right hilarious. Great lines by Groucho, great scene of Harpo and him playing the harpo, Chico and the piano...This movie deserves a 5 stars.

Such a Hilarious Movie!
This was a very funny movie! It was hilarious! I wished I owned it so I could see it again and again! The Marx Brothers are the best!

Marx Brothers Rule!!!!
I looooooove the marx brothers, and Monkey Buiness is one of my favourite Marx films! Anyone who hasn't seen this movie should, even if you are unfamilier with the Marxes. (As soon as you see your first Marx movie you will probably become obsessed with them anyway, like I did). Anyhow, this movie is filled with jokes from start to finish, and there's never a dull moment! HILARIOUS!

THE GREATEST MOVIE EVER!!!
THIS IS THE BEST MOVIE!!! TRUDY LOVES THIS MOVIE!!! THE MARX BROTHERS ARE NOT JUST A PART OF HISTORY, THEY ARE GREAT HUMANS!!! IF ONLY HALF THE HUMANS WERE ONE-TENTH AS INSIGHTFUL AS THE MARX BROTHERS, THE WORLD WOULDN'T BE SUCH A [bad] PLACE!!!!!! TRUDY THE MONKEY ... Read more