Reviews (60)

Charming and Hilarious Re-telling of the Robin Hood Story
I am not a great Danny Kaye fan, but this movie is one the the very funniest I've ever seen. Everything about it is excellent, from the production values to the songs & lyrics, from the fine quality of actors to the charm and wit of the dialogue and the story. There is literally nothing wrong with this movie. It is fit for all audiences, from the youngest to the oldest members of your family. I remember the first time I saw it, being struck by the fact that all the actors seemed to be having an absolutely marvellous time. Particularly during the Jester's first call at entertaining the court...unforgettable and sheer delight. Every single person on camera looked like they were having a wonderful time just being there. I hadn't seen anything like such a fine emsemble cast since 'All About Eve.' I think it must have been because there were no bad lines, no bad parts, no scenes that didn't work, and everyone had a chance to shine. Having a good material to work with really does make a world of difference. Stars Danny Kaye, Angela Landsbury, Basil Rathbone, and a host of marvellous British actors whose names are right now escaping my memory. Buy it. Keep it. Enjoy it for years.

The Brew that is True...
If one is tired of baudy bathroom humor of the typical comedies one finds today, perhaps "The Court Jester" will satisfy your comical thirst. Set in England during the time of chivalry and knighthood this musical comedy stars Danny Kaye as a ne'er do well circus performer who ends up out"fox"ing the dastardly villains, getting the girl and saving the real king's butt (so to speak). Glynis Johns plays Maid Jean whose stunning beauty and big eyes just make you melt (wow, I wish I'd been born earlier). Basil Rathbone is his typical bad self as the evil Ravenhurst playing it to the hilt! This film pulls out all the comical stops from tongue twisters to hypnosis, magnetism and even a Zorro sword play spoof with Rathbone! This is Danny Kaye's finest and funniest comedy! A must see movie!

Comedy Could Not Better Be!
In the history of the movies, fewer things are more amusing than watching Danny Kaye behave as Danny Kaye. Watching his films was a wonderful part of my childhood,and I remember being at home from High School on the day of his passing. I'm very glad for the legacy he has left us to enjoy.
In "The Court Jester" he couldn't be more in his element as he amuses us with his usual patter numbers clever, tounge-twisting lyrics and sword play, and moves us with his loving care of the orphaned infant heir to the English throne. The scene of his lullabying the baby was shown as a tribute to him at the end of "Entertainment Tonight" the weekend after his death and it was a fitting tribute to him, his love of children, and the childlike sense of wonder he brought to all of his films.
As Kaye's love interest, Jean, a charismatic Glynis Johns is highly complimentary.She is not the sterotypical woman of medeival times, but having been raised as a boy, has a lot of cunning, ingenuity, and an occassional bit of brawn as the leader of those in rebellion against Cecil Parker's evil King.
Angela Lansbury's Princess Gwendolyn longs for true love rather than an arranged marriage. She is firm and decisive in many ways, as she helps bring the tale to a positive conclusion.
As the sourceress, Mildred Natwick leads into some of the film's funniest scenes, including the notorious "Pellet with the poison is in the vessel with the pestle" routine that has become a classic.
Hubert Hawkins' cleverness in seizing the real Court Jester,(John Carradine, a man whom I could never really think of as funny) who was very arrogant, disguising himself in his clothes, and using his tounge-twisting dialogue with the King to cover his tracks is also a riot.
Basil Rathbone as the evil henchmen is a refined villian. It's amusing the way Kaye kept pushing his name out of the way during the opening credits, and I have wondered how often Hawkins' accelerated knighthood ceremony had to be rehearsed before those on the set could stop laughing.

Although the film overlooks the fact that a person can't be hypnotized against their will, the way Hubert Hawkins is, the comedy is generally light, and goofy, doesen't get any saucier than the exposure of an infant's backside, and children will love it.
And as Hawkins reassures us at the beginning,"What starts like a scary tale ends like a fairy tale, and life couldn't possibly better be!"

So funny your cheeks will ache from laughing!!
This is one of Danny Kaye's best. He was so talented and his comic timing is impeccable. The "chalice from the palace" scene is so funny that I have not forgotten it over the years. This movie will get you out of the blues in no time.

You will go and buy this movie and do it like that (snap)!
This is my favorite movie of all time. When I was a kid Danny Kaye movies played every Sunday morning and we would wait the few months until it came around again.

I have never stopped laughing at the scenes, the funny interplay between Danny Kaye and the court and his continual buffonery.

Even kids will love this movie. It starts with a dance routine which is almost like Robin Hood Men in Tights. That is quaint, yet the next scene will take you in and take you on the funniest rides of all time.

Kaye, disquised as an old man who is hard of hearing having a scream fest with the captain of the guard. This few minutes is one of the funniest scenes I have ever witnessed. Then there are just funny scenes that will make you split your sides with laughter from there on out.

The wit it took to bring together this cast and the concept of the movie seems that it will never be outdated.

What Danny Kaye and the rest do here is ascend age and time making this movie appeal to any age group, young or old. I have seen a young family start off thinking this was a silly movie then, taken by the first comedic interaction, launch into continuous laughter. I laugh getting a kick out of watching everyone else laugh too.

This movie is a must for any DVD or VHS library. Share it with your friends, watch it when you are a little too stressed out to do anything else to lighten up your day.

The plays on words, the different fast paced situational scenes that will have you thinking; 'how clever...,' even when you think that Hawkins/Giacommo is at his end, then it gets even funnier. The Chalis with the poisly has the pellet with the pesly......

This movie is so fast paced that you cannot believe you have sat there and laughed for the better part of 90 minutes. The great thing about the DVD, you do not have to worry about watching this over and over again and wearing it out.

This movie has great color and scenery. The imagery is wonderful. You wonder if they really were in a castle.

Laugh and love this movie......I recommend it for school, church and family activities. It is a classic that may become more well known with time. ... Read more

Reviews (20)

Hans Christian Andersen not quite, but very entertaining
Hans Christian Andersen (1805-75) was an Ugly Duckling. He lived in the third largest town Odense, in Denmark. The son of a cobbler he was poverty ridden and a failure as an actor and it wasn't until he moved to Copenhagen and won the patronage of Frederick VI, through his poetry, that he wrote his fairy tales and developed into a swan. Like many artists he wasn't particularly happy, and never did marry, although he was very fond of Jenny Lind (1820-87) the Swedish Nightingale a soprano given the name by P.T. Barnum during her tour of the United States between 1850-52.) Charles Vidor's film does state at the beginning, This is not the story of Hans Christian Andersen but a fairy tale about the great spinner of fairy tales. The Danes objected to the way Hans Christian Andersen was portrayed even though Goldwyn had rejected 21 previous manuscripts, so the film company inserted this statement in the credits.

Danny Kaye with his chiselled features does resemble H.C.Andersen when looking at his profile, but apart from this facial feature that's where it stops. Kaye had dark hair but Hollywood soon changed that and he became a blonde, Andersen also had dark hair but he kept it that way.

Unlike some earlier musicals, this film does have a strong story line with loads of songs written by "Baby, It's Cold Outside", Frank Loessen, such as Thumbelina, Ugly Duckling, No Two People, and of course Wonderful Copenhagen. The scenery is very clever, the backgrounds look like illustrations from fairy tale books, but as the camera zooms in to the foreground the buildings and props become three dimensional similar to a pop-up-book.

There are four ballet scenes that I probably found boring back in '52, but revisiting them now, they are visually very interesting, technically I wouldn't know if they are good or mediocre but for a Hollywood musical film, four ballets must of taken an enormous amount of consideration seeing as the film is really for kids. Once again the backdrops for the ballets also resemble fairy tale illustrations and pop-up-books.

Instead of a soprano, Andersen falls in love with a ballet dancer and here's a musical that doesn't have a very happy ending because poor Hans gets mixed up with a married woman. The ballet dancer Doro, is played by Zizi Jeanmaire, and is married to Niels played by Farley Granger. During the last part of the film, the audience is taken behind the scenes of the ballet company playing at the Royal Theater in Copenhagen, but this isn't a film of a show included in a show, similar to earlier musicals, but an uplifting musical film with lots of music with catchy tunes helped by a ton of children.

The last ballet scene takes 17 minutes, quite long for a popular movie. In the film Hans writes a story especially for his love Doro, unfortunately Niels locks him in a cupboard so Andersen never sees her perform but has to use his imagination.

The ballet takes place on land and under the ocean. The surface waves are pop-up so that the dancers can be seen dancing in between the swells, it's really very clever visually, and there's no trickery here. Under the sea filled with monsters and witches, the heroine is probably attached to a pulley so that she can be seen swimming for the surface. There are no blue screens in this film, all effects are up-front and work perfectly similar to a staged ballet. Once again the technicolor process is used and this enhances the fairy tale effect with vivid colors.

Hans Christian Andersen fairy stories are not violent when compared to the Grimm brothers, but the themes usually have a lesson, and in the story written for Doro's ballet, "The Little Mermaid," it is saying that aiming for the stars does not always bring happiness, but then of course Walt Disney hadn't yet arrived on the scene and he soon changed that philosophy.

A good kid's movie
HAns Christian andersen is a good movie. Andersen (Danny Kaye) is a cobbler who can't stop telling stories for the little kiddies. This gets him in trouble with the top bananas in town, who vote to have him run out for making kids miss school. Andersen moves to Copenhagen, falls in love with a beautiful french ballerina, and gets himself famous for his stories, all the while going from song to song with true Kaye spirit. It was a good movie, but not one to be overly thrilled about.

Delicious performer, wonderful introduction to ballet!
I fell hopelessly in love with Danny Kaye when I was 8 years old, and I'm still crazy about him many years later. . . no other performer of whom I'm aware has ever shown his unique combination of comic virtuousity, tenderness, silliness, physical bravado and dramatic depth.

He could also really sing, not just comically but straightforwardly, in his naturally rich, sweet lyric-tenor voice. If you really listen to the "Inchworm" song, you will hear just how fine his voice really was.

The ballet sequences in the movie transfixed me as an eight-year-old ballerina wannabe. Maybe they look hokey to present-day grownups, but I bet most kids would immediately understand.

One of the best movies ever!!!!

Correction
I'd just like to make a correction on another customer review that I read of this movie. This was not Danny Kaye's last movie. I don't know what was, but in 1954, he did "White Christmas" with Bing Crosby, Vera Ellen and Rosemary Clooney. It's not a really important thing, I suppose, but I just wanted to make sure that the information was correct.

Delightful Children's Musical
Danny Kaye plays the Danish cobbler-storyteller, Hans Christian Andersen. At the beginning he is said by the schoolmaster of the village of Odense he is causing trouble. The trouble is he tells stories to the village children, and they learn things like numbers falling in love and marrying each other. One town person said of his stories: They asked their daughter what time it was? She said "the minute and hour hands weren't speaking to each other. They were in love with the second hand. So they wouldn't make up until they met at 12 o' clock." After all the commotion with the village officials, Hans goes back to his cobbler shop. There his apprentice friend, Peter talks him into getting away from the village and going to Copenhagen.

Reluctant at first Hans agrees to go to Copenhagen with Peter. There Hans meets and falls in love with Doro (Jeanmarie), a beautiful French ballerina. But later learns that she is married to the demanding Niels (Farley Granger). Overwhelmed by his love for her, he is inspired to write, 'The Little Mermaid' for Doro. The story of the Little Mermaid, like Doro goes-that she looked for love from the wrong man. Hans becomes popular with the people of Copenhagen and his gift in telling stories to the children. So Andersen's fame grew out of his plays and stories. Some of the musical scores that stand out are the most known of Andersen's best loved works. Those most memorable numbers are from 'Inchworm,' 'Thumbelina' and 'The Ugly Duckling.' Hans later finds that the ballerina truly loves her husband, so Hans returns home to his village of Odense. There he tells his stories to the children who loves to hear his fairy tales. You may not find Kaye's usual comic flair here. He extends his more poignant side of the famous storyteller. This was Kaye's final film of his career beofre embarking on his life's love of working with Unicef. If you like to read about Andersen, he wrote his auto-bio, 'The Fairy Tale of My Life.' The film itself is a delightful children's story that the whole family can love. ... Read more

Amazon.com

This musical adaptation of Pinocchio from 1976 features the incomparable talents of Danny Kaye, Sandy Duncan, Flip Wilson, and Clive Revill. Framed by the story of a young theater girl's desire to study and work apart from her father, the story of Pinocchio is presented as a subplay with the young girl as Pinocchio (Sandy Duncan) and her father as Geppetto (Danny Kaye). The famous Carlo Collodi story of a lonely woodcutter whose marionette comes to life is presented faithfully and engagingly. The costumes are bright and fun, and the sets are suitably simple. The music, which features many Billy Barnes songs, showcases everything from big Broadway sounds to some truly beautiful ballads. Add to that lots of energetic dancing choreographed by Ron Field, and the result is a compelling performance by Kaye, Duncan, and the rest of the cast. --Tami Horiuchi ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Pinocchio Needs More Than A Nose Job
To make the excuse for the low-budget sets and special effects, this production decides to frame a story within a story by means of a traveling "third-rate" theatre company performing the play "Pinocchio." The TV video production would have been much better off sticking to the story of "Pinocchio" and giving up the ridiculous idea of the traveling theatre company sub-plot. By the TV production calling the theatre company "third-rate" does that mean that think that their own TV production is "third-rate"? Danny Kaye as Gepetto was anything but third rate! He knows how to deliver touching songs like "I'm Talking To Myself" composed by Billy Barnes. I believe that children would have understood and enjoyed the story more if they would have cast a child in the role of Pinocchio. Though Sandy Duncun did a great job, nothing can replace the magic of a real child. Taking in the whole TV production, I feel that "Pinocchio" is worth watching, though it would have looked better if only the fairy could have helped to edit the script.

Pinocchio
This movie was not what I thought it would be. Its quite good. Danny Kaye his here in his older years and everything you see in this movie is something that you have seen before. He plays 2 or more characters and pulls it off very well. The movie is kinda silly because it's on stage and is more for children than for grown ups. It just shows the classic tale of Pinocchio, how he becomes a real life boy and learns about life. This movie is worth buying and should be in every home, where a Danny Kaye fan is. ... Read more

Reviews (115)

a great hoiday movie
After only seeing this movie twice, I had the catchy numbers Snow, Sisters, the Minstrel Number, Count Your Blessings, Choreography, and my favorite The Best Things Happen While Your Dancing stuck in my head for a week. Made in 1954, you no longer see the real dancing in movies, where the girls could dance in stiletos and still look beautiful and graceful at the same time. And the songs are filled with pure Christmas joy and love.

After saving Bob Wallace's (Bing Crosby) life, Phil Davis (Danny Kaye) teams up with the entertainer to form the team wallace and Davis. They woo crowds with their dance steps and catchy tunes. Soon they become a huge production, with shows filled with show girls and dancing guys.

One evening before leaving for New York before Christmas, Wallace and Davis stop by a club to see their old army buddy's sisters perform. Betty (Rosemary Clooney) and Judy (Vera Ellen) Haynes are trying to make it big as well. Through some confussion and singing, the four end up going to Vermont together. They end up staying at the hotel of Bob and Phil's old army general.

I'm not going to give away what happens, but I do want to tell you this movie is worth watching. The dancing and singing is sensational, and the characters lovable. This is definitley a great Christmas classic. Oh and by the way, Rosemary Clooney just so happens to be George Clooney's aunt.

"We'll follow the old man where ever he wants to go!"
Back in 1954, director Michael Curtiz (1886-1962, who won the Oscar for Best Director for the 1942 film "Casablanca") directed a musical that has become a beloved Yuletide classic for many people (myself included): "White Christmas". With the all-star cast of Bing Crosby, Danny Kay, Rosemary Clooney, Vera Ellen and Mary Wickes, the film is often regarded as an updated remake of the 1942 classic "Holiday Inn", which also starred Bing Crosby and featured the same classic Yuletide song, "White Christmas". Though the two films do have many similarities (they're both musicals with lots of song and dance and they both have two main male characters), there are sufficient differences in their respective plots to make each film a unique viewing experience.

"White Christmas" begins on a World War II battlefield with soldiers performing a Christmas show for their fellow soldiers. The two starring soldiers are Bob Wallace (Bing Crosby) and Phil Davis (Danny Kaye). During the performance, all of the soldiers in attendance pay homage to their commander, General Thomas F. Waverly (Dean Jagger). The film then moves forward to its present day of 1954 where it finds Wallace & Davis as being very popular and successful on-stage song & dance performers. After one of their performances, they go to a nightclub where they a performance by two beautiful sisters: Betty Haynes (Rosemary Clooney) and Judy Haynes (Vera Ellen). Bob & Phil become infatuated with the pair (Phil more than Bob). They meet each other and Phil sneakily arranges for himself and Bob to go to Vermont, where the Haynes sisters are going, instead of their planned destination for their next performance. Bob isn't too happy initially with Phil's subterfuge, but relents and enjoys the trip with the Haynes sisters to the Vermont ski lodge. Sadly, when they arrive, there isn't any snow; but they quickly discover who owns the ski lodge: their former commander, the retired General Thomas F. Waverly, who is assisted by his daughter Anne Waverly (Anne Whitfield) and Emma Allen (Mary Wickes). The unfortunate lack of snow isn't very good for the ski lodges business, but Bob & Phil decide to help the retired general in the best way that they know.

Songs by Irving Berlin in "White Christmas" include many wonderful and catchy tunes as listed below. (Vera Ellen's singing was dubbed by Trudy Stevens.)

* "The Old Man/Gee I Wish I Was Back In The Army" (5 stars, performed by Bing Crosby, Danny Kaye and chorus).
* "Sisters" (5+ stars, Rosemary Clooney, Trudy Stevens and chorus).
* "The Best Things Happen While You're Dancing" (4 stars, Danny Kaye with the Skylarks & chorus.)
* "Snow" (5+ stars, Bing Crosby, Danny Kay, Rosemary Clooney, Trudy Stevens and chorus).
* "Blue Skies/Mandy" (4 stars, Bing Crosby, Danny Kaye and chorus.)
* "Choreography" (5 stars, Danny Kaye, the Skylarks & chorus.)
* "Count Your Blessings Instead Of Sheep" (5 stars, Bing Crosby.)
* "Love, You Didn't Do Right By Me" (5 stars, Rosemary Clooney.)
* "What Can You Do With The General" (5+ stars, Bing Crosby.)
* "White Christmas" (5+ stars, Bing Crosby, Danny Kaye, Rosemary Clooney, Trudy Stevens & chorus.)

"White Christmas" has deservedly become an annual Yuletide classic that will be enjoyed by many generations to come. Overall, I rate the film with 5 out of 5 stars. Also on the DVD is an excellent commentary by Rosemary Clooney. Sadly, "White Christmas" was Vera Ellen's second-to-last film after she decided to retire from acting.

X-MAS NOSTALGIA!!!!
I LOVE THIS MOVIE I WATCH THIS MOVIE EVERY YEAR AROUND X-MAS I LOVE THIS MOVIE. THIS IS SO GOOD IT HAS GREAT PRODUCTION,ACTING, CHOREOGRAPHY,SINGING, AND A LOT OF OTHER THINGS I LOVE THIS VIDEO IT IS SO NICE I WOULD RECOMMEND ANYONE WHO LIKES BING CROSBY ,DANNY KAYE,OR IRVING BERLING MOVIES TO PURCHASE THIS MOVIE BECAUSE IT IS A NICE HOLIDAY MOVIE TO ENJOY WITH YOUR FAMILY. I THINK ABOUT MY GRANDPARENTS WHENEVER I WATCH THIS MOVIE; BECAUSE IT REMINDS ME OF THEIR TIME PERIOD AND IT IS JUST A GREAT MOVIE TO WATCH AND ENJOY.

Bing Croons....Rosemary Swoons....Watch It In June!
This review refers to the Widescreen Collection(Paramount)DVD edition of "White Christmas"...

This DVD should be held up as an example of what DVDs are all about.The transfer and restoration of this 50 year old film is superb. It is the reason we are willing to spend a little more to upgrade from VHS and are awed when we see the wonderful results. Filmed in "VistaVision", the widescreen picture lets you take in every scene of this wonderful classic from edge to edge. The picture is clear, sharp and in glorious technicolor.The colors are beautiful and vibrant.
You have the choice of viewing it in DD5.1 surround or the restored Mono. For those looking for some special features, Rosemary Clooney helps out with a retrospective interview and also commentary. There are English subtitles for those needing them and may also be viewed in French(mono).

The film is a treasure in itself. Bing Crosby, Danny Kaye,Rosemary Clooney,and Vera-Ellen are the stars of this 1954 musical with songs by Irving Berlin that you'll want to sing along with and keep humming long after the film has ended. Directed by Michael Curtiz it's a feel good film that although takes place during the Christmas season, is one that you can pull out and watch anytime of the year.

Bing and Danny were Army buddies, now a successful song and dance team and are out to help their favorite old retired General(Dean Jagger),who is having trouble coping with retirement. The General is now running a country inn in Vermont, but the big problem is there is no snow to bring up the tourists. Bing and Danny to the rescue, as they turn the inn into a showcase of talent, and fall for the Haines sisters along the way. Can these wonderful voices also bring the snow out of the sky?...well..you know.

This film is filled with Berlin's wonderful tunes. When Bing takes Rosemary's little hand in his and croons "Count Your Blessings" to her..well it's movie heaven. Rosemary also treats us to several numbers, Vera-Ellen does some fabulous hoofing, and Danny clowns and keeps us smiling like only Danny can. And how much fun is it watching Bing and Danny do the "Sisters" number together?...alot! Then there's the goose bump evoking, wonderfully nostalgic scene of the four of them singing "White Christmas" together with the Winter Wonderland of Vermont as a backdrop.I would be remiss if I didn't mention the wonderful character actress Mary Wicks, she's a great busy-body who causes misunderstandings, and also keep an eye out for George Chakiris and Barrie Chase.

Thanks Paramount for bringing us this great old classic holiday film on this great DVD...enjoy...Laurie

The Classics are the Best
My parents were Bing Crosby fans, so I grew up watching this movie. It is a jewel in Paramounts crown. Two ex soldiers team up for a stage act, along the way they meet another stage act, sisters. They all end up traveling together by train to Vermont where the sisters are performing for the christmas holiday at a ski resort. When they arrive, they find no snow and very few customers, and the general that Crosby and Kaye served under. Needless to say, they try to help out, and in doing so, they reawaken the spirit of christmas and giving in everyone. It isn't the best quality film, the sound is acceptable but not exceptional, but the story is as great in 1954 as it will be in 3004! ... Read more

Reviews (14)

Hilarious! Danny Kaye is the best at being anyone!
This movie is about twin brothers brought back together through the death of one. Danny Kaye portrayes both brothers and is at his best being two different people. The music and dancing are wonderful and the singing as well. But it's Danny Kaye making you laugh that's makes this movie one of his all time best. This movie helps show our children what good clean fun is all about.

Buster and Danny
BUSTER! This movie is one of the funniest I've ever seen. Danny Kaye is hilarious playing 2 roles: a whimpy librarian and his ghost twin brother- Buster! The scenes in Prospect Park (aka Potato salad),the deli, and some of the on-stage routines are classics.

DOES THIS THING REALLY COST $ 259.00
I am shocked to see that Amazon is offering this DVD at the ridiculous price of $259.00. Did any of the previous reviewers pay that amount for this. If you know of any where I can purchase this at a MUCH LOWER price. Please Email me at bkuszak@hotmail.com

really witty and fun
this Danny Kaye film of "Wonderman," is very funny and a great Kaye vehicle. I highly recommend it to any fan of his films It's a must see.

stewpot
There are always films you associate with your youth and this is one of mine.To this day it is the only film that i wet myself over.It is all that is great about old movies and Danny Kaye is a genius in this film.If you only watch one old comedy film make it this one. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Great for Danny Kaye fans
If you like Danny Kaye, this is a terrific DVD. It has snippets from many different performances. There are guest appearances by Harry Belafonte, Harvey Korman, and Louie Armstrong just to name a few. You'll want to watch it over and over... ... Read more

Amazon.com

If there's one movie Danny Kaye fans fondly remember, it's TheSecret Life of Walter Mitty. The versatile comedian--also an unsurpassedsong-and-dance man--plays a henpecked, thriller-genre book writer suddenlyenmeshed in a real adventure involving the (literal) girl of his dreams (VirginiaMayo). Initially criticized for not staying true to the more melancholic sensibility ofauthor James Thurber's original story (Thurber allegedly offered producerSamuel Goldwyn $10,000 to not make the film), it not only works as anindependent story, but remains highly entertaining and wears well upon repeatedviewing. Kaye's milquetoast Walter fantasizes distractedly about being heroic,whether a gunslinger, an Air Force pilot, or a riverboat gambler. His "Anatoleof Paris" number, in which Walter fancies himself a French hat designer who,in the end, declares he hates women, is nothing short of brilliant. That number,like many of Kaye's trademark patter deliveries, was penned by his wife, SylviaFine. Kaye benefits from a wonderful supporting cast: Mayo; Boris Karloff asmaniacal Dr. Hugo Hollingshead; Faye Bainter as Walter's repressive but livelymother; Ann Rutherford as his suspicious fiancée Gertrude; and GordonJones as Tubby, who not only has designs on Gertrude, but provides the villainin Walter's fantasies. --N.F. Mendoza ... Read more

Reviews (11)

Absolutely Hilarious
I adored this movie as a child, and after watching it again as a grown woman, I still love it. No one plays the buffoon as well as Danny Kaye. The scene where he plays a gypsy-style violin piece is still one of the funniest scenes in movie history.

A DANNY KAYE FAN
I have just purchased The Inspector General. As i am still a 59 year old teenager i remember seeing it when it first came out. My favourite Danny Kaye movie is still The Court Jester but this is close second. So many funny characters including the great Alan Hale who will always be remembered as Little John to Errol Flynn`s Robin Hood. Elsa Lancaster as the Mayors wife, Gene Raymond ( with a wonderful hair style ) as the Mayor and of course Walter Slezak as phony medicine man who enlists the simple minded Danny for his wicked ways.Danny Kaye was always at his best playing characters who were certainly not the sharpest tools in the box. An absolute must for any Danny Kaye fans collection

Great Fun!!!
Danny Kaye is superb in this movie about a bumble who is mistaken for an Inspector General, and how he pulls it off is worth the price of the film. The music is marvelous, and Kaye's machinations as he sings and dances to it are classic. Many lessons of life are involved in this movie. Friendship, loyalty, and especially "honesty" come to play, and the ending is so genuine, that it almost brought tears to my eyes. Highly recommended!!

ROAN GROUP DVD is the best!
Alot has been said about this wonderful movie, but with several versions offered, which DVD is the best? I learned the hardway, buying several copies until I decided for the more expensive ROAN GROUP DVD. They mastered their DVD from a very nice 35mm TECHNICOLOR print, the other DVD's I bought were mastered from 16mm EASTMANCOLOR prints (grainy, dark, and pale colors). It is worth it to pay the higher price, you get what you pay for.

Great fun!
This movie is almost as good as The Court Jester, also staring Danny Kaye. He is a travelling sales man who is mistakenly thought to be the Inspector General by a small corupt village. There is alot of homor and singing and all in all very entertaining. It's one you can watch over and over without getting sick of it. ... Read more

Amazon.com

This is Lucy at her finest: getting drunk on Vitameatavegamin, stuffing chocolates down her dress on the assembly line, sinking in quicksand with Jack Benny, and making movie deals with fellow cleaning woman Carol Burnett. This 1976 tribute to Lucille Ball captures prize moments from her three television series (most notably I Love Lucy), highlights from her movie career, and excerpts from numerous other TV appearances. Each segment of the 97-minute special is introduced by famous cohorts, from series regulars such as ex-husband Desi Arnaz, Vivian Vance, and Gale Gordon to sometime coworkers like John Wayne, Sammy Davis Jr., and Dick Van Dyke. Although she lived another 13 years after this special was made and had a fourth go at a TV series, this DVD captures the most brilliant moments of her trademark physical comedy. The red-haired queen of American comedy makes an appearance at the end when Jimmy Stewart gives her an honorary plaque, making for a nostalgic moment. A short time later the credits roll, revealing that Ball's production company was behind the tribute and reminding viewers she wasn't a bad businesswoman either. --Kimberly Heinrichs ... Read more

Reviews (6)

When Stars Ruled Hollywood
This show is so full of Hollywood Stars and I mean when stars were Stars. Legends. It's one of the greatest tributes of all time. If your a fan of the older stars you'll love this. I'm talking about a time in history when Bette Davis, Katherine Hepburn, Henry Fonda, Lucille Ball, Frank Sinatra were in their heyday this is for you. Such class and elegance is unfortunately lost in our society today. If you want to see that again, BUY THIS DVD. As a matter of fact buy two copies. It's well worth the investment.

A SHODDY COMPILATION OF A BIG TV STAR'S CAREER
CBS RUSHED THIS TV SPECIAL OUT BACK IN '76 TO MASSAGE THE EGO OF ITS' BIGGEST PRIME TIME MONEY MAKER OF ALL TIME. SHE WAS IN SEMI-RETIREMENT WHEN THIS TV SPECIAL AIRED. CLAD IN A WIG, UGLY GOWN AND DRAG QUEEN LIKE MAKE-UP, LUCY'S ACCEPTS A JIVE PLAQUE FROM JAMES STEWART AT THE END OF THIS TIRED MONTAGE OF HER TV WORK. SHE SEEMED JUST HAPPY TO HAVE SOMETHING TO DO. BACKGAMMON,BOOZE AND CIGARETTES WAS WHAT SHE PASSED TIME WITH IN HER LONELY BEVERLY HILLS MANSION. HER HUSBAND, GARRY MORTON WAS PLAYING TENNIS AND SLEEPING AROUND. SAD FINAL YEARS OF TV'S TOP STAR.

THE BEST NEVER BEFORE SEEN
I THINK THAT IS GREAT THAT THEY MADE THIS ONE FOR PEOPLE THAT DON'T KNOW WHAT LUCILLE BALL WAS CAPABLE OF. THEY SHOW A SMALL PERCENTAGE OF SHE DID DURING HER CARRER. I THINK SHE WILL ALWAYS BE THE BEST FEMALE COMEDIAN THAT EVER LIVED.

Finally! We Have Some Lucy On DVD!
Let me first say that as far as picture quality goes on this DVD, I would rate that with 4 stars. However, the content of this DVD makes up for the picture quality. Not that the picture is bad, I just feel that during remastering some of the clips could have been a lot clearer. With that aside, let me say that this is a super DVD to have in your collection. As of right now it is the only place you can find anything of "I Love Lucy" available on DVD, and this is the only place any clips of "Here's Lucy" can be found. If you want to relive many of your favorite Lucy moments from the past, this is the place to go. Here you can find some of the classics like the famous Vitameatavegamin, or the candy factory, or even the time when Lucy and Vivian (on "The Lucy Show") installed the shower and got stuck in it while it kept filling with more and more water. The great thing about this DVD is that it helps remind the viewer why Lucille Ball was/is as important as she has remained, and probably will be, to the television and entertainment world.

I hope that the people at Paul Brownstein Productions start to release more rare Lucille Ball shows, such as her 1977 special "Lucy Calls the President" that reunited her with many of her costars like Gale Gordon and Vivian Vance. I think that we as fans need to let the companies that hold the rights to these shows know that there is a demand for them, and pass on the simple message that it's "Time To Open The Vaults!"

Awesome
This DVD is a MUST HAVE for true Lucy fans.I ordered mine as soon as it was released, and trust me, you won't be disappointed! It's truly a fairy tale story of the first 25 years,and makes you realize even more what a wonderful person and actress she truly was. My rating A++++++++++ ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Lest We Forget
He could have his pick of them, but this is the only film role Danny Kaye took after a 12 year retirement of sorts.

He managed to sandwich in Skokie amid a slew of TV specials, tributes, and various other glorified career retrospectives. It would be his last significant work before the cameras, and it proved to be some of his finest.

The subject matter may seem corny or outdated to a young person, but not to anyone who knows the dark side of history the Nazis created.

And now here in a land where liberal communist sympathizers had been attacked at every turn for decades by the authorities, the conservative neo-Nazi party was enjoying a blind eye being turned to them. They were allowed to run rampant, particularly in America's East, and specifically in Illinois.

The main cast, featuring the great Mr. Kaye, Kim Hunter, Ed Flanders and Lee Strasberg (all of whom are sadly no longer with us), is excellent and all turn in the fine performances that one would expect of actors of their sterling talent.

Do not ignore the past, Skokie is saying, in case our apathy might be mistaken for weakness. These days, though, two decades after Skokie was filmed, we're keeping a much closer eye on Oregon than Illinois, but the message is the same - maintain constant vigilance upon those who would hide behind the Constitution and wave the flag in order to further the sickness of bigotry.

Strong recreation testing the extent of free speech
Skokie is the name of the small suburb outside Chicago and home to a large Jewish populace, many of whom are survivors of the Holocaust. In 1977, it was also the epicenter of an uproar when the American Nazi Party publicly announced they would hold a rally in the center of the town. This film examines the inevitable aftermath of emotions felt nationwide (particularly among the township's residents), along with the legalities of speech protection by the First Ammendment, no matter how pejorative.
The story intensifies its dramatic (and ironic)pitch when the ACLU quickly sides with the Nazis, despite many of its members being Jews. They explicitly indicate how even hateful ideology and practices are protected under the Bill of Rights; a move that angers even its most ardent supporters. The film's theme is this most basic of arguments: do even hate groups of this vile nature have the right to free speech. Or does this act breach any limitations set forth in the ammendment (such as yelling 'Fire!' in a crowded theater)? And if so, will stopping this march undermine the principles of the Bill of Rights?
An first-rate cast delivers excellent performances to this reenactment: John Rubenstein as the ACLU's attorney desperately trying to convince the public that the Nazis have a right to conduct their assembly, George Dzundza as the menacing leader of the Nazis, Kim Hunter as a Holocaust survivor haunted by the horror of the concentration camps, Eli Wallach (making a brief but strong cameo) as a disgruntled senior ACLU member. Leading this ensemble is the late Danny Kaye in a rare dramatic role. When his character is first alerted of the Nazi's imminent move, he attends a town council meeting and vehemently objects to the Nazi's actions. This performance was a refreshing turnaround from his early comedic roles.
Despite some lapses into melodrama, "Skokie" challenges viewers of all ages to this question: Should a group like the American Nazi Party be allowed the freedom of speech even though if they ever came to power, they would surely deny such freedom?

Execellent docu-drama of a true story
"Skokie" is the true story of how a community of Holocaust survivors and their neighbors in Skokie, Illinois stood up to a group of Neo-Nazis who wanted to hold a rally in their town. This watershed event is to Jewish-American history what the Selma March is to African-American history: a major turning point in the ongoing struggle of a minority to stand up for its dignity and rights. And yet, relatively few people recognize the name "Skokie" in the same way that they do "Selma." Which is one reason I show this video in Social Studies classes.

The film is well-balanced in the way that it presents the issues from all sides. On the one hand, the Nazis claim their First Amendment right to free speech. On the other hand, making that speech in a community of Jews who suffered under Hitler is provocative and cruel. The Jewish "establishment" recommends "quarantine" -- ignoring the Nazis to avoid giving them more publcity. The Holocaust survivors, on the other hand, point out that silence allowed Hitler to take over Germany, and they are not going to be silent again now. They urge public protest.

Danny Kaye's character is on the protester side. He describes an incident in the concentration camp where his mouth was stuffed with rags so he could not cry out. He refuses to be silent now and becomes an outspoken activist leader. His wife, on the other hand, is so emotionally traumatized by the memories that this controversy is re-awakening that she retreats to her room, listening to music and trying to block out the flashbacks. And their teenage daughter? She learns for the first time what her parents went through in the camps, and how her grandmother was brutally murdered by the Nazis. Up until this time, her parents has not talked about it, because they felt that a child should not have to grow up with such things. (Historically, it is true that, up until the Skokie events, many Holocaust survivors in America did not discuss the camps with their children. Many children of Holocaust survivors didn't even know their parents were in the camps -- yet they wondered why they had no aunts, uncles, grandparents, etc.)

The legal side of the controversy is also well covered, with public meetings in the synagogue, private meetings in the Mayor's office, and courtroom scenes where the First Amendment is tested against testimony by the survivors about what seeing a swastika means to them. (These courtroom scenes also serve to give the viewers some background information about the Jews and the Nazis without getting preachy.) As the controversy heats up, Skokie becomes a focus of national attention, attracting protesters from around the country and giving the Mayor a big headache. Do the Nazis get a permit to hold their rally or not? I won't be a spoiler -- watch the film for yourself!

On the technical end, the film is rated PG with no bad language (except when the Nazis use racial slurs), making it appropriate for use in schools. However, it's 121 minutes long, which means it takes up two class periods (or more, depending on how long your classes are.) The action moves along well, however, and the students stay interested. The last part is a sort of trailer where each of the main characters does a short interview-type monolog about what he or she got out of the events. In the end, the viewer is left to decide for him/herself whether hate speech should be protected speech.

... Read more

Reviews (18)

Join Peter on his bunny trail
First of all, it's a Rankin/Bass animagic special, so I think I could just stop there, because that says it all!
This is a great Easter movie, with Peter Cottontail learning about responsibility in order to be the head bunny. The Characters are wonderful as usual, An evil bunny, french caterpillar, and a talking Easter bonnet joining Peter in his journey back in time. It is Set in the beautiful April Valley and narrated by Sassafras(Danny Kaye), with, as always, great songs. My faves being "Here Comes Peter Cottontail" and "If I could Only Get Back to Yesterday".
Also, as extra value for money, you get one of R/Bs cartoon features, "Puss In Boots". I don't know how many of you would remember these cartoons, but the introductions starts with a book spiralling into the centre of the screen. It then opens up and says Rankin Bass presents.......whatever cartoon it is, then all the different characters walk over a rainbow. When I started watching it, all these memories started flooding back to me from when I was little, it was such good fun to watch. Definitely worth having.
I am in my twenties and still enjoy watching R/B productions, true, that is because I grew up with them, but anybody who hasn't tried some Rankin/Bass, please do, you will be pleasantly suprised!

Hippity Hoppity goodness
"Here Comes Peter Cottontail" is another great Animagic treat from Rankin/Bass. The picture on the DVD is great, and does full justice to this classic.

Vincent Price's Irontail is one of the best villains in any holiday special. There is a special evil flair to the character, a dark bunny who rides on a giant bat and only wants to deliver mud-colored eggs. I love Danny Kaye, who does a great job as the narrator Seymour S. Sassafras.

The best scenes are Peter trying to deliver holiday-themed eggs during competing holidays. 4th of July eggs, Valentine's Day eggs, Christmas eggs and green St. Patrick's Day eggs spring from his basket. Our plucky little hero tries his best, and overcomes his self-inflicted follies in true holiday style.

Sadly, the accompanying feature "Puss in Boots" is very low-quality Rankin/Bass. It is a cheaply animated feature and does not fit well with "Here Comes Peter Cottontail." There is no Easter theme to the cartoon, and I cannot see myself watching it more than once. A better fit would have been "The Easter Bunny is Coming to Town" or "The First Easter Rabbit." This tacked-on extra keeps the DVD from getting 5 stars.

Other than that, great DVD! More please.

Best Easter mini-movie Ever!!
Every year I watch this. It's amazing. Seymour S. Sassafrass is totally lovable. Peter Cottontail and Bonnie are too cute. Antoine the inchworm is adorable too. Vincent Price is wonderfully evil as Irontail. The story is thoroughly enjoyable as Peter sails through all the holidays of the year trying to save April Valley by giving out more eggs than his rival, Irontail, and become Chief Easter Bunny. I love the music, especially "If I could only get back to yesterday." (And he can, with the Yester-morrowbile.) I love Sassafrass's colorful garden and Irontail's little bat and Halloween bash. This tape is incredible. All the quotes are so memorable, everyone knows what you're talking about when you mention them. I guess everyone's seen these videos at some point or other. And who couldn't like 'em?

worth a watch
Made by the same team of Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer, this is worth watching just for the animation. The animals in here are beyond cute. The first part is all right but with packing all of the holidays in, well I think they could have come up with something else. The songs aren't too memorable in this, except for one, about one night stands...I mean one day romances. The female bunny is added again at the end to ease the viewer's mind.

This is such a great movie!
I remember seeing this movie on TV as a child and I loved it. I loved the imagination of the story, the characters, the songs, the wonderful and vibrant colors and tapestry and the humor that makes this an outstanding and memorable movie. Just writing this brings back warm memories! If you liked the Rudolph and Frosty the Snowman movies, you will definitely like this one. ... Read more

Reviews (6)

Bravo for the release of this obscure Rankin/Bass gem!
What ever made this show get released on DVD prior to all the other more popular Rankin/Bass specials is beyond me, but I am quite pleased to see it nonetheless. I don't even think this was ever out on video, so it's here first in all DVD splendor.

Nice to see Danny Kaye in Denmark with all the kids. My son loves the animagic the most, but has no trouble paying attention to Danny and all the kids having a grand ole time in great Danish settings.

The Enchanted World of Danny Kaye
Lacking the charm of the classic Rankin/Bass Holiday specials, "The Enchanted World of Danny Kaye: The Emperor's New Clothes" is still good fun to watch and has some really great animagic action in it, including perhaps the only fully nude animagic puppet ever made.

The mix of live action and animagic is not great, and the special would have been better as a pure animagic feature, but it was meant to launch a series of specials with Danny Kaye supplying the star power and Rankin/Bass providing the magic. Unlike the Holiday specials, this one is dated by the live action. Danny Kaye is awfully "70's." However, this is a small complaint as the special is maybe 90% animagic with only a few lead-ins by Danny Kaye. The animagic portion is charming and Romeo Muller did a great take on the traditional Hans Christian Anderson story. Imogene Coca is the voice of the flighty Princess Jane Klockenlocher, and makes for a good romantic foil for Danny Kaye's tailor. The nude Emperor's stroll through town makes this story.

The big problem with this DVD is its lack of punch. Ringing in at just under an hour, "The Enchanted World of Danny Kaye: The Emperor's New Clothes" is not enough feature to carry an entire DVD on its own. There is a short 6-minute making of documentary, which is interesting. Paired with Danny Kaye's other Rankin/Bass outing, "Here Comes Peter Cottontail" would have made for a great DVD. As an extra feature to a DVD of Rankin/Bass's other Hans Christian Anderson feature "The Daydreamer" would have been even better. As it is, probably my least favorite Rankin/Bass DVD.

This is a RANKIN/BASS Special Special!
What a GREAT find! Seeing this RARE 'ANIMAGIC' Special in DVD format is beyond words and that MAKING OF documentary is really something! With it being a RAREly seen special, my hat goes off to CLASSIC MEDIA for issueing it for all the RANKIN/BASS fans to enjoy! DANNY KAYE is wonderful in this special and glad he did another special for RANKIN/BASS besides the wonderful HERE COMES PETER COTTONTAIL! Some GREAT music in here too! You can't lose!

One of the VERY BEST family films I've EVER seen!!!
This new fully restored DVD release of "The Emperor's New Clothes" was the first time I had ever seen this Romeo Muller story, and what a gem it is!!! It has all the charm and fancy of "Santa Claus is Comin' to Town", "Here Comes Peter Cottontail", "Frosty the Snowman", "Puff the Magic Dragon", and some of his other better stories. The originality and imagination put into this story is beyond belief! It is beyond belief because it has not become a widely loved piece of entertainment. It is a shame that the other episodes in this TV series were never produced. Given how well this one turned out the other stories in this anthology series would most likely have been of equal stature. You'll be doing your family a dis-service to your family if you do not add this film to your library.

Not every Rankin/Bass Special is worth seeing...
I had only just received my wonderful copies of 'Rudolph: The Red-Nosed Reindeer', 'Santa Claus is Coming to Town' and 'Here comes Peter Cottontail' when I saw that this title would soon be availble. In my Rankin/Bass lovin' haze I quickly purchased. Now I'm no Rankin/Bass historian or nothin' ....but I do consider myself a fan. But even I couldn't find a way to be happy with this purchase. If you have kids then maybe pick it up (maybe I should have kids). Kids might like it. But any 20yrs+ people out there looking for some funky R-B nostalgia... don't waste your money. Stick with the animagic titles I mentioned above and wait for 'The Easter Bunny is Comin' to town" to be released.

This title gave me the creeps. Glad I didn't have to sit on Danny Kaye's knee. Classic? They should have kept this one in the vault. Not recommended if you haven't figured that out yet. ... Read more

Description

The 13 Family Classic Movies features hours of family entertainment digitally re-mastered on three double-sided DVDs.Begin a library of classic feature films with stars like Janet Gaynor, Carole Lombard, Jessica Dragonette, ShirleyTemple, Danny Kaye, Buster Keaton, The East Side Kids, Louis Hayward, Charles Laughton, Mickey Rooney, Rudolph Valentino, Dennis O’Keefe, and Kirk Douglas. Including features: A Star is Born,The Racketeer,Gulliver’s Travels (Animated),Managed Money,The Inspector General,The Paleface,That Gang of Mine,Son of Monte Cristo, Captain Kidd,The Little Fauntleroy,The Eagle,The Great Dan Patch &My Dear Secretary. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Have you ever wished for a classic Easter special to show yourkids? Here Comes Peter Cottontail is a Rankin & Bass productionthat bears a marked similarity to the beloved Santa Claus Is Coming toTown.Narrator Seymour S. Sassafrass, voiced and sung byDanny Kaye, takes young viewers on a tour of the mythical April Valley andrelates the story of how Peter Cottontail almost failed in his quest tobecome Chief Easter Bunny.Sassafrass peers into his magic egg, and viewers are introduced to Peter Cottontail--a spunky, ingenious young rabbit who is boastful, is prone to fibbing, and lacks a sense of responsibility.In orderto become Chief Easter Bunny, Peter Cottontail must defeat the evilIrontail in a contest to deliver the most eggs on Easter Sunday.Throughhis trials, Peter Cottontail discovers the value of ingenuity, theimportance of placing duty before pleasure, and the folly of self-conceit.

Here Comes Peter Cottontail features catchy songs, great 1970sstop-motion animation, and a fun Easter tale.Parents will find themselves reminiscing over holidays gone by or wondering how they missed this show in their own childhood.The 2 and up crowd will be begging for anothershowing long after the Easter candy is a distant memory. --TamiHoriuchi ... Read more

Reviews (17)

Best Easter mini-movie Ever!!
Every year I watch this. It's amazing. Seymour S. Sassafrass is totally lovable. Peter Cottontail and Bonnie are too cute. Antoine the inchworm is adorable too. Vincent Price is wonderfully evil as Irontail. The story is thoroughly enjoyable as Peter sails through all the holidays of the year trying to save April Valley by giving out more eggs than his rival, Irontail, and become Chief Easter Bunny. I love the music, especially "If I could only get back to yesterday." (And he can, with the Yester-morrowbile.) I love Sassafrass's colorful garden and Irontail's little bat and Halloween bash. This tape is incredible. All the quotes are so memorable, everyone knows what you're talking about when you mention them. I guess everyone's seen these videos at some point or other. And who couldn't like 'em?

This is such a great movie!
I remember seeing this movie on TV as a child and I loved it. I loved the imagination of the story, the characters, the songs, the wonderful and vibrant colors and tapestry and the humor that makes this an outstanding and memorable movie. Just writing this brings back warm memories! If you liked the Rudolph and Frosty the Snowman movies, you will definitely like this one.

Join Peter on his bunny trail
First of all, it's a Rankin/Bass animagic special, so I think I could just stop there, because that says it all!
This is a great Easter movie, with Peter Cottontail learning about responsibility in order to be the head bunny.The Characters are wonderful as usual, An evil bunny, french caterpillar, and a talking Easter bonnet joining Peter in his journey back in time.It is Set in the beautiful April Valley and narrated by Sassafras(Danny Kaye), with, as always, great songs. My faves being "Here Comes Peter Cottontail" and "If I could Only Get Back to Yesterday".
Also, as extra value for money, you get one of R/Bs cartoon features, "Puss In Boots".I don't know how many of you would remember these cartoons, but the introductions starts with a book spiralling into the centre of the screen.It then opens up and says Rankin Bass presents.......whatever cartoon it is, then all the different characters walk over a rainbow.When I started watching it, all these memories started flooding back to me from when I was little, it was such good fun to watch.Definitely worth having.
I am in my twenties and still enjoy watching R/B productions, true, that is because I grew up with them, but anybody who hasn't tried some Rankin/Bass, please do, you will be pleasantly suprised!

Bass and Rankin
Come on you know you want it. With all these violent japanimation type cartoons its nice to be able to show your kids the stuff you grew up on. I didn't rememer that Casey Casem was the rabbit but it was funny to see him do it.

Kinda Goofy - And chaotic
Cram every holiday into one movie and see if the kids can make sense of it.This is not one of the better of these kind of movies. Certainly not as bad as Rudolph's Shiny New Year which randomy introduces all kinds of weird characters. Get all of the other holiday movies before this one. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

A Unique Look at a Unique Man
After watching Life and Times of Hank Greenberg, I was still really in a documentary mood, so I decided to check out Goldwyn - The Man and His Movies, another documentary about someone I was familiar with, but didn't really know a lot about. With Life and Times of Hank Greenberg, the documentary focuses on a man really loved and respected by many people. Throughout the documentary, there are people who talk about the fact that Hank was their hero, their role model. Goldwyn - The Man and His Movies is a little different: almost everyone interviewed about Samuel Goldwyn mentioned at least once the fact they couldn't stand working with the often abusive and caustic Goldwyn.

Loved or hated, Goldwyn was certainly a Hollywood luminary who went to amazing lengths to insure that he had the final word on what went up on the screen. Considered by most to be a phenomenal success, Goldwyn always seemed to be fighting an uphill battle against insurmountable odds. A true film genius who is known for the mantra "make less films, make better films", Goldwyn always seemed to be at war with everything around him, while constantly doing what he could to 'fit in'.

What I really liked about Goldwyn - The Man and His Movies was the deep sense of irony in the story of Samuel Goldwyn and how his triumphs seemed to be worse for him than his tragedies. Goldwyn - The Man and His Movies does a great job of brining together the many people touched by Samuel Goldwyn to present a unique look at one of Hollywood's most interesting moguls.

[Geoffrey Kleinman, DVDTalk.com]

Just fine, except for two unpardonable errors
I caught part of this program when it aired on PBS locally Sunday night, and I caught the rest last night on its second airing. On nearly all counts, it is a fine program, featuring not only clips from all of Goldwyn's famous films (including the long unseen 1959 "Porgy and Bess"), but interviews from many departed screen stars such as Bette Davis, Dana Andrews, and Laurence Olivier, all shown, thankfully, not at the end of their careers and in failing health, but in interviews made as long as twenty years ago. The funniest clip is a display of Olivier's towering acting skills when he immitates Goldwyn's voice as he reacted to Olivier's appearance during the filming of the 1939 "Wuthering Heights", one of the screen's greatest classics. Family members are also interviewed, giving sometimes poignant insights into Goldwyn's relationships with people.

However, this film does feature two howling errors which could easily have been avoided by more careful research. A. Scott Berg, author of the biography on which this documentary is based, is also responsible for the script here, and is featured heavily in interviews, so it is difficult to understand how on earth he could have missed these errors, but during the "Porgy and Bess" segment, we hear the narrator baldly stating that Goldwyn had loved it ever since he had seen it onstage in 1932, and that the 1959 film won three Academy Awards. In fact, "Porgy and Bess" opened on Broadway on October 10, 1935, and the 1959 film won only one Academy Award (for Best Adaptation of Score). In addition, it actually LOST three Academy Awards-- to the year's blockbuster, "Ben-Hur".

I watched this segment twice in two days to make sure my ears were not playing tricks on me, and sure enough, the errors were there. The "American Masters" TV series usually produces completely accurate programs, but this time someone was asleep at the wheel when it came to proofreading the script or doing the research. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Have you ever wished for a classic Easter special to show yourkids? Here Comes Peter Cottontail is a Rankin & Bass productionthat bears a marked similarity to the beloved Santa Claus Is Coming toTown.Narrator Seymour S. Sassafrass, voiced and sung byDanny Kaye, takes young viewers on a tour of the mythical April Valley andrelates the story of how Peter Cottontail almost failed in his quest tobecome Chief Easter Bunny.Sassafrass peers into his magic egg, and viewers are introduced to Peter Cottontail--a spunky, ingenious young rabbit who is boastful, is prone to fibbing, and lacks a sense of responsibility.In orderto become Chief Easter Bunny, Peter Cottontail must defeat the evilIrontail in a contest to deliver the most eggs on Easter Sunday.Throughhis trials, Peter Cottontail discovers the value of ingenuity, theimportance of placing duty before pleasure, and the folly of self-conceit.

Here Comes Peter Cottontail features catchy songs, great 1970sstop-motion animation, and a fun Easter tale.Parents will find themselves reminiscing over holidays gone by or wondering how they missed this show in their own childhood.The 2 and up crowd will be begging for anothershowing long after the Easter candy is a distant memory. --TamiHoriuchi ... Read more

Reviews (17)

Best Easter mini-movie Ever!!
Every year I watch this. It's amazing. Seymour S. Sassafrass is totally lovable. Peter Cottontail and Bonnie are too cute. Antoine the inchworm is adorable too. Vincent Price is wonderfully evil as Irontail. The story is thoroughly enjoyable as Peter sails through all the holidays of the year trying to save April Valley by giving out more eggs than his rival, Irontail, and become Chief Easter Bunny. I love the music, especially "If I could only get back to yesterday." (And he can, with the Yester-morrowbile.) I love Sassafrass's colorful garden and Irontail's little bat and Halloween bash. This tape is incredible. All the quotes are so memorable, everyone knows what you're talking about when you mention them. I guess everyone's seen these videos at some point or other. And who couldn't like 'em?

This is such a great movie!
I remember seeing this movie on TV as a child and I loved it. I loved the imagination of the story, the characters, the songs, the wonderful and vibrant colors and tapestry and the humor that makes this an outstanding and memorable movie. Just writing this brings back warm memories! If you liked the Rudolph and Frosty the Snowman movies, you will definitely like this one.

Join Peter on his bunny trail
First of all, it's a Rankin/Bass animagic special, so I think I could just stop there, because that says it all!
This is a great Easter movie, with Peter Cottontail learning about responsibility in order to be the head bunny.The Characters are wonderful as usual, An evil bunny, french caterpillar, and a talking Easter bonnet joining Peter in his journey back in time.It is Set in the beautiful April Valley and narrated by Sassafras(Danny Kaye), with, as always, great songs. My faves being "Here Comes Peter Cottontail" and "If I could Only Get Back to Yesterday".
Also, as extra value for money, you get one of R/Bs cartoon features, "Puss In Boots".I don't know how many of you would remember these cartoons, but the introductions starts with a book spiralling into the centre of the screen.It then opens up and says Rankin Bass presents.......whatever cartoon it is, then all the different characters walk over a rainbow.When I started watching it, all these memories started flooding back to me from when I was little, it was such good fun to watch.Definitely worth having.
I am in my twenties and still enjoy watching R/B productions, true, that is because I grew up with them, but anybody who hasn't tried some Rankin/Bass, please do, you will be pleasantly suprised!

Bass and Rankin
Come on you know you want it. With all these violent japanimation type cartoons its nice to be able to show your kids the stuff you grew up on. I didn't rememer that Casey Casem was the rabbit but it was funny to see him do it.

Kinda Goofy - And chaotic
Cram every holiday into one movie and see if the kids can make sense of it.This is not one of the better of these kind of movies. Certainly not as bad as Rudolph's Shiny New Year which randomy introduces all kinds of weird characters. Get all of the other holiday movies before this one. ... Read more