Description

In TEACHER’S PET, film legend Clark Gable stars as Jim Gannon, a school-of-hard-knocks newspaperman who despises journalism schools... until he sees who's doing the teaching. Attracted to lovely professor Erica Stone (Day), he masquerades as a novice in her class. Soon he's her prize pupil, all the while trying to make her his own prize. ... Read more

Reviews (18)

NOT A PET FAVORITE
Doris! The perky big band singer of whom Oscar Levant once quipped "I knew Doris Day before she was a virgin." I thought back to my visit to Carmel, California, a few years ago, where I dropped by the golf course to glimpse her house ...briefly visible from hole three. (Listen real carefully and you can hear her dogs barking.) I thought back to my beloved Great Dane, she with the baby blue eyes --- was named in honor of Doris, though Dory (for short) was actually named by the breeder from whom I purchased the 186-pound beauty.
And I thought back to the first (and only time) I had chatted with Doris Day. It was the January 28, 1986 --- the day the Challenger had exploded, killing her seven crew members (including Sharon Christa McAuliffe, America's first teacher in space), 73 seconds after launch.
I called Doris at her Carmel, California, home, and was in tears.
"Can you believe what happened," she asked her voice muffled and mournful. "I am so shocked. Those poor men and women. Their families ... the children ..." The tears flowed freely for several minutes. She cried. I cried. We both cried. This, I thought between tears, is going to be some challenge.
After a few minutes, she sniffled one last time. And so we began to chat about her life and loves and long career --- Doris was starting a new talk show, and Rock Hudson --- then so deadly sick with the AIDS virus --- was the first guest), her films, her music and of course, her animals. She told me how she cooked her own dog food, steaming rice and boiling chopped beef, then skimming off the fat, before blending in freshly cooked vegetables and a hint of spice. At the end of the conversation, I was salivating and ready to drop to all fours and beg for a taste.
As luck would have it, I am not the only one thinking about Doris Day these days. Paramount Home Video has just released Teacher's Pet, the 1958 comedy in which Clark Gable stars as a hard-nosed newspaperman who's smitten with journalism teacher DD. Not a great film --- gee, did Gable really so badly? --- though the title song is super, as is Mamie van Doren, as Gable's galpal who sings "The Girl Who Invented Rock and Roll." A better flick is Day's last one: With Six You Get Eggroll, also from Paramount Home Video,the 1968 blended family comedy, with Day solidly supported by Pat Carroll, as well as Alice Ghostley, George Carlin, Barbara Hershey, Jamie Farr and the once-hot rock group, The Grass Roots.
Warner Home Video has just released the box set, Doris Day Collection, a slipcased collectible featuring six new-to-DVD titles: Young Man With a Horn (1950), Lullaby of Broadway (1951), Please Don't Eat the Daisies (1962), The Glass Bottom Boat (1966) and newly restored versions of Love Me Or Leave Me (1955) and Billy Rose's Jumbo (1962)--- both of which feature new Dolby Digital soundtracks making Doris seem as fresh as, well, a new Day; along with Calamity Jane (1953) and The Pajama Game (1957), both of which have been repackaged for this collection. All the discs are packed with bonus features, including vintage shorts (including two starring Ruth Etting, whom Day portrays in Love Me or Leave Me), featurettes, cartoons and trailers.
But the best is saved for last. On June 28, MPI Media Group unveils the long-awaited The Doris Day Show: Season 1, the heart-warming comedy series that ran on CBS from 1968-1973. This was Day's TV series debut, and she proved that her big-screen likeability transferred, quite well thank you, to the small screen ... even if some of closer-ups seem a bit too gauzy for our tastes. Day played Doris Martin, a widowed mother who leaves the city to raise her two young sons on the Mill Valley, California farm of her father Buck, played by Dukes of Hazzard icon Denver Pyle. The four-disc box set includes all 28 original episodes from the show's first season, as well as never-before-seen bonus material.The bonuses offer additional insight into Day's warm, off-screen persona: there are TV promos and messages to network affiliates, as well as her two appearances as the "mystery guest" on What's My Line --- the first spot, from 1954, marked Day's TV debut, and her attempts to disguise her voice through a series of hi-pitched squeaks is a sheer delight.

This movie should stay after class and clean the erasers.
There's nothing like a good Mamie Van Doren movie, and this is nothing like a good Mamie Van Doren movie. Now I love Mamie, I'm passionate about Doris, and no girl with a pulse can keep her eyes off of Clark Gable and his potato ears, but I'd think twice before watching this boring thing. Not even Mamie's
Richter-scale sex appeal can liven up this dud. I'd suggest the vastly superior "Pillow Talk," "High School Confidential," "His Girl Friday," or even the sub-par but tasty "Thrill of it All." Skip this one.

Entertaining comic 'Battle of the Sexes'!
"Teacher's Pet" is a deliciously funny look at journalism, and the clash between 'formal' education vs. practical experience, with higher learning championed by Doris Day, and the 'School of Hard Knocks' represented by the 'King', himself, Clark Gable. Despite an obvious age difference (Gable, at 57, was showing all of his years), the chemistry between the stars is electric, and with Oscar-nominated Gig Young providing terrific comic support as Gable's brilliant yet down-to-earth competition for Day, the film manages to be both witty and wise.

With over a quarter century of playing newspapermen, the role of hard-boiled City Editor Jim Gannon fit Clark Gable like an old shoe. No-nonsense, pragmatic, and a workaholic, Gannon was the classic 'school drop-out' who learned the newspaper business from the ground up, and held college in contempt. While Gannon was obviously a dinosaur, even by 1950s' standards, Gable appears to be having a ball as the cigarette-smoking, plain-spoken, 'blue-collar' hero.

Despite the constant "Will she or Won't she?" sexual undercurrent of so many of her best comedies of the fifties and early sixties, Doris Day was also a feminist during the era, with her characters self-sufficient, and often holding down important positions based on merit. As Erica Stone, an ex-reporter who returns to college to teach journalism, her demeanor is professional and her knowledge unimpeachable, making her the perfect foil for Gannon.

While the descriptions of Gannon and Stone sound like formula characters for Spencer Tracy and Katharine Hepburn (not surprisingly, as the script was penned by longtime friends Fay and Michael Kanin), the Gable/Day teaming provides a sexual tension that, by the late 1950s, would have been far less apparent had Tracy and Hepburn taken the roles. Even at the twilight of his career, Gable was so totally 'male' that he raised the bar of any actress opposite him, with Day's signature 'perkiness' transformed, here, into sexual potential in a tight skirt (watch her tease Gable, swaying her hips to "The Girl Who Invented Rock and Roll"; Day has never been sexier!)

While the resolution is not surprising, some remarkably candid observations of what makes good print journalism are given by both Day and Gable, with Day's comment of television replacing newspapers as the public's source for breaking news remarkably farsighted in 1958!

If you want a terrific comedy with two stars at the top of their game, look no further; "Teacher's Pet" delivers!

GABLE&DAYSCOREINGOODCOMEDY.....
Hard-as-nails, uneducated city news editor Jim Gannon (Clark Gable) sits in on a journalism class by teacher Erica Stone (Doris Day) and falls for her. Trouble is, he's posing as Jim Gallagher---a new student, because he had crassly rejected her offer to speak to her class on, what else, journalism. He has a hard nose against education since he never finished high school and believes that experience is the best teacher. She is amazed at his skill and offers to tutor him, unaware of his ruse. Complications arise from a colleague of Stone's, Hugo Pine (Gig Young) who's a world class scholar on everything. Mamie van Doren is in an all too brief role as Peggy DeVore, Gannon's girlfriend who sings at the Bongo Club and performs "The Girl Who Invented Rock & Roll". She's very funny and holds her own with Gable in the equally funny night club scene. This b&w 1958 film (scripted by Fay & Michael Kanin) has much to say on honesty and truth in journalism but also scores points on experience as well. The chemistry between Gable and Day is near perfect. Young is quietly brilliant as Hugo as well as a deft comedian and gives a very impressive interpretation of a hangover. Good supporting cast features Nick Adams as Gannon's young gofer and protege and Marion ("Happy Days") Ross as Day's savvy secretary. The DVD print is widescreen and fairly good. But what sells this film is Gable. He's supposed to be gruff and tough but his sensitivity as an actor layers his character with all the right humor, charisma and charm. He may have been aging, but he was still one of the best actors ever to cross the screen. Enjoy.

"Experience Is the Horse, Education Is the Jockey."
I've been eagerly awaiting this DVD release for some years now, and it's finally here! The pushing-60 Clark Gable--and if a more appealing man has ever lived, I'd really be interested to learn his identity--is entirely convincing as 30-something night-school adjunct Doris Day's love interest in this tale of on-the-job training vs. academia. Bringing up the rear (and earning a Best Actor in a Supporting Role nomination for his efforts) are Gig Young as the egghead who's got it all...except Day, and Mamie Van Doren--hilarious in a small part as "The Girl Who Invented Rock 'n' Roll." Forces join seamlessly to provide truly witty, tasteful comedy (they not only DON'T make them like this anymore, I don't think they CAN) as worlds collide with delightful results.
The print isn't bad; it's anamorphic and I'm going to assume the the aspect ratio is correct (although we're given no specifics as to what it is). There's some shimmer but not enough to be truly distracting; the sound is fine. Unfortunately, there are no end credits, and since it seems to me that it has always been Paramount's habit to use them, I have to conclude that they exist and that the home video division was too lazy to bother including them on the disk, which is housed in a nice, locking keep case. There are NO extras, not even an insert with a chapter index, and the only subtitles are English--no captioning for the hearing-impaired (ironically, given the film's subject, whoever transcribed the subtitles was unaware of the gerund "their" and mistakenly used "there" in a scene near the end; a sad indication that even today's formally educated know zip about the proper use of their own language). It's this bare-bones quality that has cost a star, and it should be mentioned that this IS, after all, a budget release. HOWEVER, Fox titles are also very inexpensive, and they're PACKED with extras. So no excuses, Paramount. How about a little respect for the King of Hollywood?
Incidentally, Gable--a high-school dropout, not unlike the Jim Gannon character--was a self-educated man who was a voracious reader. It's often the case that, when discussing a film (either verbally or in print), the reviewer states something to the effect that one scene or another "is alone worth the price of admission/the cost of the disk," etc. There are any number of such scenes in Teacher's Pet, but if I were FORCED to choose one about which to make such a claim, it would be the one in which Gannon, in a fit of "tough love," fires his adoring young dropout protege to force him to go back to high school. He utters the phrase about spending one-third of his life going to, staying in, and coming out of men's rooms (to avoid displaying his ignorance of topics with which he's unfamiliar) with such voice-breaking conviction, that it's a safe bet Gable is drawing from personal experience. On this basis, one can assume that neither actor nor character would be caught dead using the ludicrous malapropisms that run rife through the writings of those whose education consists of watching movies and television; these include "run in the mail," "takes the price," and (my personal favorite) "from my point of you." Sigh.
Gig Young, incidentally, ended badly: I still remember the shock I experienced years ago upon learning that he'd committed suicide after murdering his (much younger) wife. And apropos of my previous assertion of Gable's appeal--which is universal--let me share a personal anecdote.
Some years back, a very young friend (mid-20's at the time) came to visit. She's Hispanic, and is about as refined, restrained, and undemonstrative a lady as one is likely to encounter. My television was tuned to TCM; Mutiny on the Bounty was being aired. My attention was on my friend, who suddenly emitted an alarming gasp that lasted a full five seconds. Her hands had involuntarily seized her chest and she croaked a strangled "Oh, my GOD." Her eyes had strayed to my set at a moment when the entire screen was filled with a closeup of the young Gable's face. She then gasped, "WHO is THAT?!"
I rest my case. ... Read more

Reviews (67)

This 1947 Thanksgiving / Christmas TRADITION now on DVD!
This Original 1947 "Miracle on 34th Street" is the one Holiday Tradition starting with the "MACY's THANKSGIVING PARADE" to Christmas Day.

Natalie Wood (is unforgetable & adorable) plays, Susie Walker an 8 year old grown-up who questions everything which is not factual or real. Her holiday skeptic single mother (Maureen O'Hara - is fantastic!) Doris, is a MACY's Junior Executive and Parade Coordinator. Prior to the Parades start Santa is fired for being drunk at the last minute. Miraculously a mysterious white bearded volunteer (Edmund Gwenn - delightful (won an Oscar))appears and saves Doris and the Parade. Hired on the spot this volunteer becomes / is Santa. Is he really Santa? Some believe he is not so he is put on trial to determine his true identity and the greatest tale since "Yes Alice there is a Santa Claus" begins.

Summary: Santa wants to prove he is real and uses Susie & Doris as his challenge to bring the holiday spirit back. If they are converted he has succeeded in bringing back the Christmas Spirit.

The actors are the best and the story is a timeless classic. A true HOLIDAY TRADITON to watch every year (or when you want to be inspired).

The "Miracle" is, the entire family can enjoy the spirit of Christmas together!!

This Black & White digitally restored FULLSCREEN DVD (before Widescreen) is beautifully reproduced.

Yes, Susie, there is a Santa Claus.
Delightful Christmas fantasy of a charming old man who believes he is Santa Claus, and the wonderful change he brings to the people around him. This perennial holiday classic is on many short-lists of the all time great Christmas movies. The film just oozes with warm-hearted humor. Very young Natalie Wood sparkles as Susan, who learns to stop being so grown up, and enjoy childhood, with all its wide-eyed wonder. Edmund Gwenn plays Kris Kringle, and lives the role. He totally connects with the kiddies who visit "Santa" at Macy's department store. The brief scene with the little Dutch refugee girl is a definite emotional high point in this movie. The combined reaction of relief and wonder in the child's face as she visits Santa and finds he speaks her language is memorable. Gene Lockhart as the harried judge, and William Frawley as his street-wise political advisor provide the needed comic relief to keep the court-room segments from becoming too overwhelmed by lawyers and their tactics. Even Jack Albertson shows up as an ingenious postal clerk who helps Kringle solve his legal problem. The on-location scenes filmed on the streets of New York assist the viewer in suspending disbelief. An enthusiastic cast, crisp direction by George Seaton, a sentimental holiday message, and great humor make this movie a solid holiday treat for the entire family. Multiple viewing only enriches the rewards. Beware remakes! ;-)

Don't let the heartwarming plot fool you...
Don't let cute little Natalie Wood and the heartwarming plot fool you... this is a wickedly funny comedy that is easily the best Christmas movie ever made.

Maureen O'Hara is wonderful as the scorned woman (isn't it funny how a female character in a romantic comedy from the 1940's is so strong and independant, while nowadays the romatic leads are usually scatterbrained flaky blondes?), and Natalie Wood steals the show as the perfectly well brought up little girl who confuses imagination with schitzophrenia ("it's when you think you see something that isn't there" she tells Kris Kringle).

I remember loving this movie as a child, but it is actually a grown-up movie. Politics, pop psychology, and commercialism all take a wicked beating... if you are looking for treakly magical endings, you might be surprised at the motives behind what finally 'saves the day.'

If you've never seen it, or if you've only seen the 1994 sacharine-sticky-sweet remake, then you must see this movie. It is great for all ages: the kids will see the heartwarming plot, and the teenagers and adults will understand the delightful cynisism that crops up in the most surprising places.

Rx - - - Revisit Annually
Unless you live under a rock, you have seen this annual favorite every Christmas. A wonderful heartwarming story to rekindle the tiniest doubter about faith and goodwill. Kris Kringle (Santa Claus) goes on trial to prove his sanity after a run in with a Macy's store psychiatrist and has to prove to the world who he is. Events will make you laugh and even cry as you feel the government come to his rescue and little Suzy's (Natalie Wood) coming of age. See the movie!!!

This Perennial Classic Shines Like New On DVD!
1947's "Miracle On 34th Street", starring the great Maureen O'Hara and Edmund Gwenn, is a motion picture that can be watched over and over again without losing one bit of its original flavor. And its flavor is quite tasty, in my opinion!

A very spunky 8-year-old Natalie Wood helps to make this movie an even bigger treat. Natalie shows an acting talent in this film that belies her tender age. She gives one of the best performances by a child actor in a film I've ever come across. "34th Street" was Natalie's 4th screen appearance, in a successful career that would eventually span 52 films before her sudden and tragic death at the age of only 43.

Miss Wood seems well-suited for her good-sized role as "Susan Walker" in this movie. She blends perfectly with the other actors, and her scenes with Gwenn (who, of course, plays the part of "Kris Kringle" to utter perfection) are highly memorable.

Could the studio have possibly found a better choice for the part of "Kris" (Santa) in this motion picture? Well, perhaps. But ONLY if the REAL Santa Claus were to have taken a break from his duties at the North Poll and played the part himself. Oh...wait...Gwenn turns out to BE the REAL Santa, doesn't he? LOL! :)

Yes, Edmund Gwenn actually DOES become "Santa Claus" for the 97-minute running time of this movie. He's *that* believable in the role. Gwenn was so good here that he won an Oscar for his memorable performance (Best Supporting Actor).

This is a perfect movie to show your children. It must be a lot of fun watching a child's reaction to seeing Mr. Gwenn's very realistic portrayal of the portly fur-clad Christmas-time gift-giver. To a child that still does believe that Mr. Claus visits his or her house every December 24, this movie must be quite an eye-opener.

This 20th-Century Fox DVD version of "Miracle On 34th Street" brings us the film in its intended (original) screen ratio of 1.33:1 (Full Frame); and the picture looks just dandy! The film, which was shot in "glorious black-and-white", exhibits outstanding clarity on this DVD. I can't spot a bit of grain or "noise". An absolutely beautiful digital transfer. Especially considering the age of this flick.

The audio comes via an English Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono soundtrack. The audio comes across nice and clean, with just a small amount of background "hiss" present. There's also a foreign-language track here, too (French). This French track (which is also 2.0 DD Mono) sounds a bit on the "muffled" side. Not nearly as clear-sounding as the English track. There are subtitles in English and Spanish.

There's not a whole lot to talk about in the way of "Special Features" for this DVD release. But there is the Original Theatrical Trailer and a short "TV Spot" advertising the movie (which is a bonus *not* shown on the DVD's packaging). Plus: there's also a small text-only area on the disc, featuring "Cast Credits".

I *must* say, however, even though we don't get many bonus extras with this title, I'm very pleased that the Trailer is included. This Theatrical Trailer is one of the very best, and most innovative, I think I've ever witnessed. It's a relatively-lengthy trailer, which features a studio executive bumping into multiple actors while on the FOX movie lot. He asks several of these actors what they thought of the just-released picture, "Miracle On 34th Street". And what he receives in return (naturally) are glowing reviews for the film.

It's a very well-done trailer, and doesn't seem overly "hokey" or staged. And it's very fun to see stars the likes of Rex Harrison and Anne Baxter pop up here, promoting "34th Street". Harrison even speaks briefly in this trailer of his then-current work on "The Ghost And Mrs. Muir", which, ironically, also featured young Miss Natalie Wood as one of Rex's co-stars. This trailer is a real treat. And it's in remarkably good shape too. Very good video quality. The audio for the trailer is in DD 2.0 Mono, and sounds just fine.

Menus .... I like a good (and simple) Menu design. And this disc has just that. The Main Menu is a "static" one, with separate links to other Sub-Menus (such as Language Selection, Chapter Listing, and Supplements). When you select any of these three items, you'll be treated to a very short (but fun and well-designed) animated transition, which then dissolves into the chosen sub-menu screen. These short "transitions" are all slightly different, with each one featuring a Christmas tune playing as "background" music as the screen fades from the Main Menu to your desired selection. This themed music seems as though it's being played over a Department Store's P.A. system (which is appropriate for this DVD, since we often hear the soft playing of Christmas tunes during the "Macy's" scenes in the film). One menu transition also features a "snowflakes falling" visual effect, along with the music. Very cleverly done, IMO.

Additional Disc Information for this title ..............................

>> Enclosures? .... Yes. There is one here. A one-page Chapter List insert is included (21 chapters), with an excellent promo picture of actors Maureen O'Hara, Natalie Wood, and John Payne on one side; and on the "Chapter" side, an image of "Kris" (Mr. Gwenn). I particularly like the fact that FOX Home Entertainment used a different picture for the insert than what we see on the front cover (normally on DVDs, the two pictures are identical). I might also add, in case one or two picky people might be interested in such trivial matters, that this insert is made out of better-quality (thicker) paper than what we usually see for such paper enclosures.

>> Region? .... This is a "Region 1" (NTSC) disc. Single-sided.

"Miracle On 34th Street" is one of those films that deserves to be seen more than once, and not only in the month of December either (IMO). It holds up very well even in the summer months. And this clear-as-a-bell DVD from FOX Home Entertainment makes viewing this 1947 classic an even more enjoyable experience -- no matter if it's in December, March, or August. ... Read more

Reviews (50)

The Widescreen version on DVD was worth the wait!
This movie is based on the first novel I read in high school. The book was both engaging and suspenseful and the film brings it to life on the screen (right down to verbatim dialog from the book). When I saw this film in the theater the first time I was blown away.

Veteran film makers Ross Hunter and George Seaton gather an excellent cast and crew to do justice to the book (material not used in this film was developed to make Airport '75). It's no wonder the film, though panned by critics of its time, garnered 10 Academy Award Nominations, including Best Picture (Helen Hayes received the Best Supporting Actress award)!

This is a must film for those who are fans of its genre. A 30 year anniversary documentary of the film would still have been an appropriate tribute to honor all those involved with its making (many are no longer with us). Remastering it digitally in its original widescreen presentation is quite an improvement!...

This is where it all began
There have been a few disasters and monsters before this movie. However this is the one credited as the beginning of the airplay disaster movies. These have included some sequels and even the "Air Plane" spoofs.
It is fun to look back at the different actors and remember or see them for the first time in a younger body.
The film has several overlapping and intertwining stories; some of the stories seem like soap operas.
A few mentionable scenarios are Mel Bakersfield (Burt Lancaster); airport manager is accused of placing his work before his family. He gets berated in the middle of a crisis by his probably to be ex-wife Cindy Bakersfeld (Dana Winter). Does he also get distracted by his beautiful and efficient assistant? Throw in a pilot playboy, Capt. Vernon Demerest (Dean Martin) that is forced to evaluate fatherhood. For comic relief we have Ada Quonsett a geriatric stowaway. Then for the drama there is someone who has nothing to lose and everything to gain if the plane mysteriously does not reach its destination; the man with an attaché case D. O. Guerrero (Van Heflin.)
I am not going to go through the whole story it is for fun if you get to speculate on what is going to happen. How ever I must say one of my favorite characters is Joe Patroni (George Kennedy) operations chief that is tasked with clearing the runway of a stuck 707. See him again as the corrupt lawyer, Uncle Andrew, in Agatha Christie's "Death on the Nile."

Airport
The movie Was Well Made.ive seen this more than 20 times.The cast was great.I liked Helen Hayes she was funny.

good but not great
One of those All-Star production during the seventies.
Much better than the following Airport-Films.
A sentimental Oscar for Helen Hayes,she was really a great actress,but her performance was only solide and not outstanding.
Maureen Stapleton gives the best and greatest performance in this
film,her role was small but but most interesting.The Academy Award had should goes to her.Fine Turns by Lancaster and Martin.

Still a Thrill
Burt Lancaster and Dean Martin star in this film about life and work around an airport for the employees and passengers. It is a mix of suspense and drama, of the sort that is still a thrill today, and while airports were safer during this time, the film exposes the caps that were apparent even then.

Dean Martin's performance is especially memorable, as it is very different from his work with Jerry Lewis or parts thereafter (no singing). However, in the form of a brainy teener there is still something of a Jerry Lewis-type-character for the man of "That's Amore" to contend with. A film that will entertain and intrigue! ... Read more

Description

In THE COUNTRY GIRL, Frank Elgin (Crosby) is a washed up actor given the chance of a lifetime to stage a comeback when director Bernie Dobb, played by William Holden, offers him the lead in a new musical.Suffering from extreme insecurity, Frank turns to his wife Georgie (Kelly) to make decisions for him, and she teams up with Bernie to boost Frank’s self-esteem despite the fact that she has grown sick of dealing with her husband’s problems. ... Read more

Reviews (16)

The Dramatic Bing Crosby
Many fans of Bing Crosby shy away from this film, because in "The Country Girl" we do not see the Bing Crosby we are used to seeing in film. Gone is the happy-go-lucky crooner who gets the girl by just exercising his vocal cords. This movie is no light fluff with Mr. Crosby playing a washed up actor with the overrated Grace Kelly as his long suffering wife.

The movie was originally a play by Clifford Odets, starring the long forgotten actor Paul Kelly. Bing really stretched his acting ability in this film, and he should of won an Oscar. (Marlon Brando won that year.) Grace Kelly won the Oscar for her role though. William Holden is also very good as the director of the show that hopes to bring Bing back in from the gutter.

If you are looking for a light hearted romp, well this is not it. However, the film is a great dramatic piece, and one of the best of the 1950s. Originally, Bing had wanted Jennifer Jones as his wife in the movie. However, after the film started shooting Bing and Grace Kelly began dating. (Kelly would also date William Holden!) "The Country Girl" may not be for everyone, but if you want to see Bing Crosby as a true actor, then don't miss this one...

Grace Kelly In A Much-Deserved Oscar Role!
In March of 1955, Grace Kelly won an Academy Award for her portrayal of Georgie Elgin, wife of a drunk once big-shot singer and actor Frank, played beautifully by Bing Crosby in his best role. Frank wants to make a comeback to the stage in a new play under the eye of young director Bernie Dodd (William Holden) in which he gets a lead. However, the play turns to disaster when Dodd finds out about Elgin's private life by assistance of Georgie and Frank himself; hearing that his four year old boy was killed in a car accident. Since then, Georgie had become reckless, even setting fire to a hotel. She interferes with the play's profduction and reminds Frank of his errors and that perhaps he shouldn't become involved with this director. A greatly devised film of a man's comeback to the stage and the consequences that follow. Since I personally have a particular homage to "On The Waterfront," which won 1954's Best Picture award, I felt that there should've been a tie between these two motion pictures. Oh well, the rest as they say is history!

Who knew Bing could act?
Good movie; great performances! Grace Kelly won the Oscar and she was up against Judy Garland ("A Star Is Born") AND Audrey Hepburn ("Sabrina") - amazing. Bing didn't win, but he was up against Marlon Brando (who won), Humphrey Bogard AND James Mason - quite a line up! Anyway, I was shocked at the excellence of Bing's acting - a tribute to the director.

The Country Girl
An inocuous title for a truly remarkable film. Bing gives us a complete departure from his jocular "Road " films and encapsulates the real meaning of an Oscar performance in his tragic portrayal of a struggling alcoholic actor. Grace is the personification of the long suffering wife, yearning to be free of the emotional tribulations of devistating loss - of love, of spirit, of child. Although Grace Kelly is the only actor to win an Oscar nod in this film, it remains a study for students of the arts in its depths of emotion across the character board. I recommend this film to anyone who enjoys truly well made films.

Really a good film!
This film with Bing Crosby, William Holden, and Grace Kelly is wonderful. It's entertaining,romantic and also very sad. It has the main ingredients, that make a great film. It's well worth seeing. Bing Crosby plays Grace's husband who suffer's from alcholism and a infatuation develops between her and Hilden, but she goes back to her husband and loves him and is determined to tryo to help him.

Grace Kelly is beautiful and glamerous in it, and her costumes are really lovely, even though they are plainer and more simpler they look great on her. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Supporting Military Cast Are Not Actors in This Film
One thing overlooked in other reviews, which I am in agreement with over the quality of this film, is that the military people in this film are actually the people serving in the hosting Airforce Unit in Germany at the time. When I first saw it on late night television, I noticed the very real radio chatter that went on in the aircraft and most of all Clift's commanding officer, who had such an un-hollywood demeanor that I wondered where they got this guy and/or who was the genius directing this that created this take on this character. Then when the credits came, I saw that he was the serving commanding officer of the Airforce outfit: he was just being himself (and his "performance" will surprise many who only know the "cartoon version" of military people). And he's not the only one: they show all the "actors" one at a time in formation at the end (the military folks). Good stuff (and as a former military man myself, I found it very refreshing to see this sort of non-cartoonish depiction of military characters in this film).
This film is a great product of it's time, the era which gave us "Third Man" and a few other of the great "Cold War" Noir films (some day "Night People" with Gregory Peck and Buddy Ebsen will come out on Dvd, too!).

You can't go wrong.

Classic BW love story during Berlin airlift + real footage
This classic black and white film is an intriguingly original and often humorous love story about an American pilot who falls in love with an eloquent German woman during the Berlin airlift. The pilot's cynical buddy, who suffered greatly at the hands of the Nazis in WWII, tries to dissuade his friend from falling for this "Kraut" but to no avail. The film contains many insightful and thought provoking comments on the nature of WWII, the USA, democracy, the Germans, and love itself. Although not a 5 star flick of the calibre of "The Third Man" this film has many similar flickers of genius and a clever twist.

Edward Deskur

Low-Key, Well-Acted, Enjoyable Film Featuring a Great Actor
I got into Montgomery Clift movies during my teen years, ever since being "forced" to sit through "From Here to Eternity" at my aunt and uncle's house on Thanksgiving Day (I lost out at the video store when all of my relatives disagreed with my selection of "Ghostbusters 2"...pathetic, I know, but I was only 14). Needless to say I was awed by "Eternity" and over the years have seen just about every film in which Monty Clift appeared. Sure, everybody likes "A Place in the Sun" and "The Heiress", but most of his movies, in my opinion, were underrated. "I Confess" (directed by Hitchcock), "Wild River" (directed by Elia Kazan, but unfortunately not yet on videotape), and "The Young Lions" (with Brando) are well worth seeing. One of Monty's earliest films, "The Search" is also a gem and quite similar in style and theme to "The Big Lift". The latter film is part of my video collection and one which I enjoy watching every year or so (and I'm not saying that just because I'm now in the Air Force! ). Monty is at his best in this film and he plays the type of role at which he was most exceptional: the low-key guy with a heart of gold, the kind of guy you'd want for a friend, a co-worker, or as a date for your little sister. :) It pains me to think that Monty's career died out in the early 1960s and that the actor himself perished in 1966 as a result of years of substance abuse. I believe that had he lived, he would have made a comeback, perhaps on television in a "Dynasty"-type show (that, however, is a scary thought). So, in a nutshell, "The Big Lift" is an excellent film, a good choice for film buffs, and an absolute must for Montgomery Clift fans. Incidentally, it is much preferrable to view this movie on videotape rather than on a television network --- I sat through it once on American Movie Classics and it was a frustrating experience: the film quality was grainy, very dark, and "jumpy". BUY IT INSTEAD.

Interesting view of the human element of Berlin Airlift.
Putting aside the love story at its center, this film provides a timely view of the Berlin Airlift. Film was shot on location in Germany during or shortly after the Berlin Airlift (June '48-Jul '49). The film accurately documents Airlift operations, including the hazards crews faced (harressment from Soviet fighters, bad weather), and innovations (such as Precision Approach Radar) employed to make the airlift successful. Having lived in Germany, I think the film also presents a revealing and truthful insight into the human side of the airlift, to include living conditions and beliefs in post-war Berlin. The attitudes and philosophies expressed by the four main characters and their associates are representative of the era. Overall, this film has good flying scenes and a good human interest plot. ... Read more

Reviews (50)

The Widescreen version on DVD was worth the wait!
This movie is based on the first novel I read in high school. The book was both engaging and suspenseful and the film brings it to life on the screen (right down to verbatim dialog from the book). When I saw this film in the theater the first time I was blown away.

Veteran film makers Ross Hunter and George Seaton gather an excellent cast and crew to do justice to the book (material not used in this film was developed to make Airport '75). It's no wonder the film, though panned by critics of its time, garnered 10 Academy Award Nominations, including Best Picture (Helen Hayes received the Best Supporting Actress award)!

This is a must film for those who are fans of its genre. A 30 year anniversary documentary of the film would still have been an appropriate tribute to honor all those involved with its making (many are no longer with us). Remastering it digitally in its original widescreen presentation is quite an improvement!...

This is where it all began
There have been a few disasters and monsters before this movie. However this is the one credited as the beginning of the airplay disaster movies. These have included some sequels and even the "Air Plane" spoofs.
It is fun to look back at the different actors and remember or see them for the first time in a younger body.
The film has several overlapping and intertwining stories; some of the stories seem like soap operas.
A few mentionable scenarios are Mel Bakersfield (Burt Lancaster); airport manager is accused of placing his work before his family. He gets berated in the middle of a crisis by his probably to be ex-wife Cindy Bakersfeld (Dana Winter). Does he also get distracted by his beautiful and efficient assistant? Throw in a pilot playboy, Capt. Vernon Demerest (Dean Martin) that is forced to evaluate fatherhood. For comic relief we have Ada Quonsett a geriatric stowaway. Then for the drama there is someone who has nothing to lose and everything to gain if the plane mysteriously does not reach its destination; the man with an attaché case D. O. Guerrero (Van Heflin.)
I am not going to go through the whole story it is for fun if you get to speculate on what is going to happen. How ever I must say one of my favorite characters is Joe Patroni (George Kennedy) operations chief that is tasked with clearing the runway of a stuck 707. See him again as the corrupt lawyer, Uncle Andrew, in Agatha Christie's "Death on the Nile."

Airport
The movie Was Well Made.ive seen this more than 20 times.The cast was great.I liked Helen Hayes she was funny.

good but not great
One of those All-Star production during the seventies.
Much better than the following Airport-Films.
A sentimental Oscar for Helen Hayes,she was really a great actress,but her performance was only solide and not outstanding.
Maureen Stapleton gives the best and greatest performance in this
film,her role was small but but most interesting.The Academy Award had should goes to her.Fine Turns by Lancaster and Martin.

Still a Thrill
Burt Lancaster and Dean Martin star in this film about life and work around an airport for the employees and passengers. It is a mix of suspense and drama, of the sort that is still a thrill today, and while airports were safer during this time, the film exposes the caps that were apparent even then.

Dean Martin's performance is especially memorable, as it is very different from his work with Jerry Lewis or parts thereafter (no singing). However, in the form of a brainy teener there is still something of a Jerry Lewis-type-character for the man of "That's Amore" to contend with. A film that will entertain and intrigue! ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Supporting Military Cast Are Not Actors in This Film
One thing overlooked in other reviews, which I am in agreement with over the quality of this film, is that the military people in this film are actually the people serving in the hosting Airforce Unit in Germany at the time. When I first saw it on late night television, I noticed the very real radio chatter that went on in the aircraft and most of all Clift's commanding officer, who had such an un-hollywood demeanor that I wondered where they got this guy and/or who was the genius directing this that created this take on this character. Then when the credits came, I saw that he was the serving commanding officer of the Airforce outfit: he was just being himself (and his "performance" will surprise many who only know the "cartoon version" of military people). And he's not the only one: they show all the "actors" one at a time in formation at the end (the military folks). Good stuff (and as a former military man myself, I found it very refreshing to see this sort of non-cartoonish depiction of military characters in this film).
This film is a great product of it's time, the era which gave us "Third Man" and a few other of the great "Cold War" Noir films (some day "Night People" with Gregory Peck and Buddy Ebsen will come out on Dvd, too!).

You can't go wrong.

Classic BW love story during Berlin airlift + real footage
This classic black and white film is an intriguingly original and often humorous love story about an American pilot who falls in love with an eloquent German woman during the Berlin airlift. The pilot's cynical buddy, who suffered greatly at the hands of the Nazis in WWII, tries to dissuade his friend from falling for this "Kraut" but to no avail. The film contains many insightful and thought provoking comments on the nature of WWII, the USA, democracy, the Germans, and love itself. Although not a 5 star flick of the calibre of "The Third Man" this film has many similar flickers of genius and a clever twist.

Edward Deskur

Low-Key, Well-Acted, Enjoyable Film Featuring a Great Actor
I got into Montgomery Clift movies during my teen years, ever since being "forced" to sit through "From Here to Eternity" at my aunt and uncle's house on Thanksgiving Day (I lost out at the video store when all of my relatives disagreed with my selection of "Ghostbusters 2"...pathetic, I know, but I was only 14). Needless to say I was awed by "Eternity" and over the years have seen just about every film in which Monty Clift appeared. Sure, everybody likes "A Place in the Sun" and "The Heiress", but most of his movies, in my opinion, were underrated. "I Confess" (directed by Hitchcock), "Wild River" (directed by Elia Kazan, but unfortunately not yet on videotape), and "The Young Lions" (with Brando) are well worth seeing. One of Monty's earliest films, "The Search" is also a gem and quite similar in style and theme to "The Big Lift". The latter film is part of my video collection and one which I enjoy watching every year or so (and I'm not saying that just because I'm now in the Air Force! ). Monty is at his best in this film and he plays the type of role at which he was most exceptional: the low-key guy with a heart of gold, the kind of guy you'd want for a friend, a co-worker, or as a date for your little sister. :) It pains me to think that Monty's career died out in the early 1960s and that the actor himself perished in 1966 as a result of years of substance abuse. I believe that had he lived, he would have made a comeback, perhaps on television in a "Dynasty"-type show (that, however, is a scary thought). So, in a nutshell, "The Big Lift" is an excellent film, a good choice for film buffs, and an absolute must for Montgomery Clift fans. Incidentally, it is much preferrable to view this movie on videotape rather than on a television network --- I sat through it once on American Movie Classics and it was a frustrating experience: the film quality was grainy, very dark, and "jumpy". BUY IT INSTEAD.

Interesting view of the human element of Berlin Airlift.
Putting aside the love story at its center, this film provides a timely view of the Berlin Airlift. Film was shot on location in Germany during or shortly after the Berlin Airlift (June '48-Jul '49). The film accurately documents Airlift operations, including the hazards crews faced (harressment from Soviet fighters, bad weather), and innovations (such as Precision Approach Radar) employed to make the airlift successful. Having lived in Germany, I think the film also presents a revealing and truthful insight into the human side of the airlift, to include living conditions and beliefs in post-war Berlin. The attitudes and philosophies expressed by the four main characters and their associates are representative of the era. Overall, this film has good flying scenes and a good human interest plot. ... Read more

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Miracle on 34th Street (1947)
The original 1947 version of this Valentine Davies story follows the misadventures of Kris Kringle (Edmund Gwenn) as he gets a job playing Santa Claus at Macy's department store in New York City. Natalie Wood is the little girl who tells him she doesn't believe in Santa, and Maureen O'Hara and John Payne are the couple who help Kris through a trial in which he must prove he's the jolly fellow from the North Pole. A sweet movie and perennial Christmas favorite, this is one of those movies that gets under your skin and must be revisited every so often. --Tom Keogh

It's a Wonderful Life
Now perhaps the most beloved American film, It's a Wonderful Life was largely forgotten for years, due to a copyright quirk. Only in the late 1970s did it find its audience through repeated TV showings. Frank Capra's masterwork deserves its status as a feel-good communal event, but it is also one of the most fascinating films in the American cinema, a multilayered work of Dickensian density. George Bailey (played superbly by James Stewart) grows up in the small town of Bedford Falls, dreaming dreams of adventure and travel, but circumstances conspire to keep him enslaved to his home turf. Frustrated by his life, and haunted by an impending scandal, George prepares to commit suicide on Christmas Eve. A heavenly messenger (Henry Travers) arrives to show him a vision: what the world would have been like if George had never been born. The sequence is a vivid depiction of the American Dream gone bad, and probably the wildest thing Capra ever shot (the director's optimistic vision may have darkened during his experiences making military films in World War II). Capra's triumph is to acknowledge the difficulties and disappointments of life, while affirming--in the teary-eyed final reel--his cherished values of friendship and individual achievement. It's a Wonderful Life was not a big hit on its initial release, and it won no Oscars (Capra and Stewart were nominated); but it continues to weave a special magic. --Robert Horton ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Disaster DVD
I Love this DVD The Video is much clearer and better than I expected, as no restoration has taken place. The colors are vibrant and deep. The audio is clear and in full surround.
The movie it's self is of coures the grandfather of all disaster films. And the best I might add.

Now all we need is the other disaster films from ther 70's, and 80's to be placed on DVD!

(Full Screen Version) ... Read more