New Faces (1954)

A young Eartha Kitt lights up the stage with sparkling song-and-dance numbers written by none other than Mel (as Melvin) Brooks (1954/color/98 min.)! Also included is an episode of Stage Show hosted by the Dorsey Brothers and featuring Sarah Vaughan (1961/b&w/55 min.) NR. Product Description

New faces of 1952

One of my favourite films, it was lifted directly from the Broadway smash hit. I've waited long years for its release. An early Cinemeascope film, it exploited the increased width of field best seen in the full cast production numbers. This show launched several careers. Robert Clary went on principally to Hogan's Heroes. Ronny Graham appeared in several TV sitcoms and Mel Brooks movies. (Mel was a co-writer of the sketches in this show.) Paul Lynde made several comedy appearances as well as TV sitcoms and his own TV show. Alice Ghostley also went into TV sitcoms and movies, most notably "Grease". One of the revue's songs, "Guess who I saw today?", was delivered in a deadpan fashion but was to be picked up years later by Nancy Wilson who turned it into a stunning torch song. For me the star of the show was the then newly-discovered Eartha Kitt. She sings "Santa Baby", "Uska Dara", "C'est si bon" and the showstopper "Monotonous" which shows us why Orson Welles labelled her the sexiest woman on the planet. This DVD has been lifted directly from a mediocre film print with patchy colour, splices and some image and sound damage. Still, for me, better than no release at all. May 12, 2007

New Faces Obliterated?

This is the WORST transfer of a movie that I have ever seen. Does Twentieth Century Fox know what was done with this movie? They released it originally but I guess they are not responsible for the devastation that has ensued. It is so poorly done that there are wavy lines at times and the color goes in and out. It was supposed to be a digital transfer but it is a travesty. This should never have been allowed to be released. The original company that did this, CCM, should be severely chastized for even thinking about putting their name on it! May 12, 2007

Bad reproduction of a great movie!

the imaging is very blurry. Too bad. The CD is great! March 23, 2007

ENTERTAINMENT HISTORY!

BOUGHT THIS DVD TO GET EARTHA KITT'S PERFORMANCES AND OF COURSE SHE
WAS GREAT! THE FILMING AND EDITING ARE A LITTLE DATED, BUT AS PART OF
ENTERTAINMENT HISTORY IT IS ABSOLUTELY VIEWABLE. November 29, 2006

New Faces

If, like me, you were hankering for this classic Broadway show-movie to reappear on DVD, then you may, also like me, weep at the poor quality of the transfer. It looks like one of those blurry out-of-focus old prints made from a TV broadcast: the colour is dreadful, the sound likewise, and the 'DIGITALLY RESTORED' on the front cover is a poor joke. Sure, it's cheap, and as a souvenier of a great show, it may be the best we're likely to see on DVD. Would that this had not been so. Sadly, only for The Desperate To Have ... February 27, 2006

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