The Carmen Miranda Collection

Fox delight

This is a really nice collection of silly Fox musicals, none exactly screen classics, but very typical of the splashy items that were hot in the mid-forties. The best is certainly GANGS and it looks terrific, here, much better than the earlier transfer in the Alice Faye box. And the transfers are the most certainly the big kick, here. Everything looks really good, probably better than when first released, and that's saying something. These were all three-strip Technicolor. But the digital upgrades are really wonderful looking.

Carmen Miranda is nicely showcased here for fans and neophytes, alike. A couple of the films are somewhat exotic items that don't show up on tv. SOMETHING FOR THE BOYS, which is based on a Cole Porter play, but retains only one Porter song, looks really lovely and is very entertaining. GREENWICH VILLAGE is another one of those turn of the century things that Fox did forever, and it's fun. DOLL FACE has a much better transfer than the public domain version that's been around for ages. IF I'M LUCKY is a very slight little black and white entry. Perry Como shows up in three of these.

The set is highly recommended for die hard fans of the genre and the star; others won't be too enthused. November 13, 2008

Tropical Hollywood

Full of tropical colour and scapist songs, the Carmen Miranda box is a non-stop source of joy and healthy fun from more innocent days. Miss Miranda shines brightly in her incredible clothes, showing a fascinating sing-and- dancig talent none should miss to watch. Paulo Azeredo October 19, 2008

Something For Perry Como Fans

This set also serves as a near-complete collection of Perry Como's film
appearances as it offers the 3 features he made for Fox from
1944-1946 (Something for the Boys, Doll Face, If I'm Lucky) . Not
included is Words and Music, an MGM film from 1948. Como
admitted he lacked acting ability and said he used to cringe when his old
films would be televised.

The text on the back of the Greenwich Village DVD refers to Perry Como's
appearances in this film but that is incorrect. The film does contain a
rarity of sorts, a brief sequence featuring William Bendix dancing and
singing while dressed in a toga!
October 7, 2008

Carmen Miranda Collection

Dear Friends,
IT WAS WONDERFUL to watch Carmen Miranda in all her glory. BUT BUT BUT one of the discs was restored very poorly -- "Something for the Boys". The color was off, the quality was diluted and foggy....It should NOT have been included if it was NOT up to the others' standard. BUT, thanks for giving us the treat of re-living the good old days. Thanks. Ben and Gladys Caterinicchio August 30, 2008

Saturday matinee movies, 1942 ?

It was with great fun that I was able to see the old Carmen Miranda movies. As a ten year old - and older, I really loved musicals. I went to see every musical movie that was showing at the cinema in a small country town in Queensland Australia. We were only allowed to go to the saturday matinees, and that was the event of my week then. I always remembered the Carmen Miranda movies as being funny - only in adult life did I see them as 'camp'. When I discovered that I was gay, the whole picture fell into place. Carmen was an extraordinary performer, quite zany but at the same time very entertaining. In retrospect I can see she was not a great actress, but personality and her mad sense of acting was very much of that period. Viewing them again now, I am enjoying them so much and am getting so many laughs. I have introduced them to younger friends, who are laughing along at the ridiculous situations, but enjoying the whole movie with me. Boom-chick-a-chick Carmen.
August 30, 2008

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