posted March 05, 2005 03:14 PM                    

quote:

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It’s one of the most lively, tuneful and downright happy musicals ever made! The editing is beautiful, the colour gorgeous and the sound clear as a bell - but, like some earlier MGM releases, the print definition could be a lot sharper. In addition, for some strange reason the last 30 seconds suddenly reverts to CinemaScope so that everyone appears rather slim [ presumably this is done to take in the whole of the final title, but the switch over cuts in too soon]. However, the musical and visual content are so delightful that this two parter is certainly recommended for all collectors of musicals.

Bill Davison, Movie Maker - September 1980

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As Bill said, this print could be a lot sharper but the colours, even now, some 25 years later are beautifully vivid and the sound is absolutely cracking. The whole thing works very well in this condensation - even if you haven’t seen the full film and thus aren’t familiar with the story line, it is all made clear and is easy to follow. My favourite scene has to be the ‘Pole Cat’ song where the brothers are dancing in the snow whilst collecting firewood, how they managed to film this with out someone being seriously injured with a stray axe blow I can’t imagine! It really is quite stunning.

Mike

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Auntie Em must have stopped wondering where I am by now...