Streaming Skirts Ahoy! Online

Skirts Ahoy! (1952)iMDB Rating: 5.6
Date Released : 8 August 1952
Genre : Comedy, Musical
Stars : Esther Williams, Joan Evans, Vivian Blaine, Barry Sullivan
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Size : 870 MB

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Three young ladies sign up for some kind of training at a naval base. However, their greatest trouble isn't long marches or several weeks in a small boat, but their love life.

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Review :

A dull musical, as dull as the Pasternak musicals at MGM.

A very dull musical, not comparable with what director Sidney Lanfield had made at 20th.Century Fox in the thirties. No wonder this was his last picture. An example of the difference between what the Freed unit and the Pasternak unit were doing at MGM at the time. Of course, Esther Williams was as beautiful as ever.

Streaming Rodeo (1952) Online

Rodeo (1952)iMDB Rating: 7.2
Date Released : 9 March 1952
Genre : Action, Romance, Sport, Western
Stars : Jane Nigh, John Archer, Wallace Ford, Gary Gray. Nancy Cartwright is determined to collect an $1,800 feed bill owed to her father Harry Cartwright by a rodeo association. Instead, she is talked into assuming management of the rodeo by Slim Martin and the other performers when they learn the promoter has run off with the cash receipts. Slim and Nancy fall in love and the rodeo is beginning to prosper under her guidance. A thoughtless remark by ..." />
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Size : 700 MB

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Nancy Cartwright is determined to collect an $1,800 feed bill owed to her father Harry Cartwright by a rodeo association. Instead, she is talked into assuming management of the rodeo by Slim Martin and the other performers when they learn the promoter has run off with the cash receipts. Slim and Nancy fall in love and the rodeo is beginning to prosper under her guidance. A thoughtless remark by her to Barbecue Jones, a one-time champion, now an old man, forces him to prove his fitness as a rider, with the result of being badly injured. All of the performers, including Slim, refuse to be associated with Nancy and the rodeo breaks up. Barbecue recovers and tells the hands that Nancy paid for his hospital bills with monies accumulated for her father's feed bill. The crew is rounded up and Nancy is once again prevailed upon to return as manager. She succeeds in placing the rodeo into the big time circuit, proving mostly that the writers of this had not an inkling of how rodeos actually ...

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Watch Lovely to Look At (1952) Online

Lovely to Look At (1952)iMDB Rating: 6.3
Date Released : 1 July 1952
Genre : Comedy, Musical, Romance
Stars : Kathryn Grayson, Red Skelton, Howard Keel, Marge Champion. Al Marsh, Tony Naylor and Jerry Ralby, Broadway producers, are desperately looking for backers. Al is one of the heirs of a dress salon in Paris, but this is almost bankrupt. The two other heiresses, Stephanie and Clarisse and the three producers are able to convince the creditors to back a fashion show there. Things become complicated, when Al and Tony fall in love with Stephanie and Al's New ..." />
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Size : 700 MB

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Al Marsh, Tony Naylor and Jerry Ralby, Broadway producers, are desperately looking for backers. Al is one of the heirs of a dress salon in Paris, but this is almost bankrupt. The two other heiresses, Stephanie and Clarisse and the three producers are able to convince the creditors to back a fashion show there. Things become complicated, when Al and Tony fall in love with Stephanie and Al's New York girl friend Bubbles arrives.

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Review :

Lovely to Look At and Listen To

While I have to agree with many of the points made in the preceding reviews (and I'm surprised there are so many) no one has pointed out one of the main attractions of LOVELY TO LOOK AT; it is simply one of the most beautiful Technicolor films ever made.

Once upon a pre-home-video time this was one of the legendary vanished films of my youth. So (some years ago) I jumped at the chance to see a rare revival of it at the late, much lamented Regency in New York when it was screened as part of a Jerome Kern film retrospective.

The Regency must have unearthed an original Technicolor print because the film was even more stunning visually than I remembered. The deep blues in the Champions' "Smoke Gets in Your Eyes" number, the infernal reds in their "Yesterdays" sequence in the fashion show, the misty pastels in Keel and Grayson's dawn ride in the Bois de Bologna, the gilded primitif look of Miller's "Hard To Handle" nightclub act…..

These are among the most stunning Technicolor sequences ever shot.

MGM Technicolor seemed to peak in the late 40s and early 50s (prior, I might add to the industry-wide conversion to inferior but cheaper Eastman color). MGM films such as HOLIDAY IN Mexico (1946) and THE PIRATE (1948) through LOVELY and SCARAMOUCHE (both 1952) brought the art of color cinematography to a peak it was never to equal again.

Musically LOVELY is stunning too, with it vintage Jerome Kern score, beautifully arranged (mostly) by Leo Arnaud. The modernistic, sometimes jazz-tinged orchestrations are brilliant, especially in the fashion show instrumentals. (Listen again to the "Yesterdays" arrangement here, if the smoldering reds behind the Champions do not blow you away).

And Kathryn Grayson's rendition of the classic "Smoke Gets in Your Eyes" is one of the highlights of her career.

Rhino recently released the full soundtrack in stereo, a CD worth pursuing for those with an interest in vintage musicals and arrangements.

Both musically and visually LOVELY TO LOOK AT defines'50s Populuxe. It will take a super DVD release to reveal both the visual and aural riches of this flawed under-rated classic.

Grayson and Keel allegedly both loathed this film, but everyone in it is also at their peak of '50s attractiveness. The plot is secondary, and there are emphatic lapses such as Red Skelton's routine about mid-film when director Mervyn Leroy, in a rather shocking sequence for MGM, apparently just let the camera roll because Skelton was on one.

The Tuesday matinée series at the Los Angeles Museum of Art has LOVELY TO LOOK AT scheduled for screening in Dec. By fortuitous coincidence one of the most gorgeous Technicolor musicals is followed (the next week) by one of the most beautiful BxW musicals ever made, Lubitch's 193 THE MERRY WIDOW.

I only hope LACMA gets a print comparable to the one I saw at the Regency in New York so many moons ago! (Did anyone mention Vincente Minnelli guest-directed the fashion show finale?)

Streaming Ich heiße Niki Online

Ich heiße Niki (1952)iMDB Rating: 6.7
Date Released : 5 August 1952
Genre : Comedy
Stars : Paul Hörbiger, Aglaja Schmid, Hardy Krüger, Erika von Thellmann." />
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Format : MKV
Size : 870 MB

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Review :

More drama than comedy

This film, which mostly tells a dramatic story about a mother who gives away her 15-month son Niki to a stranger on a train, and then tries to get it back, is only in some parts (especially those with Paul Hörbiger) a comedy, but mostly a sentimental drama. Tissues recommended.

Yet, I found it a worthwhile watch, if only to get some feeling for 1950s Germany, as reflected in movies. Hörbiger plays his part, from denial to helplessness to sympathy to "ownership" of the baby, very nicely. The change in character of Hardy Krüger's young husband, from selfish bastard to engaged stepfather, is not so well motivated, I find.

All in all, a nicely done piece with some interesting scenes (the church sequence in particular, or the orphanry kids). 7/10.

Streaming I Believe in You Online

I Believe in You (1952)iMDB Rating: 6.9
Date Released : 24 July 1952
Genre : Drama
Stars : Celia Johnson, Cecil Parker, Godfrey Tearle, Harry Fowler
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Format : MKV
Size : 870 MB

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A drama about parole officers to follow the successful Ealing police story of _Blue Lamp, The (1950)_. Various sub-plots follow the parole officers and their charges.

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Review :

Social comment on '50's England

When this film was made England was still a society divided by class, one's accent, manners, clothes and speech defined one's background and determined one's future.

England was still recovering from WWII, many parts of London were still bomb sites, some food was still on ration, especially sweets, and although the manufacturer's catalogues were full of wonderful items that they were making, many were "For Export Only", essentially to the United States in payment for war loans.

Against this background of priviledge; for the upper class probation officer; and the difficult working class origins of the probationees; all set in war-ravaged London with as fine a collection of actors that could be assembled; I Believe in You is a minor classic of its time,one of the earliest films depicting real people and their problems rather than the glamourous lives of the movies the propaganda ministries wanted us to see.

Many of the outdoor locations show parts of London never before seen on the big screen, and these too provide interest for anyone interested in locations of movies.

Watch Harem Girl Online

Harem Girl (1952)iMDB Rating: 6.6
Date Released : 21 January 1952
Genre : Comedy, Romance
Stars : Joan Davis, Peggie Castle, Arthur Blake, Paul Marion. A wise-cracking, uninhibited American girl, Susie Perkins (Joan Davis), is hired as a secretary/companion to Princess Shareen (Peggie Castle), a middle-east ruler of a small desert kingdom. Soon after their arrival, Susie learns that Shareen is in great danger, as a wicked sheik desires to get a hold of her oil-rich lands, and the Princess, also. After some wild adventures, aided by Majeed (Paul ..." />
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Size : 700 MB

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A wise-cracking, uninhibited American girl, Susie Perkins (Joan Davis), is hired as a secretary/companion to Princess Shareen (Peggie Castle), a middle-east ruler of a small desert kingdom. Soon after their arrival, Susie learns that Shareen is in great danger, as a wicked sheik desires to get a hold of her oil-rich lands, and the Princess, also. After some wild adventures, aided by Majeed (Paul Marion), sweetheart of Shareen, Susie cleans up the situation, and is last seen joining the French Foreign Legion, which is 'for men only,' which suits Susie just fine. So is she.

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Review :

I Love Lucy in Arabia!

I had taped this movie off of TCM, and was really enjoying it when my tape ran out halfway through! But the part that I saw was very funny, thanks to the actress playing Susie, who I'd never seen before. I started watching assuming this was going to be a typical corny 1950s Arabian adventure movie, but when Susie started cracking wise with her man-hungry and self-depreciating comments it was a delightful surprise! It was like an episode of "I Love Lucy" in Arabia, as Susie was chased by the villains, danced hilariously with the harem girls, and hid in giant vases and under beds, while helping the princess and her loyal supporters reclaim the throne.

I hope I'll be able to see the entire movie sometime, and others by this hilarious actress!

Watch Father's Doing Fine (1952) Online

Father's Doing Fine (1952)iMDB Rating: 5.8
Date Released : 22 April 1953
Genre : Comedy, Romance
Stars : Richard Attenborough, Heather Thatcher, Noel Purcell, George Thorpe. Lady Buckering, an English widow, has four daughters; Doreen, married to Dougall and about to give birth at home, and Gerda, Bicky and Catherine. The story revolves around the impending birth and the love affairs of the other three daughters; Bicky, with eccentric student Roly; Gerda, married to artist Wilfred; and Catherine, in love with the landlord's son, Clifford Magill. In addition, the ..." />
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Size : 700 MB

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Lady Buckering, an English widow, has four daughters; Doreen, married to Dougall and about to give birth at home, and Gerda, Bicky and Catherine. The story revolves around the impending birth and the love affairs of the other three daughters; Bicky, with eccentric student Roly; Gerda, married to artist Wilfred; and Catherine, in love with the landlord's son, Clifford Magill. In addition, the impoverished Lady Buckering is being courted by Dr. Drew.

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Review :

The travails of Lady Buckering and her four daughters

"Father's Doing Fine" Review

March 23, 2012

Lady Buckering, who has four daughters, is in bad financial straits but nonetheless lives very well – there's a butler, all the women have wonderful clothes, there's a private nurse and plenty of liquor handy. One of her daughters is about to have a baby (the father is the Attenborough character, Dougall), one is married to a pseudo-intellectual, one is rebounding from a love affair gone bad and the youngest daughter is an insufferable drama queen. Attenborough plays the stereotypically nervous father-to-be with gusto.

"Father's Doing Fine" is based on the play "Little Lambs Eat Ivy." I simply do not understand the significance of the title (yes, I know the song Mairzy Doats). The movie's title seems off kilter as well since it is the mother, Lady Buckering, around whom all the frenetic doings occur. Indeed, Lady Buckering (the delightful Heather Thatcher) has all the best lines in this farce.

For me, farce is always better as a stage production than as a movie. This movie is silly but Thatcher's and Attenborough's performances make it fun to watch.