Customer Reviews

The Busby Berkley Disc

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This DVD only includes Berkeley's dance numbers, which, of course, are the best parts of his films. The DVD navigation is not the best, but the dance numbers are great. Well worth the money.

Well...this collection was originally on two laser discs...and all they
did was delete "Goin' to Heaven on a Mule" (thank goodness!). What you
have left are thirteen lavish Busby Berkeley numbers..cutting edge stuff
for the 1930's. Every one of them is delicious and there to be enjoyed
without the need to deal with those pesky plots. "The Shadow Waltz" would have to by my all time favorite. All those neon violins and only one
extension cord have I spotted in nearly sixty years. However...this is a true treasure...and you can put it on and watch your own favorite when you need a 'pick me up". If you are really hooked...you can also get
"The Gang's All Here" and have two great Busby Berkeley numbers IN COLOR.
Yes, one of them is "The Lady in the Tutti Fruity Hat" with Carmen Miranda and a lot of ladies with BIG bananas. So, there you have it,
a way to satisfy your Busby Berkeley cravings quietly, at home, on the sly. You'll be glad you did.

Make no mistake about it, no one can ever replace the legendary Busby Berkley! For all my fellow Busby Berkley fans out there, this DVD will more than satisfy you. The choreograpy is divine and the Carmen Miranda number left me breathless, it was a pure delight to behold. I purchased this DVD on a whim and I'm so glad I did, it's worth every penny.

I have this DVD version as well as the original version on laserdisc from 1992. They are identical except one number from WONDER BAR (1934) was deleted on the DVD. It is "Goin' to Heaven on a Mule" sung by Al Jolson. It's done in blackface, of course, with hundreds of extras and dancers in blackface as well. Jolson even taps in front of a bunch of watermelson slices! It's a huge production, but the number was undoubtedly deleted from the DVD because of racial stereotype considerations.

So for those of you who are purists or "completists" and still have the laserdisc version, keep it!

What a peasure to see this compilation of Busby Berkeley's musical numbers.They are just outstanding and some of them jaw dropping! The wow factor is definitely here with wonderful melodies,dances and costumes.
One thing always puzzled me though:What was the deal with Ruby Keeler? I mean sure she was pretty but her singing was less than adequate and her tap dancing skills paled in comparison to even Shirley Temple!(Ok,i may be exagerating here,but the fact is...she wasn't very good.)
But i do see that she really had great chemistry with both Cagney and Powell.
I really liked Joan Blondell , she was ver expressive in her 3 numbers.
Dick Powell could certainly belt out a tune and he always seemed to enjoy himself being surrounded by an army of beautiful women,can't blame him really!
My favourite has to be "By a waterfall",no doubt a fore runner to the Esther Williams' extravaganza that were to come from MGM in later years.How'd they do that!!??!!
BRILLIANT!

To call this a Busby Berkley disc is almost fraud. It consists mostly of song and dance routines of that era, usually by Dick Powell and Ruby Keeler, who's voices and dancing talent are marginal by todays standards. The amount of Busby Berkley "spectactulars" is about 15%. A major disappointment!

A real treat seeing how technology and creativity added a visual mind blower to viewers over 70 years ago.