Product Details

• Actors: Rita Hayworth, Larry Parks, Marc Platt, Roland Culver, James Gleason
• Directors: Alexander Hall
• Writers: Don Hartman, Edwin Blum, Harry Segall
• Producers: Don Hartman
• Format: Color, HiFi Sound, NTSC
• Rated: NR (Not Rated)
• Number of tapes: 1
• Studio: Sony Pictures
• VHS Release Date: June 22, 1994
• Run Time: 101 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (17 customer reviews)
• ASIN: 6302280230
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #305,881 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Rita Hayworth really was a screen goddess in the late 1940s--so why not cast her as Terpsichore, the goddess of dance? That's the premise of this splashy Technicolor musical, which borrows some devices (and cast members) from Here Comes Mr. Jordan. Rita descends to earth to inject authenticity into a Broadway show about Terpsichore, posing as an actress and turning the head of impresario Larry Parks (then in the brief moment between his Jolson Story smash and his blacklisting). This leads to an overblown, pretentious out-of-town tryout, an amusing sequence that predicts the highbrow disaster in The Band Wagon. In general, this film is funnier than its reputation, although it doesn't add up to anything and the song score is tepid (with one delightfully weird number where Rita considers bigamy with Parks and dancer Marc Platt). And Rita? Very creamy looking in a series of lavish gowns--and hardly down to earth. --Robert Horton

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Up In The Clouds over "Down To Earth", March 5, 2005

By 

Nix Pix (Windsor, Ontario, Canada) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Down to Earth (DVD)

"Down to Earth" is a bizarre musical sequel to a non-musical film called "Here Comes Mr. Jordan." It stars, then reigning love goddess, Rita Hayworth who is miscast (but amusingly so)as Terpsichore. But the Greek 'muse' is none 'amused' when learning that she and her sisters are to become the kitsch and lampoon of a mortal Broadway musical. Assisted by the heavenly MC, Mr. Jordan (Roland Culver) and a messenger(Edward Everett Horton), Terpsichore - renamed Kitty Pendleton - comes "down to earth" to play herself in the Broadway show and set the record straight. This is one of those mindlessly engaging, good humor bits of business that Hollywood used to excel at during its heyday and it's ably aided by performances from James Gleason, George Macready (of "Gilda" fame) and William Frawley (Fred, from "I Love Lucy"). The songs aren't memorable, but they are splashy and exciting and the script ably covers all of the bases with panache and great fun.

THE TRANSFER: Gorgeous. Columbia's film elements are in top notch condition and the picture quality of this DVD will not disappoint. The image is crisp and vibrant, with bold colors, bright whites and rich, velvet blacks. Contrast levels are excellent. There is some slight shimmering of color in certain scenes, due to the vintage of the print, but nothing that terribly distracts from your visual enjoyment. Digital artifacts are not a problem. Age related artifacts are present but not glaringly so, for a generally smooth visual presentation. The audio is MONO but nicely balanced.

EXTRAS: Please, this is Columbia!

BOTTOM LINE: This isn't one you'll always remember but its certainly an enjoyable little romp through musical La-La land, and, with the lush and lovely Miss Hayworth at hand, its more than easy on the eyes. Add this one to your library.

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Heavenly Goddess Steps Down To Earth, April 22, 2006

By 

Noirdame (Canada) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Down to Earth (DVD)

After the success of "Gilda", Columbia put their superstar Rita Hayworth in this musical remake of "Here Comes Mr. Jordan". It did well at the box office, although in later years it has been panned by many as silly, far-fetched fare. I personally don't have a problem with it - it's not on par with Rita's earlier musicals, but it is very entertaining. The color is lush, and Hayworth is breathtakingly beautiful, and certainly suited to play the goddess of music and dance, Terpsichore (her singing voice is again dubbed by Anita Ellis), and Larry Parks is adorable as the young Broadway producer who wants so desperately to succeed. George Macready, who played Hayworth's evil spouse in "Gilda" again appears here in a similar role (with comedic undertones) - his office even seems to be the same as in the earlier film. It's also fun to see William Frawley in a small but memorable role.

Parks, sadly, had a short-lived career, as it was virtually destroyed by the McCarthy witch hunts. And the romance is touching and even a little tear-inducing. The term "Heavenly Goddess" certainly applies to the lovely Rita. Adele Jergens is also great as the original dancer in the show that Kitty/Terpischore replaces. Not the best Columbia musical, but an off-beat film, and worth watching simply because of the dance sequences, color cinematography and Rita at her most enticing.

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Down to Eart 1947, April 14, 2006

By 

John W . Ford (Los Angeles , California . U.S.A) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Down to Earth (DVD)

Its heaven on earth in this delightful musical comedy sequel to enormously successful " Here Comes Mr. Jordan 1941" . Rita Heyworth (1918-1987) plays incredibly angelic muse , inceensed at the notion that a Broadway musical is going to portray her as a modern living sexpot . She sets off for Earth to set the record straight and the results are a "mousing" . in 1946 , Columbia knew it had all the makings of a blockbuster by reworkng the "Here Comes Mr.Jordan" theme along with teaming up some of the original cast members with Hollywood brightest star, Rita Heyworth . The proscts might have been too promising , as they enabled Hayworth?s agent at the William Morris Agency to renegotiate her already lucrative studio contract .in DOWN TO EARTH , Rita Heyworth?s talent are absolutly show-stopping and with the realese of this film , its easy to see why she earned the reputation as Silver screen?s one and only love goddes . Do you need a better recommendation ! . Super ultra-resolution transfer quality pictures . Recommended