Product Details

• Actors: Gene Kelly, Natalie Wood, Claire Trevor, Everett Sloane, Martin Milner
• Directors: Irving Rapper
• Writers: Everett Freeman, Herman Wouk
• Producers: Milton Sperling
• Format: Color, Original recording reissued, NTSC
• Rated: NR (Not Rated)
• Number of tapes: 1
• Studio: Republic Pictures
• VHS Release Date: August 18, 1998
• Run Time: 128 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (32 customer reviews)
• ASIN: 0782009859
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #270,006 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Natalie Wood and Gene Kelly make a cute (if not exactly convincing) couple in this Hollywood soap-opera version of Herman Wouk's coming-of-age romance. French/Russian Natalie Wood is decidedly non-ethnic as Marjorie Morgenstern, the starry-eyed Jewish college girl who falls in love with summer resort small-timer Gene Kelly (who never quite sells himself as a show-biz dreamer with limited talent). A stolid mix of modern, clear-eyed romance and old-fashioned melodrama, it nonetheless manages to slip in some frank (for 1958) discussions of sex and the single girl and sketch out an intriguing portrait of Jewish life in New York's upper crust between the romantic complications. Everett Sloane and Claire Trevor are excellent as Marjorie's success-obsessed parents, pre-Adam 12 Martin (Marty) Milner offers his boy-next-door charm as the former flunky turned Broadway success, and Ed Wynn is delightful as her eccentric uncle. --Sean Axmaker

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

42 of 45 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Natalie Wood and Gene Kelly Shine in Adaptation of Novel, March 30, 2001

By 

Antoinette Klein (Hoover, Alabama USA) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Marjorie Morningstar [VHS] (VHS Tape)

Natalie Wood is stunning as the young woman who seeks to become a Broadway star and to marry the love of her life. Gene Kelly also gives a heartwarming performance as the older man who captures her heart with his flamboyant lifestyle and immense talent.

Unlike the book which was set in the 30's, the film is reset to the post-war 50's and avoids the political implications of Hilter's rise to power on the Jewish Marjorie. The movie does, however, maintain all the futility of her search for stardom and her tumultuous love affair with Noel Airman. My only criticism of the movie might have been that the ending was completely changed. However, after feeling so sad at the realistic ending of the novel, I finished watching the video smiling at its happier conclusion.

Gene Kelly is unquestionably an actor, but his one dance number and his beautiful singing of "A Very Precious Love" lit up the screen. Martin Milner shines as the friend besotted with love for Marjorie, Carolyn Jones is wonderful as her outspoken friend, and Ed Wynn is charming as the uncle, particularly in a campy scene dressed as a bullfighter. Watch also for 60's heartthrob Edd "Kookie" Byrnes as one of Marjorie's first boyfriends.

If you've never read the novel, you will still be enchanted with this classic love story. If you have read the novel, you will be mesmerized as Wouk's characters come to life.

17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Words do not do this film justice...it is wonderful..., December 12, 2000

By 

TaurusAttic "blah" (in the trenches) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Marjorie Morningstar [VHS] (VHS Tape)

Like the previous reviewer, I'm somewhat surprised at the less than appreciative reviews on Marjorie Morningstar. It is a truly remarkable movie. I'd like to rebuke the comment one reviewer made about Gene Kelly being bloated. Surely she/he must have been mistaken. Handsome Gene Kelly was absolutely believable as the dashing Noel Airman, even at 46yrs old. The acting from Natalie Wood was good enough, nothing brilliant though. However, the brilliance of the story more than makes up fot that.

Gene Kelly's performance was truly breathtaking. Many film critics have dismissed Gene Kelly's acting abilities, labeling him a song and dance man and incapable of fine acting. They have obviously not seen this film. Gene Kelly was magnificent as Noel Airman. His portrayal was not only sensitive, moving, but full of understanding of the character played.

The ending of Marjorie Morningstar is poignant, tinged with sadness. I recommend this film to all, especially if you are a Gene Kelly fan and want to see just how good he can act, minus the tap shoes.

16 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Welles found her talent "terrifying", June 6, 2002

By 

Brad Baker (Atherton, Ca United States) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Marjorie Morningstar (DVD)

"I was just a little in love with Natalie, since the first time we met. I never stopped loving her. I never will." So said Orson Welles, working with child star Natalie Wood on a Hollywood set in 1945. Daughter of Russian immigrants, the girl with dark eyes and the quaint curtsy melted Welles' heart. In 1957, having co-starred in "Rebel Without a Cause", Natalie Wood lobbied hard for the up-coming lead in Warner Bros' "Marjorie Morningstar". The studio had planned it for her all along. Herman Wouk's 565-page smash hit novel depicts 18-year-old Marjorie; a young girl seeking love and happiness, and relief from a string of amorous beaus. Her worldly friend Marsha(a stand-out performance by unheralded Carolyn Jones) urges her to join a New York upstate summer camp. She does, and once there, her eyes behold Noel Aikman, and well....1958's colorful, fast-moving "Marjorie Morningstar" is a delightful throw-back to the lilting romantic dramas of Hollywood past. Old-time director Irving Rapper argued with young Natalie on the set, but their clash produced a clear, charming, charasmatic portrait of effervescent youth and lustrous beauty. "Marjorie Morningstar" attempts unsuccessfully to condense the epic tome into a 2-hour movie. Early on, the film drags through Jewish family traditions and the slow-moving antics of Uncle Sampson(a lovable portayal by Hollywood icon Ed Wynn). The pace quickens as Morjorie is whisked into a failed relationship with an older, successful doctor. Many key scenes, however, sparkle with the innocent charm that created Natalie Wood. The movie bristles with veteran talents like Ed "Kookie" Byrnes, Gene Kelly, Martin Balsam, and Jesse White. It contains an exceptional music score by Max Steiner, who composed 1933's "King Kong". Natalie Wood's biographer paints an early life of unhappiness and insecurity for the widely talented former "Natasha". Her sorrows here are genuine. "Marjorie Morningstar"s shooting coincided with Wood's engagement and first marriage to Robert Wagner. She's excellent in her romantic scenes. They would marry twice. She had been dating Hollywood's best, including James Dean, Frank Sinatra, Warren Beatty, and Elvis. Sadly, this new Artesan Images DVD shows lots of flaws in the master. The DVD is unrestored. Colors are brilliant, but a nasty jump-cut occurs about 13 minutes ino the film. Several splice cuts emerge in the last reels, and the Warners' logo is sloppily hacked off the leader tail and the film finish. Robbed of life in a mysterious, still un-solved boating accident in 1981, the world lost Natalie Wood much too soon. She was 43. But thanks to the magic of cinema and the power of DVD, her powerful performance here can be seen today and tomorrow. And tomorrow and tomorrow.