Customer Reviews

USO Christmas Show [Slim Case]

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

 

 

This item is noted as "COLOR". This is very misleading. I just purchased my copy and it is 100% black and white. The only color in this DVD is the cover. I was also hoping to see footage of the USO troops, but this is a studio production. There was no footage of troops except 1 shot lasting about 2 seconds. The sound is very muffled, hard to hear and understand. I do not recomment this DVD to anyone!

This DVD edition of a USO Christmas show for the armed forces is, unfortunately, somewhat disappointing. The others are right--this is not in color as it indicates on the cover art; you're going to get this in black and white instead. To make matters worse, the black and white footage is abridged and the quality of the print is average at best. The video starts with then-President Eisenhower speaking a few words and then we get footage of some of the stars introducing themselves--what a shame we don't get the entire video as it was released to the troops! This would have been quite a collector's treat especially if it were in color without editing out any single part of it!

On the other hand, what we do get is very good. Near the beginning there's a stand-up act by Milton Berle that remains very funny to this day; I loved it! He was really quite the comedian! We also get a good performance by Myoshi Umeki, who flawlessly sings "It Might As Well Be Spring." She's wonderful and very underrated these days. There's a brief clip of Van Cliburn during his ticker-tape parade in New York City after he won a trophy for being such a superlative pianist in the former Soviet Union--how I wish we saw just a little bit more of that event; we only get three or four seconds and again the quality of the video is not that great. However, we do get a very real treat when Van Cliburn does play the grand piano--in grand style at that! I met him once after seeing him in concert and he's a nice guy, too.

Danny Thomas' Italian skit is embarrassingly dated; I could skip that one without being too upset about it. However, there are other fine skits and clips: Ray Bolger's skit is great; Bing Crosby sings one of his signature songs, "White Christmas;" Martha Raye sings "Takin' A Chance On Love;" Jack Benny, George Burns and Jimmy Stewart perform wonderfully together and Danny Kaye joins Louis Armstrong for a splendid scat on "When The Saints Go Marchin' In." And, of course, there's more as noted by a very thorough reviewer on this webpage.

I give this a three star rating. Again, the footage that we do get is wonderful but the picture quality clearly shows it needs restoration; and the cover art incorrectly leads people to believe that they're getting this video in color, not black and white. Nevertheless, I do suggest this DVD for people who enjoy footage of USO shows for the troops; and fans of the performers in this video may want this for their collections despite its drawbacks.

Audio on EASTWEST's dub of USO CHRISTMAS SHOW is muffled, lacks high end and has persistent tape hiss. Video is a bit fuzzy, but acceptable. Only one dance number was abridged. Deleted performers: Sid Caesar, Red Buttons, Shirley MacLaine, Rhonda Fleming, Jane Russell, Jimmy Durante, Leo Durocher, Jo Stafford.

This two-hour variety show has been edited here to just under 90 minutes. 750 film copies were distributed worldwide by the USO to American service personnel. It was never actually broadcast. Despite transfer limitations this one is worth watching, especially for fans of the many talents on display here.

PROGRAM--
[1:29] Pres. Eisenhower Xmas greetings to military.
[1:30] Dozens of performers introduce themselves (alphabetical order).
[:25] Cyd Charisse, Dick Powell and Walter Pidgeon do patter intro of...
[5:07] Milton Berle (stand-up).
[2:20] Dinah Shore sings "They Can't Take That Away From Me" with Paul Weston's band.
[:24] Husband & wife Dick Powell and June Allyson patter intro...
[1:35] Marge & Gower Champion dance (edited)
[:25] Berle intros Oscar-winner...
[3:30] Myoshi Umeki sings "It Might As Well Be Spring."
[2:53] 21-year-old Van Cliburn solos on grand piano.
[5:24] Betty Hutton and male quintet salute the Roaring 20s with medley; she dances.
[4:26] Danny Thomas Italian dialect phone skit.
[2:18] Jane Powell sings "A Most Unusual Day."
[:20] Kim Novak, David Niven and Greg Peck patter intro...
[3:20] Benny Goodman Quintet play "Aragon."
[3:24] Gale Storm croons her '56 pop hit, "Ivory Tower."
[3:53] Dick Shawn as moronic leather jacket-clad Freddy Funky, president of the R&R Assn.
[2:47] Lena Horne's version of "I'd Do Anything."
[:13] Novak, Niven and Peck patter intro...
[3:02] Bing Crosby's "White Christmas."
[5:50] Bob Hope monologue on USO, TV westerns, missile program, the military, Elvis, Crosby.
[2:13] Anna Maria Alberghetti coloratura intros and embellishes "I've Got The World On A String."
[3:32] Ray Bolger in fatigues goof on parade ground drill sergeant. He taps for finale.
[:10] Berle intros...
[2:54] Eydie Gorme sings "When Your Lover Has Gone."
[:21] Powell, Charisse and Allyson patter intro...
[5:35] One pop hit each from Jimmie Rodgers, Frankie Laine and Tony Martin.
[1:42] Martha Raye does an upbeat "Takin' A Chance On Love."
[:42] Charisse, Novak and Allyson patter intro of...
[5:21] Jack Benny, George Burns and Jimmy Stewart as marvelous song & dance act "Goldie, Field and Glide."
[:15] Berle intros...
[2:47] Polly Bergen sings "Come Rain Or Come Shine."
[4:07] Louis Armstrong and Danny Kaye scat on "When The Saints Go Marchin' In."
[1:01] Pastiche of entire company singing "Silent Night."
[1:20] Message to military from US. Sec'y of Defense Neil McElroy.
[2:21] Closing credits: Military theme song medley from Paul Weston band and chorus.

TOTAL PLAYING TIME: 88:17

Audio on EASTWEST's dub of USO CHRISTMAS SHOW is muffled, lacks high end and has persistent tape hiss. Video is a bit fuzzy, but acceptable. Only one dance number was abridged. Deleted performers: Sid Caesar, Red Buttons, Shirley MacLaine, Rhonda Fleming, Jane Russell, Jimmy Durante, Leo Durocher, Jo Stafford.

This two-hour variety show has been edited here to just under 90 minutes. 750 film copies were distributed worldwide by the USO to American service personnel. It was never actually broadcast. Despite transfer limitations this one is worth watching, especially for fans of the many talents on display here.

PROGRAM--
[1:29] Pres. Eisenhower Xmas greetings to military.
[1:30] Dozens of performers introduce themselves (alphabetical order).
[:25] Cyd Charisse, Dick Powell and Walter Pidgeon do patter intro of...
[5:07] Milton Berle (stand-up).
[2:20] Dinah Shore sings "They Can't Take That Away From Me" with Paul Weston's band.
[:24] Husband & wife Dick Powell and June Allyson patter intro...
[1:35] Marge & Gower Champion dance (edited)
[:25] Berle intros Oscar-winner...
[3:30] Myoshi Umeki sings "It Might As Well Be Spring."
[2:53] 21-year-old Van Cliburn solos on grand piano.
[5:24] Betty Hutton and male quintet salute the Roaring 20s with medley; she dances.
[4:26] Danny Thomas Italian dialect phone skit.
[2:18] Jane Powell sings "A Most Unusual Day."
[:20] Kim Novak, David Niven and Greg Peck patter intro...
[3:20] Benny Goodman Quintet play "Aragon."
[3:24] Gale Storm croons her '56 pop hit, "Ivory Tower."
[3:53] Dick Shawn as moronic leather jacket-clad Freddy Funky, president of the R&R Assn.
[2:47] Lena Horne's version of "I'd Do Anything."
[:13] Novak, Niven and Peck patter intro...
[3:02] Bing Crosby's "White Christmas."
[5:50] Bob Hope monologue on USO, TV westerns, missile program, the military, Elvis, Crosby.
[2:13] Anna Maria Alberghetti coloratura intros and embellishes "I've Got The World On A String."
[3:32] Ray Bolger in fatigues goof on parade ground drill sergeant. He taps for finale.
[:10] Berle intros...
[2:54] Eydie Gorme sings "When Your Lover Has Gone."
[:21] Powell, Charisse and Allyson patter intro...
[5:35] One pop hit each from Jimmie Rodgers, Frankie Laine and Tony Martin.
[1:42] Martha Raye does an upbeat "Takin' A Chance On Love."
[:42] Charisse, Novak and Allyson patter intro of...
[5:21] Jack Benny, George Burns and Jimmy Stewart as marvelous song & dance act "Goldie, Field and Glide."
[:15] Berle intros...
[2:47] Polly Bergen sings "Come Rain Or Come Shine."
[4:07] Louis Armstrong and Danny Kaye scat on "When The Saints Go Marchin' In."
[1:01] Pastiche of entire company singing "Silent Night."
[1:20] Message to military from US. Sec'y of Defense Neil McElroy.
[2:21] Closing credits: Military theme song medley from Paul Weston band and chorus.

TOTAL PLAYING TIME: 88:17