Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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31 of 32 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Look out world ! Here comes the "real" Annie, September 25, 2000
Annie wannabe's, here is the standard to which you strive for. Unfortunately for all of us, she's been locked away in the MGM vaults for the last 50 years. But, if I know Annie, she's coming back, better than ever ! Musical lovers under 50, are you in for a treat. Forget all that you've heard about Judy Garland, and her sad exit from Metro while working on this picture. About Louis B. Mayer begging Hal Wallis at Paramount to loan MGM his hugely popular star, Betty Hutton. About the cold shoulder Betty recieved from cast and crew on the "Annie" set. None of it affects the stunningly exciting final product. THIS IS A GREAT MUSICAL ! The score is as good (or better) than any you've ever heard. Songs you'll remember, and be singing, for the rest of your life. Hopefully we'll be seeing a totally restored version, which means the glorious Technicolor will dazzle you. The young Howard Keel makes his MGM debut here, and will knock you out. Louis Calhern is perfect as Wm. F.(Buffalo Bill) Cody, certainly larger-than-life ! But , this is Betty Hutton's movie, from start to finish. I've always considered it her crowning achievement. It's big, brash, beautiful, funny, and above all, it's FUN !
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34 of 36 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Annie Get This Movie!, February 27, 2001
Finally available on video and DVD, Annie Get Your Gun is a wonderful movie musical like they don't make any more. The color, the production, the performances, and the music are terrific. Betty Hutton is perfect as Annie. Giving a performance closer in style to Ethel Merman's, perhaps, but Hutton truly makes the role her own. As Frank Butler, Howard Keel is in fine voice and matches Hutton's strong screen presence. I know it's not politically correct to like the way the Indians are depicted or the "I'm an Indian Too" number, but I do. The humor isn't mean spirited, nor are the Indians portrayed as total goons. In fact, J. Carrol Naish makes a pretty wise Chief Sitting Bull, helping Annie win the heart of Butler. Louis Calhern and Edward Arnold are perfect as the competing showmen Buffalo Bill and Pawnee Bill respectively. Keenan Wynn rounds out the supporting cast as Buffalo Bill's assistant, Charlie Davenport. Besides the great score and cast, the movie contains some beautiful color cinematography. There is a great shot from the air as Annie and Frank compete in skeet shooting that is truly amazing. A great example of what Hollywood was capable of producing during the old studio system, Annie Get Your Gun is sure to please most viewers. And if you're a Betty Hutton fan, you're in for a treat. She's terrific. Both video and DVD versions contain footage not included in the final cut; two musical numbers with Judy Garland (originally cast as Annie) and Frank Morgan as Buffalo Bill (he died before filming was complete and had to be replaced by Calhern). A must for fans of movie musicals.
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18 of 18 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
AT LONG LONG LAST! NOW FOR FRED AND GINGER TOO!, August 6, 2000
It's been a long wait, but at last, this November, 'Annie Get Your Gun' is being released on DVD. Both the film and the soundtrack have been tied up with copyright problems for more than 20 years. Although Irving Berlin wrote 'Annie', musical rights are controlled by the Rodgers and Hammerstein estate, which stuck to Berlin's request that the film be effectively removed from the market. Why? For no other reason, the legend goes, that he hated Betty Hutton in the role. He wanted Ethel Merman, who was too old. He accepted Judy Garland in the role, but she was 'unwell' and couldn't film it, even though she did manage to record most of the songs. So Betty got the part, starring alongside Howard Keel, and the result is one of the most rambunctiously joyous, energetic and downright wonderful musicals ever made. A must-buy, even if Irving Berlin loathed it! I'll be getting the DVD, and I might even replace my well-played CD -- a home-burnt CD taken off a very old LP! Now my hope is that Warners, which controls the old RKO film library, will finally get around to releasing on DVD the greatest of all American musicals -- the partnerships of Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers -- 'Top Hat', 'Swing Time', 'The Gay Divorcee' and all the rest. Anthony Clarke
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