DVD : You Were Never Lovelier

In association with Amazon.com

Rating:

- What a Great Comeback!!
After "You'll never be rich" you may think it's difficult to come with something even better. Nevertheless this movie has a great plot, great lines, great comedy. The only thing that is missing is a little more dancing by Fred Astaire. But is usually what happens when you watch one of his films, you always want some more. Is incredible how talented Rita is, and how Fred make anyone look great.

In a word, great movie to watch with lots of fun moments for all the family.

Rating:

- Lovely Rita
This film is a delightful treat, sure to be enjoyed by any fans of Astaire or Hayworth. Hayworth is especially lovely and sexy. The highlight of this movie for me is the "Shorty George" song and dance routine. I have watched it ten times already and will probably watch it over and over again for the remainder of my lifetime. Thank goodness for celluloid so that talent and beauty such as this has been captured for us to savor and cherish.

Rating:

- Just Charming
This is a classic Hollywood musical that should be in everyone's dvd library. The dvd transfer is crisp and clean. And the film itself is just charming.

I remember seeing this film many years ago at a revival theater. When Rita unexpectantly walked onto the screen there was an audible gasp from the audience! There were more gasps during those incomparable Astaire-Hayworth dance numbers!! The "I'm Old Fashioned" and "The Shorty George" dances are among the best EVER filmed.

Certainly Rita was among Fred's best partners, if not THE BEST...together they fly through their dance numbers flawlessly...their tap routines in BOTH films they did together are the most complicated I've ever seen, yet they are excecuted with such grace, ease, and absolute joy!!! It's quite clear that Astaire & Hayworth liked each other very much.

The music by Jerome Kern and lyrics Johnny Mercer are sweet and lilting and beautifully underscore the modern day, yet tender fairy-tale romance between Astaire and Hayworth perfectly.

This dvd brought that all back to me again.....Three words for this film-SMOOTH-BEAUTIFUL-CHARMING!!

Rating:

- Living Up To Its Title: Never More Lovelier Than On DVD
After their resounding success in "You'll Never Get Rich" it was kismet that Fred Astaire and Rita Hayworth would reunite for another glossy film musical. The project; "You Were Never Lovelier" is a valiant successor to the aforementioned and, in truth, excels beyond the expectations of that previous venture. Astaire plays a penniless hoofer from New York who, through a series of mishaps, comes to the attention of South American tycoon, Senior Acuna (Adolph Menjou) while on a vacation in Buenos Aires. Acuna has just married off his oldest daughter and, as his family tradition dictates, the rest of his daughters must get married in sequential order. The two youngest daughters are already fixed with a pair of tennis beaux, but the eldest unmarried daughter, Maria (Hayworth) is not only an ice princess of the highest order, but refuses to marry under any circumstance. That is, until she begins receiving orchids from an unknown admirer.

The score by Jerome Kern is magnificent; the poignant `Dearly Beloved', the jazzy `Shorty George' and the classy `I'm Old Fashion'. The latter two songs are danced by Astaire and Hayworth with such polish and finesse that it's impossible not to marvel at their grace and style.

Columbia Tristar's transfer of "You Were Never Lovelier" is outstanding. While "You'll Never Get Rich" suffered from an overall dated appearance, "You Were Never Lovelier" appears to have been the benefactor of a digital restoration at some point. It's black and white picture is stunning and smooth. There are brief and minor occasions where fine details slightly shimmer, but these do not distract from your visual pleasure. Fine detail is fully realized. There is a resounding absence of age related artifacts. Digital anomalies are not an issue. The audio is mono but exceptionally well balanced - at times sounding very close to having a stereo spread.

EXTRAS: Sorry, none!

BOTTOM LINE: "You Were Never Lovelier" has certainly never looked more lovely than in its DVD incarnation. An absolute must have for your library!

Rating:

- OUTSTANDING TRANSFER OF A SPARKLING MUSICAL!
After their resounding success in "You'll Never Get Rich" it remained kismet that Fred Astaire and Rita Hayworth would reunite for another glossy film musical. The project; "You Were Never Lovelier" is a valiant successor to the aforementioned and, in truth, excels beyond the expectations of their previous venture. Astaire plays a penniless hoofer from New York who, through a series of mishaps, comes to the attention of Senior Acuna (Adolph Menjou) while on a vacation in Buenos Aires. Acuna has just married off his oldest daughter and, as his family tradition dictates, the rest of his daughters must get married in sequential order. The two youngest daughters are already fixed with a pair of tennis beaux, but the eldest unmarried daughter, Maria (Hayworth) is not only an ice princess of the highest order, but refuses to marry under any circumstance. That is, until she begins receiving orchids from an unknown admirer. The score by Jerome Kern is magnificent; the poignant `Dearly Beloved', the jazzy `Shorty George' and the classy `I'm Old Fashion'. The latter two songs are danced by Astaire and Hayworth with such polish and finesse that it's impossible not to marvel at their grace and style.
THE TRANSFER: Outstanding. While "You'll Never Get Rich" suffered from an overall dated appearance, "You Were Never Lovelier" appears to have been the benefactor of a digital restoration at some point. It's black and white picture is stunning and smooth. There are brief and minor occasions where fine details slightly shimmer, but these do not distract from your visual pleasure. Fine detail is fully realized. There is a resounding absence of age related artifacts. Digital anomalies are not an issue. The audio is mono but exceptionally well balanced - at times sounding very close to having a stereo spread.
EXTRAS: Sorry, none!
BOTTOM LINE: "You Were Never Lovelier" has certainly never looked more lovely than in its DVD incarnation. An absolute must have for your library!

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