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Holistic Guidance - A Song is Born
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List Price: $14.98
Our Price: $38.50
Availability: N/A
Manufacturer: Hbo Home Video
Starring: Danny Kaye, Virginia Mayo, Benny Goodman, Tommy Dorsey, Louis Armstrong
Directed By: Howard Hawks
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Average Customer Rating: 
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Audience Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Binding: VHS Tape
EAN: 9786302478372
Format: Color
ISBN: 6302478375
Label: Hbo Home Video
Manufacturer: Hbo Home Video
Number Of Items: 1
Publisher: Hbo Home Video
Release Date: 1992-04-01
Running Time: 113
Studio: Hbo Home Video
Theatrical Release Date: 1948-10-19
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Editorial Reviews:
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There's little question that a remake of a successful film, even if inferior to the original (witness Sabrina), can be well received by an audience. It's unfortunate that this highly entertaining film is often dismissed in the wake of its equally excellent and successful predecessor (Ball of Fire, starring Gary Cooper and Barbara Stanwyck). Both films are directed by legend Howard Hawks, whose stamp on each film is evident but also gives each its own flavor and tone. A Song Is Born is unique in that it was remade, not in the usual 20-plus years after the original, but a mere 7 years later. A Song Is Born must be considered a stand-alone film--both Danny Kaye and frequent costar Virginia Mayo deliver topnotch musical-comedic-dramatic performances. The story centers on a group of anachronistic music academics who become involved with a nightclub singer (Mayo), who they hope will teach them about contemporary music, but who also happens to be the moll of a well-known gangster (another Kaye-Mayo costar, Steve Cochran). This time around, Hawks makes full use of Technicolor (Ball was in black and white), and the richness of the film is a nice complement to the fun story and the great soundtrack. For the music fan--especially given the swing revival--there's plenty of eye candy, including Benny Goodman, Tommy Dorsey, Louis Armstrong, Lionel Hampton, Charlie Barnett, and Mel Powell. --N.F. Mendoza
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Spotlight customer reviews:
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Customer Rating:
Summary: TERRIFIC FUN.
Comment: Immensely enjoyable. Kaye plays Professor Hobart Frisbee, one of seven monastic intellectuals who reside at the American division of the Totten Foundation. Frisbee meets a pair of hip window washers who tell him all about jazz, jive and boogie woogie. Beautiful Virginia Mayo is Honey Swanson, a singer hiding out from her gangster boyfriend Steve Cochran (she's also trying to keep away from the DA who wants to testify against Cochran) In the original, Barbara Stanwyck played a stripper, who taught the boys the ropes about English slang circa 1941. Here, the plot is basically the same, but the Professor wants to learn all about Popular American music, 1948 style. Some purists will not like this version as much as the original, but the Technicolor is gorgeous, and so is Virginia Mayo! Her rendition of DADDY-O is sexy and hot. The film will be a huge treat for fans of the Big Band Era. Tommy Dorsey, Benny Goodman, Louis Armstrong, Lionel Hampton and Charlie Barnet are all cleverly showcased and their music is awesome! Swing music was rapidly dying out by 1948, but numbers such as STEALIN' APPLES, FLYING HOME, I'M GETTIN' SENTIMENTAL OVER YOU & MUSKRAT RAMBLE are timeless perennial favourites for fans to relish. A direct remake of BALL OF FIRE with Barbara Stanwyck and Gary Cooper, this movie was also made almost entirely by the same technicians, oddly enough.
Customer Rating:
Summary: a great film
Comment: I highly recommend this Danny Kaye film. It's filled with great music and musicians and Virginia Mayo is really beautiful in it and has great costumes. It's funny romantic, and very entertaining one that you can watch over and over.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Incredible World Class, All Star Film
Comment: This musical remake of "Ball of Fire" is great to watch and listen to. I do not know anywhere else that so many world class musicians have gotten together to not only perform, but act as well. Kaye and Mayo are incredible, giving better performances than Cooper and Stanwyck in the original. The direction and editting is crisp and clean. Subtle site gags are sprinkled thru out. The detail is marvelous and a homage to the American music of the day. When I saw this movie Danny Kaye became one of my favorite actors. If and when this comes out on DVD I will be getting it.
Customer Rating:
Summary: One of the Best
Comment: For all the hep cats and swing boys this has got to be one of the best entertainment values around. Danny Kaye along with an all-star cast of yesteryears' biggest and hippest music greats. Not only a feast for your eyes and ears, but your feet will want to get up and move with the groove...
Customer Rating:
Summary: Amazing movie! Great music! Danny and Virginia ... Wow!!
Comment: This is one of my favorite movies of all time. It has all of the best ingredients... romance, good guys, bad guys, a tiny bit of watered-down violence, and AMAZING music! The jazz legend cameos alone are worth twice the cost of the video!
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