ldanv

Captain Blood is one of the most entertaining swashbucklers ever made. Flynn and DeHaviland are one of the most handsome couples ever to grace the screen, and the film is an action-packed yarn that will please any fan of adventure pictures. The picture boosted both principals to stardom, and it is easy to see why! The only flaw in the picture is that it was filmed in black and white. How I would love to see it in Technicolor, as in The Adventures of Robin Hood, made a few years later, also featuring Errol and Olivia.

This 1951 adaptation of Edna Ferber's novel is by far the best. Although glamorized by MGM, the film has a strong story line and hold's the viewer's interest throughout, due to skillful editing and pacing. Alas, in the 1950s audiences were still segregated in the US South, which was a large market for films. Lena Horne was under contract to MGM and, with her beautiful face and lovely voice, would have been perfect as Julie, but the studio was afraid her numbers would be cut or censored when the film was shown in the South, so Ava Gardner replaced her. How I would have loved to see Lena as Julie!

GIGI is the last great musical made by the famous Freed Unit at MGM, which produced most of that studios musicals. Superbly designed, beautifully photographed, well-acted and directed, this is the ultimate entertaining musical. All the players are perfectly cast, and the film flows at a good pace, with not a dull scene in the entire picture. There is an excellent book published entitled MGM'S GREATEST MUSICALS - THE ARTHUR FREED UNIT, by Hugh Fordin, which contains many fascinating details about the Freed Unit, and how it created these delightful pictures. This picture is a must for movie fans and students of film, as well as an example of the flowering of the American motion picture industry during the fabulous studio system. Alas, we won't see its like again. View and enjoy!