ON THE TOWN [1949 / 2015] [Blu-ray] [USA Release] M-G-M’s Big Color By Technicolor Musical! The Freshest, Most Invigorating and Innovative Screen Musical of Its Decade!
New York, New York, it's a wonderful town, especially when sailors Gene Kelly, Frank Sinatra and Jules Munshin have a 24-hour shore leave to see the sights . . . and when those sights include Ann Miller, Betty Garrett and Vera-Ellen.
Co-directed by Gene Kelly and Stanley Donen, based on the Broadway hit and set to an Academy Award® winning adaptation score, and ‘ON THE TOWN’ changed the landscape of movie musicals, opening filmmakers' eyes to what could be done on location. And when brilliant location and studio production numbers are blended, it could be as here and ebullient, up-and-at-'em perfection. The Bronx is up and the Battery's down, but no one can be down after going ‘ON THE TOWN.’
FILM FACT No.1: Awards and Nominations: 1950 Academy Awards®: Win: Best Music Scoring of a Musical Picture for Lennie Hayton and Roger Edens. 1950 Golden Globes: Nominated: Best Cinematography in Color. 1950 Writers Guild of America: Win: WGA Award (Screen) for Best Written American Musical for Betty Comden and Adolph Green. 1951 BAFTA Awards: Nominated: BAFTA Film Award for Best Film from any Source [USA]. 2018 National Film Preservation Board, USA: Win: National Film Registry for National Film Preservation Board for the film ‘ON THE TOWN.’
FILM FACT No.2: The film ‘ON THE TOWN’ had a budget of $1.5 million, one of Metro's lowest for a Technicolor musical, with a planned filming schedule of just 46 days. The musical numbers staged on location in New York were the first time a major studio had accomplished this. The location shots in New York took nine days. Shooting in New York City was Gene Kelly and Stanley Donen's idea, which studio head Louis B. Mayer refused to allow, pointing out the studio's excellent New York sets in its backlot. Gene Kelly and Stanley Donen held their ground, and finally Louis B. Mayer relented and allowed a limited number of days shooting in New York. The primary problem experienced by the production was dealing with crowds of Frank Sinatra's fans, so some shots were made with the camera located in a station wagon to reduce the public visibility of the shooting. The Breen Office of the MPAA refused to allow the use of the word "helluva" in the song "New York, New York," and so it was changed to "wonderful."
Cast: Gene Kelly, Frank Sinatra, Betty Garrett, Ann Miller, Jules Munshin, Vera-Ellen, Florence Bates, Alice Pearce, George Meader, Murray Alper (uncredited), Bette Arlen (uncredited), Anne Beck (uncredited), Bea Benaderet (uncredited), Gladys Blake (uncredited), Eugene Borden (uncredited), Leonard Bremen (uncredited), Don Brodie (uncredited), Ralph Brooks (uncredited), Claire Carleton (uncredited), Peter Chong (uncredited), Dorinda Clifton (uncredited), Hans Conried (uncredited), Jeanne Coyne (uncredited), Lester Dorr (uncredited), Tom Dugan (uncredited), Helen Eby-Rock (uncredited), Luigi Faccuito (uncredited), Wanda Flippen (uncredited), Clair Freeman (uncredited), Frank Hagney (uncredited), Carol Haney (uncredited), Timmy Hawkins (uncredited), Bern Hoffman (uncredited), Curtis Loys Jackson Jr. (uncredited), Richard Kean (uncredited), Milton Kibbee (uncredited), Jack G. Lee (uncredited), Hank Mann (uncredited), Gloria Marlen (uncredited), Bert May (uncredited), Helen McAllister (uncredited), Sid Melton (uncredited), Diane Nance (uncredited), Kerry O'Day (uncredited), Norman Ollestad (uncredited), William 'Bill' Phillips (uncredited), Royal Raymond (uncredited), Alex Romero (uncredited), Frank J. Scannell (uncredited), Lee Scott (uncredited), Jack Shea (uncredited), Robert Smith (uncredited), Robert R. Stephenson (uncredited), Tyra Vaughn (uncredited), Dick Wessel (uncredited), Robert B. Williams (uncredited), Bud Wolfe (uncredited), James A. FitzPatrick [Trailer Narrator] (uncredited) and Judy Holliday [Daisy Simpkins' M-G-M Date voice] (uncredited)
Directors: Stanley Donen and Gene Kelly
Producers: Arthur Freed and Roger Edens
Screenplay: Adolph Green (screenplay/ based upon the musical play and book), Betty Comden (screenplay/ based upon the musical play and book) and Jerome Robbins (idea)
Composers: Conrad Salinger (uncredited)
Cinematography: Harold G. "Hal" Rosson, A.S.C. (Director of Photography)
Image Resolution: 1080p (Technicolor)
Aspect Ratio: 1.37:1
Audio: English: 1.0 DTS-HD Master Audio
French: 1.0 Dolby Digital Mono Audio
Spanish [Castilian]: 1.0 Dolby Digital Audio
Spanish [Latin]: 1.0 Dolby Digital Mono Audio
English: 2.0 Dolby Digital Stereo Audio
Subtitles: English SDH, French, Spanish [Castilian] and Spanish [Latin]
Running Time: 98 minutes
Region: All Regions
Number of discs: 1
Studio: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer / Warner Home Video
Andrew’s Blu-ray Review: ‘ON THE TOWN’ [1949] may not be the greatest Hollywood musical ever produced; compared to the likes of Singin' in the Rain,’ ‘The Wizard of Oz,’ The Band Wagon’ and several others would all garner consideration with ‘Singin' in the Rain’ probably receiving the most attention. But ‘ON THE TOWN’ is so unconventional for its time, is separate from the rest for several very special reasons, Most significantly, the film was partially shot outdoors; it instigated the use of increased on-location shooting for films of that genre. ‘ON THE TOWN’ is one of the few features in which the talents of two filmmakers are so happily blended; Stanley Donen and Gene Kelly, the co-directors, later went on to make ‘Singin' in the Rain’ and ‘It's Always Fair Weather.’
‘ON THE TOWN’ is undoubtedly one of the key works in the development of the Hollywood musical. Up to that time, musicals were entirely studio-bound, with rare exceptions such as the Brooklyn Bridge sequence in ‘It Happened in Brooklyn’ [1947]. Directors Stanley Donen and Gene Kelly wanted to use extensive locations, but the studio allowed only one week of shooting in New York. It proceeded at breathless pace, often using hidden cameras to avoid crowd problems. Another innovative feature, also part of the Broadway stage production, is their use of modern dance to advance the plot in sequences such as "Miss Turnstiles" and "A Day in New York." Gene Kelly's interest in using modern dance would develop further in the climactic ballet of ‘An American in Paris’ [1951] and ‘Invitation to the Dance’ [1956].
Gabey [Gene Kelly], Chip [Frank Sinatra] and Ozzie [Jules Munshin] have exactly 24 hours' shore leave in New York and are determined to see all the sights and find some romance along the way. Chip is pursued by Brunhilde "Hildy" Esterhazy [Betty Garrett], an aggressive taxi-driver. Ozzie hits it off with Claire Huddesen [Ann Miller], an anthropologist, while visiting the Museum of Natural History. Gabey, on the other hand, has his hopes pinned on a seemingly impossible dream: "Miss Turnstiles," whose poster he sees on the subway. However, this is New York and a lot can happen in one day. Frank Sinatra, in one of his first starring roles, gets his chance to croon, Gene Kelly to dance, and Jules Munshin to pull in the yuks, while the rest of the cast, particularly Vera-Ellen and Ann Miller, shine brightly in their own set pieces, with ballet and tap dancing showstoppers, respectively.
Characterisations are established not only by dialogue and performance but in terms of song and dance: "Prehistoric Man," set in the Museum of Natural History and tap-danced by anthropology student Ann Miller displays her character's aggressiveness in pursuing Jules Munshin; in "Come Up to My Place," shy Frank Sinatra finally succumbs to the charms of taxi driver Betty Garrett. These two women are certainly no standard, passive heroines, and are unusually liberated for their day by the manner in which they relate to, and compete with, men.
The two aforementioned dance numbers, along with the songs "New York, New York" and "Come Up to My Place," were the only musical numbers retained by Leonard Bernstein's original score. Betty Comden and Adolph Green, were hired by M-G-M to write new lyrics. Roger Edens composed six new songs, receiving an Academy Award® along with Musical Director Lennie Hayton in the process.
‘ON THE TOWN’ is an energetic, effervescent combination of reality and fantasy, especially compared to ‘West Side Story’ and ‘Funny Girl’ and so many other subsequent musicals owe their very existence to the creativity and vision of Gene Kelly and company. If modern audiences are able to keep an open mind to the prevalent views of the times the film had been made in, there is more than enough in ‘ON THE TOWN’ to recommend for lovers of musicals, particularly those who enjoy the dancing of Gene Kelly and co., and the singing of Frank Sinatra. It's charming, humorous, effervescent, and a perfect postcard to all that exemplifies the infinite paths and possibilities of New York City at its “Big Apple” finest.
ON THE TOWN MUSIC TRACK LIST
NEW YORK, NEW YORK (Music by Leonard Bernstein) (Lyrics by Adolph Green and Betty Comden) [Sung and danced by Gene Kelly, Frank Sinatra and Jules Munshin]
MISS TURNSTILLS (Music by Leonard Bernstein) [Danced by Vera-Ellen and Chorus]
COME UP TO MY PLACE (Music by Leonard Bernstein) (Lyrics by Adolph Green and Betty Comden) [Sung by Betty Garrett and Frank Sinatra]
A DAY IN NEW YORK (Music by Leonard Bernstein) [Danced by Gene Kelly, Vera-Ellen, Carol Haney and dancers]
I FEEL LIKE I’M NOT OUT OF BED YET (uncredited) (Music by Leonard Bernstein) (Lyrics by Adolph Green and Betty Comden) [Sung by Bern Hoffman]
PREHISTORIC MAN (uncredited) (Music by Roger Edens) (Lyrics by Adolph Green and Betty Comden) [Sung by Ann Miller] [Danced by Ann Miller, Jules Munshin, Gene Kelly, Frank Sinatra and Betty Garrett]
MAIN STREET (uncredited) (Music by Roger Edens) (Lyrics by Adolph Green and Betty Comden) [Sung by Gene Kelly] [Danced by Gene Kelly and Vera-Ellen]
YOU’RE AWFUL (uncredited) (Music by Roger Edens) (Lyrics by Adolph Green and Betty Comden) [Sung by Frank Sinatra and Betty Garrett]
ON THE TOWN (uncredited) (Music by Roger Edens) (Lyrics by Adolph Green and Betty Comden) [Sung and danced by Gene Kelly, Frank Sinatra, Jules Munshin, Ann Miller, Betty Garrett and Vera-Ellen]
COUNT ON ME (uncredited) (Music by Roger Edens) (Lyrics by Adolph Green and Betty Comden) [Sung by Frank Sinatra, Betty Garrett, Jules Munshin, Ann Miller, Alice Pearce and Gene Kelly]
THAT’S ALL THERE IS, FOLKS (uncredited) (Music by Roger Edens) (Lyrics by Adolph Green and Betty Comden) [Danced by Gene Kelly, Frank Sinatra and Jules Munshin]
Waltz Nr. 15 (uncredited) (written by Johannes Brahms) [played during the dance practice scene on the piano]
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Blu-ray Image Quality – ‘ON THE TOWN’ Warner Home Video presents and really delivers the goods on this Blu-ray release with an amazing 1080p images and of course is helped with a 1.37:1 aspect ratio. The Technicolor is rich and fully saturated. The Technicolor mis-registration that plagued the inferior DVD release has been eradicated. A light smattering of grain seems indigenous to its source and contrast levels are bang on. Age-related artefacts that were prevalent on the DVD have been cleaned up. The image is smooth, consistent and satisfying. Honestly, there’s nothing to complain about here. Please note that ‘ON THE TOWN’ was shot in three- strip Technicolor by Harold Rossen, and Warner Home Video’s 1080p encoded image on this Blu-ray was clearly not beneficiary of the patented "Ultra Resolution" process recently featured on Warner Home Video release of ‘The Band Wagon.’
Blu-ray Audio Quality – The 1.0 DTS-HD Master Audio is in fine shape and, within the limitations of the era, does justice to the musical numbers and vocal performances, which were studio-recorded. The dynamic range is limited, but the highs aren't harsh and the lows aren't bad. Both dialogue and lyrics are clearly rendered and ‘ON THE TOWN’ has always sounded a bit like this and I am not entirely certain as per the reasons why. But, Warner Home Video has done their utmost to preserve and remaster where possible. You will surely not be disappointed with the audio results.
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Blu-ray Special Features and Extras:
Special Feature: Mr. Whitney Had a Notion [M-G-M B/W Short] [1949] [1080i] [1.37:1] [10:46] This ‘Mr. Whitney Had a Notion’ entry tells of a little-known story in American history. Eli Whitney, famous for inventing the cotton gin, was given a U.S.A. government contract to produce a large number of rifles over a two-year period. In order to fulfil the contract, he developed the concept of mass production. Instead of one person crafting a whole rifle, several persons make individual parts that are assembled later. Narrated by John Nesbitt. Cast: Lloyd Bridges, Erville Alderson, Howard Negley, Harry Hayden and Mitchell Lewis. Director: Gerald Mayer. Producer: Herbert Moulton. Screenplay: John Nesbitt. Composer: Rudolph G. Kopp (uncredited). Cinematography: Harold Lipstein.
Special Feature: M-G-M Vintage Cartoon: Doggone Tired [1949] [1080p] [1.37:1] [7:36] First great variation on the topic of the noise, rather obsessional in Tex Avery's work. An energetic dog needs a night's rest if he's going to be ready for rabbit hunting at dawn. A crafty rabbit overhears a hunter tell his dog that he'll have to get plenty of sleep if he wants to catch the rabbit in the morning. In the interests of self-preservation, the rabbit devotes his entire night to keeping the dog awake in a variety of creative ways. Voice Cast: Bea Benaderet [Operator] and Daws Butler [Hunter]. Director: Tex Avery. Producers: Fred Quimby and William Hanna [co-producer] (uncredited). Screenplay: Jack Cosgriff and Rich Hogan.
Theatrical Trailer: ‘ON THE TOWN’ with James A. FitzPatrick – The Voice of the Globe [1949] [480i] [1.37:1] [3:00] This Special Theatrical Trailer for the M-G-M ‘ON THE TOWN.’ One unfortunate thing with this particular trailer, especially for its time, is the wording at the end of the trailer, where it states, “Twice as gay as ‘Anchors Aweigh.’ After completing training in the dramatic arts, American documentary film director James A. FitzPatrick worked for a while as a journalist. In 1925 James A. FitzPatrick entered films and specialized throughout his career in travel documentaries. Besides directing, he also wrote, produced, and narrated many of his films. M-G-M distributed a series of his travel films under the umbrella titles "Fitzpatrick Traveltalks" and "The Voice of the Globe," as did Paramount as "VistaVision Visits." The hallmarks of James A. Fitzpatrick's films was Technicolor photography and stolidity [apathy demonstrated by an absence of emotional reactions. emotionlessness, impassiveness, impassivity, phlegm, unemotionally, indifference, apathy and an absence of emotion or enthusiasm].
Finally, some people consider ‘ON THE TOWN’ to be more Gene Kelly's film than Frank Sinatra's, and it's true that Gabey is considered the lead role on Broadway. Still, the show remains a brilliant quintessential ensemble piece that has been an all-time favourite Hollywood Musical film of mine, and especially with the strong performances by all six actors and actresses playing the sailors and their whirlwind romantic partners. Directors Gene Kelly and Stanley Donen found the right chemistry, which is why the film worked so well despite a watered-down script. Since Warner Home Video is unlikely to re-master this Blu-ray, this is the best we will ever probably get, but despite this, I am so happy to have it in my Warner Home Video Collection, as it is far superior to anything that was previously released on the inferior DVD format. Highly Recommended!
Andrew C. Miller – Your Ultimate No.1 Film Aficionado
Le Cinema Paradiso
United Kingdom
