Earlier in the year, I had received five Fox Cinema Archives DVDs, which consisted of Woman's World (read my review here), Zane Grey's Western Union (read my review here), Coney Island, Sentimental Journey, and Sitting Pretty. I had watched the all the films back in May, but for some reason or another I never wrote the reviews for three of the titles. So instead of posting three separate reviews, I'm featuring my thoughts on all three DVDs in one post.
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Up first is the 1943 'Gay Nineties' Musical "Coney Island." Directed by Walter Lang, the film stars Betty Grable, George Montgomery, Cesar Romero, Charles Winninger, and Phil Silvers!
The film centers on Eddie Johnson (played by George Montgomery) arriving on Coney Island to find a way to make some quick cash. This is when he runs into his old friend (and rival) Joe Rocco (played by Cesar Romero), who is running a popular saloon. Throughout the film, Eddie and Joe fight and scheme for the affection of Kate Farley (played by Betty Grable), a saloon entertainer.
My Thoughts
While I'm not the biggest fan of musicals, I enjoyed watching Coney Island. The plot reminds of Holiday Inn, where two friends are scheming to get the attention of a beautiful entertainer. While there are plenty of silly moments, the best thing about the film is the comedic chemistry between Cesar Romero and George Montgomery.
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| Buy Link: Amazon |
Based on the short story The Little Horse by Nelia Gardener White that appeared in an issue of Good Housekeeping in 1944, Sentimental Journey (1946; directed by Walter Lang) tells the story of a dying actress, Julie Beck Weatherly (played by Maureen O'Harha), who takes in an orphaned girl named Hitty (played Connie Marshall), so her husband (played by John Payne) will have someone to take care of him after her death.
This film is a real tearjerker with Maureen O'Hara and John Payne, who both starred in Miracle on 34th Street in 1947. Yes, it has several sappy moments, but it's a well-written film with great performances from the cast.
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| Buy Link: Amazon |
Based on comic novel Belvedere by Gwen Davenport, Sitting Pretty (1948; directed by Walter Lang) centers on a Harry and his wife Tacey King (played by Robert Young and Maureen O'Hara), who are in a desperate search to find a nanny to take care of their three boys. After placing an advertisement looking for a nanny, they find the perfect person for the job - Lynn Belvedere (played by Clifton Webb).
Well, technically, Tacey thought she was hiring a woman named "Lynn" instead a man when she gave the job to Belvedere. Despite a few objections, Belvedere settles into their home, where he intends on writing a book.
My Thoughts
No, I wasn't aware that the '80s Mr. Belvedere television series was based on a book, let alone a movie. Actually, if I'm correct, there were three Belvedere films starring Clifton Webb. Anyway, I enjoyed watching the film. There are plenty of laugh out loud gags to keep you entertained.
Final Thoughts
Overall, I enjoyed watching all three films, and I'm giving them a rating of four out of five coffee mugs. There are no special features or extras on the DVDs.
*Note - I received a complimentary copies from Fox Home Entertainment. All opinions are my own.
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