Search - The Gang's All Here on DVD

Way over the top

M. Boring | Columbus, Ohio United States | 05/06/2006

(4 out of 5 stars)

"20th Century Fox please release this film on DVD!!!

The first time I saw this movie I laughed so hard I nearly made
myself sick. This film starts off with an over the top production number "Brazil/You Discover Your In New York" which
makes you think that nothing in the film can ever get more campy. Alice Faye comes in with a couple of great numbers-
"A Journey to a Star" and "No Love, No Nothin'." But fasten your
seat belts because Carmen Miranda and Busby Berkley are about to
bring you "The Lady In the Tutti-Fuity Hat." This is easily one
of the most over the top musical numbers ever put on film. The
number is supposed to be on nightclub stage that must the size
of a small town. Bananas are everywhere including chorus girls
dancing with giant bananas!! At the end of the number a close-up
of Carmen keeps pulling back to reveal Carmen's hat with an endless stream of bananas flowing out and Carmen surrounded by
giant strawberries! Edward Everret Horton and Charlotte Greenwood are on hand to add to insanity. Then to top it off
Alice ends the film with "The Polka-Dot Polka" which brings to
mind Busby's "Shadow Waltz." In "Shadow Waltz" he used neon violins in this number he uses what look to be neon hoolahoops!
On any level the film is a prime example of a director who just
doesn't no where to stop. This isn't a classic Hollywood musical
but it is top notch Hollywood Camp!"

Took over 20 years to get this onto video!

Usonian33 | United States | 02/06/2007

(4 out of 5 stars)

"AT LAST.

Fox never released this surreal film on VHS (why!?), and so it became one of those Holy Grail films that movie buffs have been waiting for (it was released on laserdisc ages ago, though I know of no one who actually owns it). It's great that we are finally getting the DVD.

Was lucky to see this in a theater in NYC 2 years ago, where the crowd loved every minute of it--especially the antics of Carmen Miranda. It does have the dumbest script of any musical I can think of, which is really saying something--especially when you consider other Fox wartime musicals.

On the big screen it LOOKS amazing: the color, the art direction, the costumes, the choreography, the neon hoops, the bananas. (UPDATE: Just watched the DVD--and sadly the color is not replicated very well...the print I saw was much, much richer than this. Oh well.)

How can you not love a movie where the whole cast is washed away by a fountain of purple water at the fade out? I'm not kidding.

Thank you Fox, Thank you."

The 2008 remastered version is a big improvement

Middle America Electronica Fan | Fairway, KS United States | 07/12/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"For fans of this movie: yes, the newly remastered edition is much better than the 2007 release. Colors are back to their original super-saturated intensity. If you love this movie, and have the lackluster 2007 version, buy it again, and use the old copy as your "lend it to a friend" copy (which you'll most likely never see again, since everyone I've ever shown this movie to loves it immediately). It's worth the extra $15 or so to have it right this time. Get it."

Busby Berkeley goes "bananas"!

John Malanga | Pacifica, CA United States | 05/23/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Busby Berkeley's The Gang's All Here (1943, 20th Century Fox) is a World War II, fun-filled Technicolor musical treat. Berkeley is best know for his spectacular song and dance numbers in the Warner Brothers' depression-era black & white musicals like Forty Second Street, Dames and Gold Diggers. In this film, he is at the top of his game as evident in the outrageous "The Lady In The Tutti Fruiti Hat" number with Carmen Miranda, scantilly clad chorus girls and gigantic bananas and strawberries. The movie opens on a quieter note with the beautiful song, "Brazil".
Other numbers worth mentioning are "Minnie's In The Money" featuring a vocal by Benny Goodman and a swinging jitter-bug routine. "Paducah" is a another lively tune with Benny Goodman, Carmen Miranda and Tony Demarco. Two beautiful ballads are provided by the talented Alice Faye: "A Journey To A Star" and "No Love No Nothing". The other big production number, "The Polka Dot Polka" with Alice Faye is a kaleidoscopic extravaganza with colorful neon tubes and beautiful chorus girls. The supporting players add to the movie's charm. In addition to Carmen Miranda's singing and comedic talents, Edward Everett Horton and Eugene Pallette provide additional comic moments, as does the likeable Charlotte Greenwood and her signature high-kicking dance routine. However, James Ellison's performance as the male lead, leaves something to be desired. Since the movie was made during the height of the war, Tyrone Power, John Payne or Don Ameche may not have been available. Look for brief appearances by Jeanne Crain at a pool party and June Haver as the hat check girl. Both would become stars at Fox soon after the release of this film. The Gang's All Here was originally released on DVD as part of the Alice Faye Collection (volume one). The cover artwork pictured here, at the time of this review, is the same as the previous DVD release. The new artwork for this release is different but amazon.com is still using the artwork for the original DVD release - this makes it confusing for buyers."