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SOMETHING FOR THE BOYS

TICOOO | Boston, MA | 07/08/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"BEAUTIFUL TRANSFER! Nice war time musical. Carmen shows her comedy side in this film and of course her over the top outfits! I won't go into the story line. If you're a Miranda fan, you'll enjoy this FOX TECHNICOLOR MUSICAL. Michael O'SHEA looks a little too old and his uniform is a few sizes too small...to bad they didn't cast PERRY COMO in this leading role. Also O'SHEA is not the best singer either...most all other cast members do a great job...EXCEPT...PHIL SILVERS who is loud and ANNOYING!
Carmen has two colorful production numbers, the first, typical Miranda, the second and last is Carmen in a totally different appearance THAN WE HAVE SEEN IN THE PAST, a different 'short'costume than usual showing more leg...the lighting in this number is somewhat over the top...however, looks great in this pristine transfer. Only problem I had is in the EXTRA FEATURES: The "STILL GALLERY" feature in my copy doesn't allow my access to it...used two different DVD players and both had the same problem. The Film, Scenes, Trailer, and the SUPERB DOCUMENTARY are no problem. The documentary is in four parts...great interviews, vintage still photos and live performances, both candids and her FOX production numbers make this one of the best Documentaries out there...the Documentary is worth the price of this DVD ALONE! I give it 5 STARS...the 'still' problem may be in MY COPY ONLY...(don't let this deter you from puchasing this film). A MUST HAVE for the CARMEN MIRANDA FAN! THANK YOU FOX!!!"

Buy no other version than this!

M. A. Dunnington | Stourbridge, West Midlands United Kingdom | 06/24/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This film has been released so many times and always in poor quality. Not this time - this is a truly magnificent transfer. The vison and sound are the best!!!!! A bonus feature is to isolate the soundtrack - oh boy do you get a sound like no other - it is truly magnificent!!!!!!! I write this on behalf of Perry Como fans - buy this now - you will not be disappointed - thank you so much 20th Century Fox!!!!!!"

Something For The Boys....and Us!! 4 1/2 Stars

Robert Badgley | London,Ontario,Canada | 01/27/2009

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Something for the Boys,while aimed directly at our fighting boys during WW2,surprsingly still offers up some delightful kicks for audiences now; going on over 60 years later!
The story involves three totally different people but all cousins:Harry Hart(Phil Silvers),Blossom Hart(Vivian Blaine) and Chaquita Hart(Carmen Miranda).Phil is a sidewalk salesman,Vivian a singer and Carmen works in a factory.All get summoned to a lawyers office to collect an inheritance but they have never met each other before.It is delightful listening to Carmen explain her Hart "heritage" to a curious Vivian.I won't spoil it but I will say that her father was a Fuller Brush salesman from Terre Haute,Indiana.They all get driven out to a run and broken down old southern mansion/plantation.None of them have any substantial funds between them in order to fix the place up,let alone live there.Enter their saviours,the U.S.Army.Seems one Sgt.Fulton and his men had been scouting the mansion as a place to billet the married servicemens' wives.All come to a quick agreement on terms and elbow grease is applied liberally by both the Harts and the army to get the place into shape.To earn funds for the Hart cousins as part of the deal,the wives agree to help perform shows for the troops.Blaine and O'Shea are starting to get real cozy when an ex society high-hat acquaintance of O'Shea's of the female persuasion by the name of Melanie(Sheila Ryan),drops by.She immediately splits up Blaine from O'Shea and tries to take things over.But Blaine and Miranda get even with the busy body by introducing Ryan to some cock-eyed kitchen gadgets which splatter her with egg yoke and half drown her.Ryan runs out and into the arms of an army lieutenant,crying and complaining.At the same time a group of single GIs are caught leaving after some heavy gambling action Silvers had provided for them.The lieutenant declares the home off limits.Next day the army drives through the area doing maneuvers.O'Shea(part of the blue army) drops by trying to get right with Blaine but the house is taken over by the red army and,unable to get out,he is captured.Silvers comes up with a novel way to get a signal to the blue army regarding O'Sheas' predicament.Miranda,from the beginning of the picture,has had the uncanny ability to receive radio signals,stemming it turns out,from carborundum in her teeth.This substance is in the grinders from the factory she worked in.Silvers rigs up a contraption(you have to see this to believe it),plugs Miranda into a low volt current and voila they are able to home in on the army transmitting frequency.They can send and receive and they get their SOS out to them.The entire group stalls the red army departure just long enough for them to be captured and all ends happily.
The plot weaves its' way along very well and there is very little let up or dead spots,which keeps the interest level up.Carmen Miranda AGAIN steals every scene she appears in and this little force of nature entrances again and again.She sings with Silvers and Blaine in a joint number and has two solos with "Batuka Nero" and "The Samba".Vivian Blaine was a good looker,had a very pleasant singing voice and was a solid player in the 20th Century stock of players."Atlanta,Ga" is a song most definitely directed to all the GIs in the movie theatre.It's a sizzler with Blaine vocalizing while her back up dancers wow,dressed in polka dot bow ties and tight fitting body stockings.Silvers really shows a much better range in this movie(as compared to"Four Jills and a Jeep") and his talent is shown at its best.He has a wonderful number near the end of the film called "Southland" as he tries to stall the red army from leaving the house.It's played very over the top,spoofing southern songs and throwing in a bit of Al Jolson to boot!Funny stuff.Perry Como is cast as a Sgt.Green and this is an appropriate moniker as he makes his film debut here.He has two good and solid sentimental ballads to sing;"I Wish we Didnt have to say Goodnight" and "I'm Going Nowhere With You".
Technically,as with most of the other musicals 20th Century have released as of late,this one has been transferred very well.The print is very clear and the colours are quite vivid.Included on this DVD are still galleries,posters,trailers, and a very special addition:A documentary on Carmen Miranda called "The Girl From Rio".It is an excellent overview of Carmen and her career and highly recommended watching for all Miranda fans.
In conclusion I urge all fans of musicals of the 30s and 40s to get this flick.It has a well paced plot,all the stars are on top of their collective games,the music is good and it has that wonderful documentary on Carmen.This DVD definitely has something for...everyone!"

Good package of OK Musical

Douglas M | 08/12/2008

(4 out of 5 stars)

""Something for the Boys" is the second film released in 1944 in which Carmen Miranda was the star attraction instead of supporting one of the Fox blonde superstars, Betty Grable and Alice Faye. This was a Col Porter stage musical, no less, but Fox managed to turn into one of their somewhat vulgar technicolour confections with the associated good and bad points.

The good points include:

- Miranda herself, with a larger part than usual and very funny as a human radio transmitter
- spectacular technicolour and sound
- Sheila Ryan, very entertaining as a pretentious socialite
- Michael O'Shea as a relaxed leading man for the pleasant Vivian Blaine

The bad points include:

- Phil Silvers, trying too hard to be funny and overacting painfully
- Perry Como, who could sing while asleep. He has absolutely zero screen presence
- some of the worst taste costumes imaginable for Miranda, Blaine and the chorus girls

The print of the film is superb and the extras excellent including production and marketing stills and the original trailer. Best of all though, is that the DVD includes a 4 part documentary on Miranda herself. If at times, the historians repeat themselves and the editing inadvertantly highlights this, we still get a detailed understanding of Miranda's importance and the tragedy behind her eventual demise. Miles Kreuger appears and, as usual, towers above all the other historians with his intelligent comments and clear diction. He is invaluable.

This is an excellent package because of the documentary and good value if purchased as part of the Carmen Miranda Collection."