bobhopefan1940 Posted January 13, 2007 Any oppinions on this one? I held off watching until last night... I had seen clips of it and assumed I didn't like the way Kelly looked in it. Well, you know what happens when you assume! I loved it, Garland and Kelly were dynamite. I'm glad I recorded it now... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JackBurley Posted January 13, 2007 Put me on the side of "loving it' too. I love the Nicholas Brothers, so it was gratifying to finally see them in an MGM musical and appalling that it the number was cut in some southern markets. These dapper geniuses of dance were so underused. I'm grateful that we have them on record in Orchestra Wives and the other few Twentieth Century Fox musicals in which they appeared. I love Minnelli's color palette. I'm always fascinated by "Be a Clown" and how Arthur Freed so boldly stole the number for "Make 'em Laugh" in Singin' in the Rain. Didn't anyone say anything at the time? "Uh, Mr. Freed, you can't do that..." Why didn't Cole Porter sue? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bobhopefan1940 Posted January 14, 2007 Thanks for the reply, at least I know I'm not alone! I heard it was a big flop upon its original release... I showed it to a friend the other night and she loved it, too. Gene Kelly could have used a hair cut, though... I wish I could see the original "Voodoo" dance routine. What a shame we'll never see it. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Sheldon Posted January 17, 2007 "The Pirate" is one of my all-time favorites. Designed and performed beautifully. Very much ahead of its time. Glad you liked it!! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
d120421 Posted January 17, 2007 I like it quite a lot. I can understand why it failed to find an audience at the time, because it is a little too heavily stylized in some respects, but, despite her rather jittery onscreen demeanor, Judy gets some marvelously witty lines and situations (e.g., in response to another girl's offer to "sacrifice herself" to the pirate, Macoco: "He asked for ME!") all of which she delivers stylishly and with relish. And, though the film was produced primarily to enable to Judy to broaden her range into more sophisticated roles (its' failure apparently caused MGM to issue a policy of retrenchment where her image was concerned, beginning with EASTER PARADE), I generally think the film belongs to Gene Kelly, who has some terrific moments as the hammy actor posing as Judy's pirate hero. (e.g., to Judy: "You know, it isn't essential for you to love me to be in my troupe....It helps, but it's not essential.") Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MikeBSG Posted January 17, 2007 I've always liked this one, and I'm a little surprised when I find people who don't like it. I really like Kelly's dancing in this film. I think this catches him at the peak of his athletic ability. the "Be A Clown" number with the Nicholas Brothers is simply terrific. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Cinemascope Posted January 18, 2007 I love this musical too, and can't wait for a DVD release! BTW, here's what the book "The MGM Story" says about The Pirate: A bit too fancy for the masses, the film did well in city centers and developed an enduring cult following. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bobhopefan1940 Posted January 20, 2007 Thanks for the quote, cinemascope! So happy to see alot of people voicing their love for this musical. Does anyone know exactly why "VooDoo" was cut from the release? I hear it was supposedly too provacative, but was that due to the song or dance or what? Didn't they know before they filmed the scene it was going to be that way so why was it such a shock? Any info would be great. Thanks Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
romanticatheart Posted February 1, 2007 What happened to the original voodoo scene? ... ofcourse it ended up on the cutting room floor.... but.... was it tossed or is it locked up in a vault somewhere that may perhaps come out when they put the moive on DVD... hopefully. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JackBurley Posted February 1, 2007 I believe the footage was lost in the MGM archive fire that happen over 40 years ago. The soundtrack was kept in a separate site, so the song recording still exists but the film doesn't... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
romanticatheart Posted February 1, 2007 No footage....Rats!... I can't be sure but I think somewhere some how I heard the soundtrack quite some time ago. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JackBurley Posted February 2, 2007 Rhino Records -- in partnership with TCM -- released a limited numbered edition of 2,500 cds of The Pirate under their "Handmade" division. This disk includes the "Voodoo" outtake, along with outtakes of "Love Of My Life", an unused version of "Mack the Knife", demos of several numbers and interviews with Judy Garland and Gene Kelly. It might still be available at the Rhino Handmade website... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Cinemascope Posted March 9, 2007 > Rhino Records -- in partnership with TCM -- released > a limited numbered edition of 2,500 cds of The > Pirate under their "Handmade" division. This > disk includes the "Voodoo" outtake, along with > outtakes of "Love Of My Life", an unused version of > "Mack the Knife", demos of several numbers and > interviews with Judy Garland and Gene > Kelly. It might still be available at the Rhino > Handmade website... I must have missed out on that, I hope some are still available B-) Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Cinemascope Posted March 9, 2007 Oh yeah, I guess I should post it in this thread, too: The Pirate won't be showing again until the 19th, but it's worth looking forward to! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Grobanite19 Posted March 18, 2007 I love that movie! I can't believe how they stole that song! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Cinemascope Posted March 18, 2007 > I love that movie! I can't believe how they stole > that song! Which song? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bobhopefan1940 Posted March 18, 2007 I believe Grobanite is referring to the "Be A Clown" number in The Pirate, compared to the eerily similar "Make 'Em Laugh" number in Singin' In The Rain. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Cinemascope Posted March 18, 2007 Ah, well a lot of MGM musicals did recycle songs and melodies from previous studio hits. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bobhopefan1940 Posted March 18, 2007 "Make Em Laugh" was written by Arthur Freed and Nacio Herb Brown especially for Donald O'Connor. It's generally agreed that they stole the melody almost exactly from Cole Porter's "Be a Clown". Irving Berlin was visiting the set one day when he heard a playback of "Make 'Em Laugh". When Berlin asked whose song that was, Freed quickly changed the subject. --IMDb Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Cinemascope Posted March 18, 2007 lol Well they say that imitation is the sincerest form of flattery! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bobhopefan1940 Posted March 18, 2007 That's probably not exactly what Porter was thinking, but I'm sure it was somewhere along those lines Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
johnm001 Posted March 18, 2007 Even though they are basically the exact same song, I much prefer the number in SITR, compared to the one in THE PIRATE. But yes, it's a direct steal. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bobhopefan1940 Posted March 18, 2007 I do, too; John. I like the words better in Singin' In The Rain. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Cinemascope Posted March 18, 2007 > That's probably not exactly what Porter was thinking, > but I'm sure it was somewhere along those lines I would certainly think so! B-) Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
shearerchic04 Posted March 18, 2007 Hope it'll be in a stunning new transfer since it's coming this year. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
