It Happened in Brooklyn - Black and White print [DVD]

Film buffs looking for examples of excellent Sinatra films are better directed to the Sinatra DVD box set, "The Golden Years", and also the individual DVDs, "Manchurian Candidate" (1962), "On the Town" (1949), "From Here to Eternity" (1953), "Guys and Dolls" (1955), "Pal Joey" (1957), and "High Society" (1956), among others. For film buffs who are also major fans of Frank Sinatra, however, this DVD box set is a real treat, as none of these films have been released in DVD format before, and many of them have been unavailable in VHS format for years.All of the following films are in B&W, except for "The Kissing Bandit":"Higher and Higher" (1943) was Sinatra's first full-length film, and, with Jack Haley on board in the lead male role, is somewhat amusing and entertaining filmfare. The highlights, for Sinatra fans, are Sinatra singing "A Lovely Way to Spend an Evening" and "The Music Stopped", along with a few other songs. The plot is thin, with Sinatra playing himself, but this film is still a must for major Sinatra fans who will want to own this dated, but rather fun romp. (2 1/2 out of 5 stars)"Step Lively" (1944) is much more exciting fare for Sinatra fans, as Sinatra plays the lead male role and shares his first on-screen kiss (with co-star Gloria de Haven) in an amusing tale about a Broadway producer (George Murphy) trapped, with his cast, in a Manhattan hotel suite because he can't pay his bill. The plot is amusing, and Sinatra sings four songs, including "As Long as There's Music". (3 1/2 out of 5 stars)"It Happened in Brooklyn" (1947) is easily the most interesting and entertaining of the films in this box set. Co-stars, Peter Lawford (long before he was in the Rat Pack!) and Jimmy Durante help make this film a thoroughly entertaining musical. Although the musical performances are mostly low-key and not big production numbers, the songs (by Jules Styne and Sammy Cahn) are top-notch, including "Time After Time", "I Believe", "The Brooklyn Bridge", and "It's the Same Old Dream". The high point of the film is the Durante-sinatra duet, "The Song's Gotta Come From the Heart". Also, in the 6 degrees of separation department, a young teenaged Andre Previn is featured on piano (he AND Frank Sinatra each married Mia Farrow a few decades later...)(4 out of 5 stars)"The Kissing Bandit" (1948) Of all of Sinatra's 50-plus films, this is the film that made Sinatra BLUSH the most when reminiscing about his film career. Yes, this one nearly makes the SO-BAD-IT'S-GOOD department! Sinatra LOOKS fabulous throughout, in lovely Spanish outfits in glorious color, but his acting is at its worst (though a lot of Sinatra fans, like myself, find him rather charming in this film), and the songs are not memorable. This film is definitely worth seeing for its near-camp value, but maybe not a film most people would want to own...the far-superior "Meet Danny Wilson" from 1951 (actually, a VERY GOOD film!) would have made a better choice for this boxed set than "The Kissing Bandit" or the next film in the set...(2 1/2 out of 5 stars)"Double Dynamite" (1951, but, apparently, filmed years earlier) has the saving grace of co-star GROUCHO MARX! However, even his considerable talents cannot save this film from having the dubious distinction of being even worse than "The Kissing Bandit"! The great Jane Russell also co-stars, but the script is very weak and Sinatra seems spaced-out throughout the film. However, for major Sinatra and Marx fans, there is some charm to be found here. There are also two songs. (2 out of 5 stars)Now, I've judged these films AS FILMS rather harshly. But, as vehicles for Frank Sinatra in the early years of his career, "Step Lively" and "It Happened in Brooklyn" are really quite excellent. "The Kissing Bandit" and "Double Dynamite" are good for laughs (the wrong kind, but laughs they are!) and have a certain charm to them. Even at his worst, Sinatra could not help but entertain! For that, and for historical value, I rate this DVD boxed set 3 1/2 out of 5 stars, overall.

My mother being a shut-in and a music fan enjoys watching musicals and I rent or purchased practically every one I can find so she can watch them all. For a modern movie lover this may seem a bit slow and obviously the script is simplistic and like other movies of it's day not as polished as many modern movies. It's almost corny in many spots. But it's easy going, you see the skills of these different stars and there's enough good points to make this a great movie.My mother actually has physical pain from elevated blood pressure and excitement so even moving old time musicals can get on her nerves. This is an easy going movie that she has watched and can watch many times. Funny thing is the more I see it the more I like it and the more genius of the individual stars and their talents show through. I wish this was on DVD. I wish it was in color, but of course it's what it is. It's about common people living for the most part with talents and dreams not only working their way up, but helping others. All the ingrediants of a great movie, that are somehow lost in most modern day movies, but somewhat loosely put together. Actually some of the formulas and seemingly simpliness of the movie is what makes it so endearing when you watch it, but perhaps I've been watching to many musicals with old mom.If you like Terminator and other action films with a ton of special effects, then this will put you to sleep. If you like interesting little sketches with very talented and likable actors (even if you know it's an act they do a great job), then this is a MUST SEE. I really like it. Other sometimes under-rated films that are like this would be Holiday Inn, another good easy going movie that has a kind of unexpected and loose script. Holiday Inn's script is tighter. Both good movies.Greg

I had never seen this movie made when Frank Sinatra was just getting popular and teens were screaming at his Paramount Theater live performances.Cute movie ~ also with actors you love to watch on the screen performing with Frank. 💕I loved it.Enjoyable, fun, entertaining, great songs!

Absolutely wonderful movie! So much fun. I am a fan of Jimmy Durante as my grandmother loved him and we watched him when I was a child. He is wonderful. Young Sinatra, what else do you need to say? Peter Lawford is sweet in this movie and Kathryn Grayson rounds out the musical cast. Good story, great music. Fantastic scene of young boy dancing. I have never been able to find out any information on him, but it is almost worth buying the movie just to see his dance scene in the gym with Sinatra and Durante! I have wanted my own copy for years and one finally came available. I snapped it up fast!

This film is worth watching for Sinatra and Jimmy Durante. Their star power comes through despite a weak plot, and they shine both on their own and together. Their duet on "The Song's Gotta Come from the Heart" is the comic high point and endlessly enjoyable.What raises the whole shebang to the next level, though, is the outstanding score by Jule Styne and Sammy Cahn, the songwriting team whose talent Sinatra had brought to the fore. "The Brooklyn Bridge" has a lilting melody and memorable lyrics. The two standards, "Time After Time" and "It's the Same Old Dream," receive a smooth and completely sincere delivery in the style Young Blue Eyes had already perfected. His audiences in both, though radically different, prove extremely appreciative, and so will you.

Sinatra may not be Cesare Siepi, but his "La ci darem la mano" really captures the spirit of temptation and mutual seduction with a smile. The movie itself is no masterpiece, but delicious in its own vintage way. Enjoy with your fave chocolate!

The product was for a friend, who happens to love the movie black or white.

just after W.W.2 Frank sinatra is an ex GI returning home back to brooklyn were he meets Jimmy durante an old friend who helps him find a girl friend KATHRYN GRAYSON and a job singing in a music store. sinatra and Durante sings two great songs together the song =I BELEVE .and the song= THE SONG'S GOTTA COME FROM THE HEART . and the young and beautiful.Kathryn Grayson sings mozart with sinatra, and sings the opera Delibes peter Lawford sings two songs and sinatra sings , ITS THE SAME OLD DREAME , and one of his best balled songs =TIME AFTER TIME. a good entertainig enjoyable fun musical.excellent picture and sound quality. no extras this plaid on my region 2 player.

As a fan of Kathryn Grayson and Frank Sinatra I thoroughly enjoyed this film. The storyline is weak but who cares when you can kisten to the singing and look at Kathryn. The duet in Italian is great and I have it on CD and it was a treat to actually see how it worked into the film. A light-hearted musical of the period and heartily recommended.

Great film collection with some lovely songs from Sinatra's early years.A must have for any Sinatra fan like me.

Such a joy to watch - thoroughly enjoyed it!!!

Following the superb restoration of both sound and vision in the 2 DVD set 'Higher and Higher' and 'Step lively' this is another early feel good film from the early days of Frank Sinatra. A light romantic tale easy on the eyes and ears. Sinatra's obviously warm rapport with Jimmy Durante is both natural and comical.Co-starring Peter Lawford and Kathryn Grayson together with 'songsmiths' Julie Styne and Sammy Cahn. Other musical luminaries including Johnny Green, Axel Stodahl and Andre Previn result in a top line MGM comedy musical from 1947. Relax, kick your shoes off and wallow in good music and fun.David Turner (London UK)