By Doug Gerbino
The
beautiful Rita Hayworth shines in her first Technicolor© film-COVER
GIRL (1944). The beautifully restored transfer co-stars Hayworth with Gene Kelly (on a
loan out from M-G-M) and a young, pre-Sgt. Bilko Phil Silvers. This
lighthearted musical boasts a score by Jerome Kern and Ira Gershwin (the great
standard, “Long Ago, and Far Away†comes from this score) and was directed by
Charles “King†Vidor.
Twilight
Time has done a terrific great job presenting this film on Blu-ray and ANYTHING
that presents classic 1940s TECHNICOLOR© is a must for me. There was never
anything like it (and never will be.) Actresses like Rita Hayworth were made
for TECHNICOLOR©. This one is a backstage musical with Rita rising to the top as
a nightclub performer. Gene Kelly is
there to love and support her. Phil Silvers and Eve Arden are along for
laugh-support.Talk about star power… This was the first film in which Kelly was
allowed to design and stage his own musical numbers. His home studio, M-G-M,
had never given him that kind of control until he returned to the studio with
significantly more clout. Why didn’t Metro learn NOT to lend their stars out to
Columbia? It didn’t work back in ’34 when they loaned-out Clark Gable. Like Kelly, he returned to MGM a much bigger name and was consequently able to make far greater demands.
Calendar Girl is yet another worthy release by Twilight Time, which is fast becoming one of the premiere distributors of fine retro movies that would otherwise undoubtedly remain in studio vaults.
107
minutes. 1080p HD/ 1.33:1 Limited Edition of 3,000 units / Informational
booklet with liner notes by Julie Kirgo included.
Click here to order from Screen Archives.