Warner Archive Collection’s latest genre-themed compilation collects six classic movies based on Broadway musicals. Wonderful stars, such as Marlon Brando, Frank Sinatra, Natalie Wood, Gene Kelly, and Twiggy appear in this assortment of musicals. The six musicals are: Guys and Dolls, Gypsy, The Pajama Game, Damn Yankees, Briagadoon, and The Boy Friend.
“6 big stage musical favorites are brought together for this dazzling collection of musical favorites. Frank Loesser’s Guys and Dolls starring Marlon Brando and Frank Sinatra, Rosalind Russell and Natalie Wood star in Gypsy, the dynamic choreography of Bob Fosse adds zing to Doris Day in The Pajama Game and Gwen Verdon in Damn Yankees, Gene Kelly and Cyd Charisse shine in Lerner and Loewe’s Brigadoon, and Ken Russell’s wild imagination creates an homage to the genre as Twiggy stars in The Boy Friend,” says the official description.
The earliest film included is 1954’s Brigadoon, which stars Gene Kelly, and while it isn’t my favorite Kelly performance, him and Cyd Charisse are still charming throughout. 1955’s Guys and Dolls is the most famous of the films included, and for good reason, as it’s a classic with a stacked cast and “Luck Be a Lady” is still quite catchy. The biggest surprise for me was 1957’s The Pajama Game, which features most of the original Broadway cast (similar to the Rent film) but adds in Doris Day. Interestingly, it was planned to be remade by John Hughes in the 90s, but it sadly never happened, although the original holds up well and can still be enjoyed.
1958’s Damn Yankees is also iconic and is quite unique as a supernatural sports musical (can you think of a more niche genre?). It is still fun to revisit with “Whatever Lola Wants” being a great song and its cast largely being the Broadway cast besides Tab Hunter. I wasn’t very familiar with the Rosalind Russell and Natalie Wood-led Gypsy, but it has lyrics by Stephen Sondheim and is quite funny. Finally, 1971’s The Boy Friend, which stars Twiggy, is the most modern film of the bunch. One of director Ken Russell’s most underrated movies, it really showcases Twiggy as a star throughout and has aged quite well.
Each film is included on its own disc in the Broadway on the Big Screen collection, which means we get several bonus features included, just like the original stand-alone releases. Brigadoon features four deleted scenes and a trailer, while The Pajama Game has one unused song, a song selection, and a trailer. Guys and Dolls has pretty extensive bonus features as it has two length featurettes titling to 50 minutes on the film’s creation, plus several interviews, musical performances, and its trailer. Damn Yankees is the weakest of the bunch, with two trailers and a song selection. Finally, Gypsy has two thought-to-be-lost songs and a trailer, while The Boy Friend has a nine-minute featurette that has Twiggy and Russell discussing the film and its trailer.
Broadway on the Big Screen Collection Blu-ray Review: Final Verdict
A strong and varied collection of musical movies that were based on Broadway hits, the Broadway on the Big Screen Collection Blu-ray is an easy recommendation for any fans of the genre. Not only does it feature plenty of star power, but the transfers are strong with each of the six films looking sharp and sounding great.
Disclosure: News received product from the distributor for our Broadway on the Big Screen Collection Blu-ray review.
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