The Unsinkable Molly Brown

As always ordering from Amazon has not disappointed me. I am very happy with the movie I purchased and look forward to making more purchases in the future.

A very enjoyable and entertaining film. I am a big classic musical fan and this is a fine addition to my collection.

After seeing this movie in the theater at the age of 9, and having that joyous memory imprinted on my mind, the one scene that really stayed with me for all these 44 years was Harve Presnell as Johnny Brown, singing "Colorado, My Home." Powerful baritone vocals beautifully enhanced by the sound engineers recorded echoes through the Rocky Mountains. One of my most captivating childhood movie memories for that matter. But this is by far Debbie Reynold's all-time cinematic jewel. Based on the real life Molly Brown, a true American rags-to-riches fantasy come true. A Meredith Wilson written musical with tunes that don't quite match the genius of his 'The Music Man,' but still delightful like the previously mentioned "Colorado, My Home," "Belly Up To The Bar, Boys," "I'll Never Say No" to name a few. Ms. Reynolds Best Actress Oscar nomination was well deserved, but that was Julie Andrews' year for "Mary Poppins," 1964. You may also remember Kathy Bates portrayal of Molly Brown in 1997's "Titanic." Director James Cameron even added the line about her accidently burning the money in the old wooden stove for a bit of humor.

Somewhat disappointing, was the picture quality in the transfer to DVD. After recently viewing this film on Turner Classic Movies, which appeared to be brilliantly restored, I found the DVD to be rather faded; more so than what I recently viewed on Turner. But the sound is perfect. Just listen to those echoes if you're watching in 5.1 surround.

Debbie Reynolds is at her best and you can't help but cheer for her. There is so much energy and never slows down. It's always good to see snobs humble. I believe it was her best movie. Glad I have it.

You have to love Debbie Reynolds. Whether it's her youthful zeal in Singin' in the Rain, her over-the-top turn as Grace's ditzy diva mother Bobbi on Will & Grace, or her daughter Carrie's vituperative portrayal of her (and Shirley MacLaine's tough-minded interpretation) in the roman-à-clef, Postcards from the Edge, Reynolds keeps on ticking with her enduring, all-American brand of foot-stomping peppiness. Based on the 1960 Broadway hit, this overlong 1964 musical is arguably her career highpoint since it's a true star vehicle and one of the last of MGM's big musicals that yielded a profit. The 2000 DVD does the film justice with a nice print that captures the vibrancy of the colors and the bombast of the musical arrangements. However, despite a musical score from Meredith Wilson (The Music Man), the problem remains that it's just not a very memorable entertainment. It certainly isn't for lack of Reynolds' all-cylinders-on approach.

Directed by Charles Walters and written by Helen Deutsch, the story is a fictionalized biopic of the legendary Molly Brown, an ill-mannered, illiterate backwoods girl intent on leaving her small town of Leadville to marry rich. She meets John Brown, who for no obvious reason is smitten with her, as he teaches her to read and she entertains the miners at the local tavern. They marry, strike it rich in silver and gold mines, and move to fashionable Pennsylvania Avenue in Denver. Shunned by the social register, they go to Europe where Molly is so embraced by royalty that she brings them back to Denver. The Browns hold a big society party which turns into a brawl, and they separate. Coming back from another European trip, Molly survives the sinking of the Titanic and keeps the spirits of her fellow lifeboat passengers up as they await rescue. Yes, this is the same Molly Brown that Kathy Bates portrays in the 1997 mega-hit.

Fresh off "The Music Man", Wilson has written a score that doesn't feature anything close to the gems of his previous hit with "Belly Up to the Bar, Boys!" the only one with enough rowdy energy to be considered rousing. In a role ironically slated for MacLaine, Reynolds is rambunctious and performs with exhausting brio, but there's no getting around the fact that Molly is a superficially driven character. I also find it amusing how contemporary she looks in her final scenes. Translating his Broadway role, Harve Presnell evokes Howard Keel's baritone and barrel-chested virility as her husband. With the decline of musicals, he didn't really find success in movies until he played the doomed father-in-law in Fargo over three decades later. Titanic aficionados will be disappointed that this part of the story is given short shrift toward the end with recycled footage from 1958's A Night to Remember. The DVD has the original theatrical trailer and a silly vintage short about the making of one of Reynolds' gowns. Only for die-hard fans of movie musicals.