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Whistle Stopper - Ship Ahoy
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List Price: $9.98
Our Price: $125.00
Your Save: $ ( % )
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Manufacturer: MGM (Warner)
Starring: Eleanor Powell, Red Skelton, Bert Lahr, Virginia O'Brien, William Post Jr.
Directed By: Edward Buzzell
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Average Customer Rating:  
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Audience Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Binding: VHS Tape
EAN: 9786302747249
Format: Black & White
ISBN: 6302747244
Label: MGM (Warner)
Manufacturer: MGM (Warner)
Number Of Items: 1
Publisher: MGM (Warner)
Release Date: 1995-02-24
Running Time: 95
Studio: MGM (Warner)
Theatrical Release Date: 1942-05
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Spotlight customer reviews:
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Customer Rating:
Summary: Pretty good musical!
Comment: Ship Ahoy, is a must-see for musical fans. The plot is not very strong, but the performances by the actors are great!
Red Skelton plays a hypochondriac author who meets Eleanor Powell while on a cruise. She's a dancing star with Tommy Dorsey and his orchestra and when she gets sent on a mission, she thinks she is working for the government. Frank Sinatra sings a few songs, the expressionless Virginia O'Brien stars as a friend of Eleanor Powell's, and Bert Lahr, best known for his performance as the cowardly lion in "The Wizard of Oz"The Wizard of Oz (Two-Disc Special Edition), adds some comedy as a friend of Red's.
Don't miss Eleanor tapping out a message, moarse code style, to the audience while performing with "On Moonlight Bay."
I agree, this movie should be put on DVD!
Customer Rating:
Summary: Eleanor Powell Needs To Be On DVD !!!!!
Comment: Anything shes in should be on a re-mastered DVD NOW! My God its been 12 years sinc this movie was released on VHS isnt it time to upgrade it????
Customer Rating:
Summary: One stares with wonderment at Eleanor Powell.
Comment: The plot of this enjoyable MGM musical is contrived and only occasionally amusing, dealing with espionage and romance but the focus of the film is properly pointed upon the tuneful interludes showcasing the enormously talented and athletic tap dancing Eleanor Powell, abetted by Tommy Dorsey and his orchestra, featuring Ziggy Elman, Buddy Rich and Frank Sinatra. Red Skelton shares top billing with Powell, and he and sidekick Bert Lahr are given most of the comedic minutes, although Skelton is more effective when he, if it can be believed, performs as Powell's love interest, with Virginia O'Brien actually providing most of the film's humor as the dancer's companion. The technical brilliance of Powell is evidenced during one incredible scene within which Buddy Rich contributes his drumming skills, and which must be viewed several times in order to permit one's breathing to catch up with her precision. Director Edward Buzzell utilizes his large cast well to move the action nicely along despite the rather disjointed script with which he must deal, and permits Powell's cotangent impossibilities to rule the affair, as is appropriate.
Customer Rating:
Summary: I'd rate it 4 stars, except for the rotten sound on this VHS
Comment: My two-star rating is for this particular VHS version, not for the movie. This is a fun musical comedy with Eleanor Powell, Burt Lahr, Virginia O'Brien, Red Skelton, and the Tommy Dorsey Orchestra at their best. It opens with the band performing "Hawaiian War Chant," featuring spectacular solo playing by trombonist Dorsey, drummer Buddy Rich, and trumpeter Ziggy Ellman. Unfortunately, the sound quality on this VHS is so poor that only about 25 percent of the dialogue is understandable. This is no exaggeration--it's so bad it needs subtitles. The musical numbers are also diminished by the poor sound. I recently saw the movie on Turner Classic Movies (TCM), and the sound was fine. My recommendation: Don't waste money on this VHS version. Wait for it to show again on TCM, or until it's reissued on a quality DVD.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Eleanor Powell's BEST
Comment: It is such a pity that Eleanor Powell, the fastest dancer in the world, did not make more musicals. However, this gem of a musical ranks as her best movie. Two of her best numbers, "I'll Take Tallulah" and "Hawaiian War Chant", are with the Tommy Dorsey Orchestra. It was great to see the star members of the Dorsey organization as well, like trumpeter Ziggy Ellman and drummer Buddy Rich. As well as his star vocalists like:Jo Stafford,the Pied Pipers, and Frank Sinatra.The plot is a flimsy story about espionage, but the cast helped to support Powell like:Red Skelton,Bert Lahr, and the dead pan diva Virginia O'Brien. O'Brien and Lahr are great together, and their number "Poor You" is almost a show stopper. Unfortunately, the movie runs only 95 minutes...which is not long enough. "Ship Ahoy" showcases some amazing talent-and swings to the Bing Band beat of its time.
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Editorial Reviews:
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Miss Winters is a dancer with the Tommy Dorsey Orchestra and is asked to secretly transport a prototype magnetic mine to Puerto Rico. She thinks that she is working for the US Government, but fails to see why she would be involved. The enemy agents got the plan from a pulp novel written by Kibble, who is also on the ship and falls for her. But then she overhears his new novel and believes that he is talking about her. So when they leave the boat, she ignores him, but somehow, the bags get switched and he gets the magnetic mine--which she must later retrieve. It is mainly a Tommy Dorsey showcase with Sinatra singing--Powell dancing--and a small plot.
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