Warner Brothers, unlike many of the other major studios, has realized that there is interest in older films. Thanks to Ted Turner, the Warners catalogue not only includes classic films from Warner Brothers and Allied Artists, but also MGM and RKO. New this week are several classic MGM musicals. While the titles are offered as part of a boxed set entitled Classic Musicals from the Dream Factory, Vol. 2, the films are also available individually or as part of two films on one DVD.

The best of these films is The Pirate from 1948, starring Judy Garland and Gene Kelly, directed by Garland’s then-husband, Vincente Minnelli. The songs are by Cole Porter, and include the famous, “Be a Clown!”. The amazing Nicholas Brothers show off their dancing skills.

For those of you who admire Fred Astaire’s footwork, one of the “twofers” is a DVD with Royal Wedding and Belle of New York, both from the early Fifties. Directed by Stanley Donen, Royal Wedding is the movie with Fred Astaire doing a solo dance on the walls and ceiling. This was done by constructing a special set that rotated along the illusion to be created that Fred was defying gravity. The wedding of the title was that of England’s Queen Elizabeth.

The other titles new to DVD are Words and Music, about the songwriting team of Rogers and Hart, featuring Mickey Rooney, two Mario Lanza musicals, Toast of New Orleans with That Midnight Kiss, and the compilation film with nothing but show-stopping numbers, That’s Dancing!.

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