Bing Crosby: Screen Legend Collection (Double or Nothing / East Side of Heaven / Here Come the Waves / If I Had My Way / Waikiki Wedding)
by David Butler, Frank Tuttle, Mark Sandrich, Theodore Reed
List Price:
Our Price: $3.00
You Save: $16.98 (85%)
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Category: DVD
See more DVD details
Buy this DVD movie at online store in your country
Canada
Canada
DVD details
Actor: Bing Crosby, Bob Burns, George Barbier, Martha Raye, Shirley RossDirector: David Butler, Frank Tuttle, Mark Sandrich, Theodore Reed
Brand: NBC Universal
Writer: David Butler
Writer: Allan Scott
Writer: Charles Lederer
Writer: Don Hartman
DVD: Region Code 1
Audio: English (Unknown), Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono; French (Subtitled); English (Original Language), Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono
Format: Box set, Color, Dolby, DVD, Full Screen, NTSC, Subtitled
Picture Format: 1.33:1
Running Time: 462 minutes
DVD Release Date: 2006-11-14
Audience Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Studio: Universal Studios
DVD Reviews of Bing Crosby: Screen Legend Collection (Double or Nothing / East Side of Heaven / Here Come the Waves / If I Had My Way / Waikiki Wedding)
DVD Review: Focus on the music
Summary: 3 Stars
It is obvious that any purchaser of this DVD set must like Bing Crosby and his voice. If not, watch at your peril. The set consists of 2 early programmers from Paramount, 2 from Universal and one big budget wartime musical. The early Paramounts are the best because Bing's easy going charm seems genuine without any sign of the mechanical manipulation of the later Bing.
- "Double or Nothing" and "Waikiki Wedding" benefit from excellent scores, good supporting casts and witty screenplays with a degree of satire. Martha Raye steals scenes in both and the latter benefits from Shirley Ross who had one of the best voices of any screen vocalist of the thirties. There is a charming scene in the cockpit of a yacht when Bing and Shirley improvise the song "Blue Hawaii" and their warmth and rapport is a delight. The prints of both films are in good condition and have that pleasant "old film" patina.
- "East Side of Heaven" and "If I had My Way" move away from satire to the cornball sentimentality of the later Bing. Each has a hokey song which became a trademark for Bing but they leave me cold. The former is superior and Joan Blondell is a sprightly leading lady but completely wasted. The story is dumb, the art direction ordinary and the supporting cast variable. The latter is unbelievably corny and boring. This is the sort of film where the cast are laughing at their jokes while the audience stares in stony disbelief. Poor Gloria Jean is directed to grin all the time whatever the circumstances so you want to strangle her. Her voice is a light falsetto and hardly melds with Bing. The prints of both films are excellent and considerably brighter than the early Paramounts.
- "Here Come the Waves", with a first rate print, is wartime propaganda. Betty Hutton plays twins who join the Navy and is surprisingly convincing. All the scenes with both Huttons on screen are cleverly done. Bing plays a singer in the mould of Frank Sinatra with a squealing fan base of bobby soxers. If there is one thing Bing did not have, it was sex appeal and he is too old, as usual, for the part. There are some good songs, particularly "Accentuate the Positive" which has Bing and Sonny Tufts, of all people, in blackface and some of the most bizarre precision dancing to be seen on celluloid. This is one musical in which the leaden plot takes up too much screen time.
The DVD has no extras, except one trailer, which is reflected in the relatively low price. Also, the inability to select scenes is a pain as you fast forward through the poor plots to reach the songs. None of the films are classics, though "Double or Nothing" is a forgotten treasure but there are some entertaining songs, so if you like Crosby's voice, you'll be happy enough.
More Bing Crosby: Screen Legend Collection (Double or Nothing / East Side of Heaven / Here Come the Waves / If I Had My Way / Waikiki Wedding) reviews:
1 2 3 4
1 2 3 4
Description of Bing Crosby: Screen Legend Collection (Double or Nothing / East Side of Heaven / Here Come the Waves / If I Had My Way / Waikiki Wedding)
Bing Crosby's extraordinary singing, striking good looks and captivating screen presence made him a Hollywood legend. Five of his most timeless musicals can be enjoyed time and time again in the Bing Crosby: Screen Legend Collection. Featuring co-stars Martha Raye, Betty Hutton, Joan Blondell and Gloria Jean, these classic films illustrate the seemingly effortless acting and mellow singing style of an eternal screen legend. Waikiki Wedding It's up to press agent Tony Marvin (Bing Crosby) to maintain the "aloha" spirit when a beauty pageant winner (Shirley Ross) decides her grand prize trip to the islands is less than paradise. Double or Nothing The odds are in favor of fun when an eccentric millionaire's will has four honest people scrambling to double their received sum in thirty days in order to gain the entire estate. East Side of Heaven Cab driver Denny Martin (Bing Crosby) is driving to a new tune when he reluctantly receives an abandoned infant and embarks on a hilariously twisted path to find the baby's parents. If I Had My Way A little money, a lot of music, and a whole lot of manpower help a hopeful construction worker (Bing Crosby) and an orphaned girl (Gloria Jean) find her uncle and build a busting business. Here Come the Waves Ahoy sailor! Bing makes waves in Uncle Sam's fleet as a swinging crooner who decides to join the Navy and immediately sails into choppy romantic seas with two twin sisters.Bestsellers in DVD
![The Story of Jeremiah [VHS] Image](/images/noimg.gif)
The Story of Jeremiah [VHS]Vision Video; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Wresting With God [VHS]by Vision Video
Vision Video; Published: 1990-10-01; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Price in other shops:
Study Bible Video with Workbook [VHS]Spring Arbor Distributors; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Best price: $7.95
Price in other shops:
Tempo:Childrens TV Favourites Video [VHS]HarperCollins Audio; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Best price: $9.17
Price in other shops:
Tempo.Herbs:Parseley'Sb/ Party Video [VHS]HarperCollins Audio; VHS Tape; VHS Video
![Strike the Original Match [VHS] Image](/images/Strike-the-Original-Match-VHS-0001374079-X.jpg)
Strike the Original Match [VHS]New Liberty Films; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Price in other shops:
![Medjugorje The Miracles and the Message [VHS] Image](/images/Medjugorje-The-Miracles-and-the-Message-VHS-0001373293-X.jpg)
Medjugorje The Miracles and the Message [VHS]JPN Film Production; Release date: 1995-12-15; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Best price: $29.99
Mayo Clinic Echocardiography Review Course for Boards and Recertification DVD 2008by Mayo
DVD
Price in other shops:
Pediatric Diagnostic Imaging DVD: Single Userby Oakstone
DVD
Price in other shops:
Cost Accounting [VHS]by Charles T. Horngren, George Foster, Srikant M. Datar, Howard Teall
Pearson Canada, Toronto; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Similar DVDs, VHS Video, Audio CDs
Icons of Screwball Comedy, Vol. 2 (Theodora Goes Wild / Together Again / A Night to Remember / The Doctor Takes a Wife)Sony; Release date: 2009-08-04; DVD
Best price: $8.58
Price in other shops:
Bing Crosby: The Television Specials Volume 2- The Christmas SpecialsInfinity; Release date: 2010-11-09; DVD
Best price: $5.44
Price in other shops:
Icons of Screwball Comedy, Volume 1 (If You Could Only Cook / Too Many Husbands / My Sister Eileen / She Wouldn't Say Yes)Sony; Release date: 2009-08-04; DVD
Best price: $8.00
Price in other shops:
TCM Greatest Classic Film Collection: Astaire & Rogers (The Gay Divorcee / Top Hat / Swing Time / Shall We Dance)Warner Brothers; Release date: 2010-11-02; DVD
Best price: $7.72
Price in other shops:
The Country GirlCROSBY,BING; Release date: 2004-09-21; Published: 2004-09-01; DVD
Best price: $5.09
Price in other shops:
Birth Of The Blues/ Blue Skies - Double FeatureUniversal; Release date: 2003-05-06; Published: 2003-05-01; DVD
Best price: $8.24
Price in other shops:
Rhythm On The Range/ Rhythm On The River - Double FeatureNBC Universal; Release date: 2003-05-06; DVD
Best price: $7.92
Price in other shops:
High SocietyWarner Brothers; Release date: 2008-05-13; DVD
Best price: $5.51
Price in other shops:
The Bing Crosby Collection (College Humor / We're Not Dressing / Here Is My Heart / Mississippi / Sing You Sinners / Welcome Stranger)UNI; Release date: 2010-11-02; DVD
Best price: $28.36
Price in other shops:
On the Road With Bob Hope and Bing Crosby Collection (Road to Singapore/ Road to Zanzibar/ Road to Morocco/ Road to Utopia)HOPE,BOB/CROSBY,BI; Release date: 2004-05-04; DVD
Best price: $12.17
Price in other shops: