Bing Crosby Collection - Birth Of The Blues / Blue Skies

'Blue Skies' is one of the best Crosby vehicles as it has songs by Irving Berlin, Technicolor and lavish production values, as well as Fred Astaire doing one of his very best screen dance numbers 'Putting on the Ritz' - worth the price of admission on its own. He and Crosby also do 'A Couple of Song and Dance Men' together, and Billy de Wolfe provides comedy support. The story is limp and Joan Caulfield is a pallid leading lady , but hey, who cares?

The earlier 'Birth of the Blues' is a very pseudo concoction supposedly set in New Orleans, and one has to suffer the Groaner warbling 'Melancholy Baby' to a screen moppet, and Brian Donlevy as a most unlikely cornet player. Paramount never seemed to be able to showcase Mary Martin's undoubted talents adequately, so that she left Hollywood to become the toast of Broadway in 'South Pacific' and 'The Sound of Music'. Here she only shines in Johnny Mercer's clever song with Crosby and Jack Teagarden 'The Waiter, the Porter and the Upstairs Maid'.

What a beaut. 2 great movies on 1 DVD.

Bing Crosby was a giant and a pioneer in easy listening. He had a melodious voice and a laid back manner. Such a pity then that he doesn't receive his place in music history. These films brought it all back to me. The other Greats also shone.

Both movies have everything you would expect,and everything that you hoped for,regarding song and dance routines. The story lines also come up to expectation,and it's great to see some of the old popular stars like Rochester,doing his bit....Great!

If you like Bing you'll love these 2 films. 'Birth Of The Blues' is a standard Crosby film with good songs whilst 'Blue Skies' is a classic with Bing and Fred Astaire doing more than justice to several Irving Berlin songs.