Audience Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Binding: VHS Tape
EAN: 9786301969642
Format: Color
ISBN: 6301969642
Label: MGM (Video & DVD)
Manufacturer: MGM (Video & DVD)
Number Of Items: 1
Publisher: MGM (Video & DVD)
Release Date: 1995-02-24
Running Time: 117
Studio: MGM (Video & DVD)
Theatrical Release Date: 1955-03-04

Hit the lights! An all-star cast and plenty of big numbers make this classic 1955 musical a blast. Russ Tamblyn, Vic Damone, and Tony Martin are three wacky sailors on leave. Debbie Reynolds, Jane Powell, and the immortal Ann Miller are three girls ready for romance. High jinks ensue. Miller's character, Ginger, is a nightclub singer, allowing for maximum dance numbers and costume changes. Yes, it's a big, silly MGM musical with plenty of songs, jokes, and splashy colors, and it's quite a bit of fun. Fred Astaire choreographer Hermes Pan provided the at-times hilariously elaborate dance numbers, and "Hallelujah," the big finale, is presented in all its original widescreen glory so you won't miss a cannon. It's enough to make you want to enlist. --Ali Davis

Customer Rating:
Summary: An old fashioned, feel-good musical comedy!
Comment: This film's unenthusiastic reception is often attributed to its "outdated" style (even for 1955.) However, this is no problem for those of us who enjoy old fashioned movies! The story features three sailors going home on leave; Russ Tamblin to see his sister, Vic Damone to visit his mom, and Tony Martin to patch it up with his fiancé of six years! Although the multiple storylines keep everything going at a brisk pace, there's still plenty of time for singing, dancing, and falling in love.

I was unfamiliar with Ann Miller and Tony Martin before I saw this, but I was by no means disappointed by their performances in this film. As the oldest of the three pals, Martin adds a lot to the story (and the score,) while Miller, his long-suffering girlfriend, showcases her great comedic talent and enviable tap dancing skills. The delightful Jane Powell catches the eye of an older man, which has her brother (Russ Tamblin) on the alert. Aided by a cute showgirl (Debbie Reynolds), Tamblin gets in trouble when he tries to rescue his sister from the schmoozer. Meanwhile, Vic Damone tries to reunite his mother and her new gentleman friend, who gets his nose out of joint because she lied to him about her son's age!

Full of memorable songs, charismatic stars, an amusing story and wonderful dancing, this is a musical to lift your spirits and put a smile on your face! Apparently I'm in the minority here, but I like Hit the Deck better than On the Town. This is now one of my favorite MGM musicals. If you're a fan of old-fashioned musicals, you'll like this one!

---

Customer Rating:
Summary: Hit the Deck
Comment: 'Hit the Deck' on DVD. About time too! The VHS tape was of very poor quality.

Perhaps, not the greatest of the MGM musicals, 'Hit the Deck' is still a worthy example of the studio's output. More than anything else, it is the Vincent Youmans score that is the real treasure - appealingly sung by the film's main stars backed by the outstanding arrangments written by some of MGM's best talent and, as usual, the distintive stylish playing of the MGM Studio Orchestra.

Can't wait to obtain my DVD copy.

[By the way, perhaps, one day if records are still available, it will possible to publish the names of the players in the MGM Sudio Orchestra over the years.]

John Grant-Silver
Prestwick Scotland

---

Customer Rating:
Summary: Hit the Deck
Comment: This is just one of my collection of many 1950's musicals. I love the music and dance numbers. The storyline was getting old by the time this was released (sailors on leave meet girls, fall in love, have problems, make up and live happily aver after). It falls well short of a previous, similar movie, "Anchors Aweigh," but then it didn't have Gene Kelly and Frank Sinatra. It did have some good names though, like Tony Martin (Husband of Cyd Charrise at the time), Jane Powell and Debbie Reynolds. It also has some pretty high steppin' dance routines, especially by Ann Miller who had the fastest feet in Hollywood, and the acrobatic dance style of the incredible Russ Tamblyn ("Seven Brides for Seven Brothers"). I gave it three stars because of the worn out storyline, but the singing and dance routines rate 5 stars.

---

Customer Rating:
Summary: MGM IS !) YEARS BEHIND
Comment: Why does it take MGM so long to put its movies on DVD? The last release of this movie is 1995! Get with the new age MGM and release "ALL" your old musicals on Dolby Digital DVD right away...

---

Customer Rating:
Summary: Strictly for Musical Fans!
Comment: Hit the Deck is like every other musical made at MGM during the 1950s. It stars Jane Powell, Tony Martin, Debbie Reynolds, Ann Miller, Vic Damone, Russ Tamblyn, Gene Raymond and Walter Pidgeon. Basically the story is about three sailors (Martin, Damone, and Tamblyn) who are on shore leave in San Francisco. While they are there they break into the home of a famous producer (Raymond)and beat him up because one of the sailors (Tamblyn) feels that he is putting the moves on his sister (Powell) while she auditioning for a role in his show. The shore patrol gets a complaint from Raymond so they search for the sailors. During this craziness Martin joins up with an old flame of his, show girl Miller. He wants to marry her but she refuses because he waited too long to propose. Also Tamblyn falls for show girl Reynolds and Damone falls for Powell.

This movie includes some great numbers such as:
"Keeping Myself for You" sung by Miller and Martin and danced by Miller.
"Lucky Bird" Jane Powell sings and dances a little while she is gretting ready to go to her auditon or "Date".
"A Kiss or Two" In this cute number Debbie Reynolds sings and dances with sailors.
"Why Oh, Why?" This song is first sung by the guys then later in the movie by the ladies
"Sometimes I'm Happy" Jane Powell sings this number to Raymond for her auditon.
"I Know that You Know" Damone and Powell sing and dance to this number while they are outside.
"Lady from the Bayou" This is my least favorite number. I really like Ann Miller but I think her voice is horrible in this number. She does do some great dancing in this number though.
"Ciribiribin" Kay Armen plays Damone's mom in the movie and she sings this number to cheer everyone up. Later the cast joins in the singing.
"More Than You Know" Martin sings this to Miller to shows how much he loves her.
There is this cool fun house sequence its sorta like a dance and it has Tamblyn and Reynolds in it.
" Join the Navy / Loo Loo" This is a showcase number in Raymonds show in the movie. It has sailors singing and dancing. Reynolds leads the singing and dancing herself.
"Hallelujah" This is the best number. This is the big production finale number. All the guys sing this led by Tony Martin at first then Kay Armen sings and she leads the girls. Then Ann Miller taps around these sailors. This is a great number!!!!

This is a cute musical but if really aren't the musical type then this movie isn't for you. This movie is a cute musical so if you enjoy musicals then is for you!

---