'Anything Goes' is a 1954 episode of the Colgatte Comedy Hour, starring Ethel Merman, Frank Sinatra, Bert Lahr and Sheree North with Arthur Gould-Porter. Produced by Jule Styne, the TV special is an abridged version of Cole Porter's classic musical comedy. Reno Sweeney (played by Merman) is on her way from America to England to marry Sir. Evelyn Oakleigh (played by Gould-Porter). Reno's ex-boyfriend Harry Dane (played by Sinatra) follows her on the boat. Also on the boat is public enemy #1, Moonface Martin (played by Lahr) and his friend Bonnie LeTour (played by North).
Musical program
"Anything Goes" - Ethel Merman
"You Do Something To Me" - Frank Sinatra & Ethel Merman
"Anything Goes (Reprise)" - Ethel Merman
"I Get A Kick Out of You" - Ethel Merman
"I Get A Kick Out of You (Reprise)" - Frank Sinatra
"Just One of Those Things" - Frank Sinatra & Ethel Merman
"Blow, Gabriel, Blow" - Ethel Merman
"All Through the Night" - Frank Sinatra
"Friendship" - Ethel Merman & Bert Lahr
"I Get A Kick Out Of You (Reprise #2) - Ethel Merman & Frank Sinatra
Ethel Merman originated the role of Reno Sweeney on Broadway more than 20 years earlier
Watch the full TV special:
Closing remarks
'Anything Goes' is a good TV special with memorable and well-known Cole Porter songs, designed to showcase the talents of Ethel Merman and Frank Sinatra. The plot is very thin, and a little different to the Broadway show. Some of the character names are different, and many of the songs are removed. The musical 'Anything Goes' is very special to me, as I played Lord Evelyn Oakleigh in a production when I was in high school. Not as enjoyable and showstopping as the Broadway show but still worth watching.
'Harold Arlen's Home Movies' is a 2005 montage film of behind the scenes home movie footage shot by composer Harold Arlen on the set of 'The Wizard of Oz' (1939). The short film runs 4m30s and is introduced by Angela Lansbury.
'We Haven't Really Met Properly' is a 2005 video essay discussing the stars of The Wizard of Oz' (1939) Narrated by Angela Lansbury, we are introduced to: - the great Frank Morgan - Ray Bolger - Bert Lahr - Jack Haley - the beautiful Billie Bourke - Margaret Hamilton - Charley Grapewin - Clara Blandick - Terry the Dog (who played Toto) An interesting documentary which has lots of interesting trivia, including: - W.C. Fields was almost cast as The Wizard Of Oz - Ray Bolger almost turned down appearing in 'The Wizard of Oz' as he was originally offered the role of Tin Man
'The Wizard Of Oz Outtakes & Deleted Scenes' is a 2005 collection of deleted scenes from the film 'The Wizard Of Oz' (1939). Each clip is individually introduced by Angela Lansbury. The following clips are featured:
"If I Only Had a Brain" - entire song, including Ray Bolger's deleted dance break
"If I Only Had a Heart" - audio recording by Buddy Ebsen, who was originally cast as the Tin Man; the recording is accompanied by production stills
"Triumphal Return to Emerald City" - audio recording of this deleted musical number, accompanied by production stills
"Over the Rainbow (Reprise)" - audio recording of a song intended to be sung while Dorothy is locked in the witches castle, accompanied by production still
"The Jitterbug" - audio recording of a musical number cut after the first preview, accompanied by production stills and rehearsal footage filmed by composer Harold Arlen
'The Wonderful Wizard of Oz Storybook' is a 2005 short film consisting of an abridged retelling of the L. Frank Baum book, 'The Wizard Of Oz'. Narrated by Angela Lansbury, with illustrations by W.W. Denslow. I like how this short film remains faithful to the original book, rather than the 1939 film adaptation:
The silver shoes, rather than ruby slippers
Tin Man is known as The Tin Woodsman
The army of mice rescue Dorothy from the poppy field - in the movie they are rescued by Glinda the Good Witch of the North
The Wicked Witch of the West has one eye - in the movie she has two
The attack of 40 wolves, 40 crows & 40 bees - this was not shown in the movie
Battling through the china pottery people and hammerheads - this was not shown in the movie
Glinda is the Good Witch of the South - in the movie she is of the North
To return to Kansas, Dorothy chants "Take me home to Aunt Em" instead of "There's no place like home"
