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The Best Things In Life Are Free

Michael Curtiz (Director), Gordon Macrae (Actor), Sheree North (Actor) Rated:
NR
Format: DVD
3.5 3.5 out of 5 stars 52 ratings
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DVD
December 11, 2012 		—
1
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$20.60 $20.54
Genre Documentary/Biography, Musicals & Performing Arts/Musicals/General
Format NTSC
Contributor Tommy Noonan, Henry Ephron, John O'Hara, Phoebe Ephron, William Bowers, Gordon Macrae, Ernest Borgnine, Michael Curtiz, Sheree North See more
Language English
Number Of Discs 1

Product Description

Set in the 1920s, the story depicts the partnership of DeSylva, Brown, and Henderson, who team up to write songs for the George White Scandals, and the problems they incur as success grows. The story includes romance, nostalgic tunes, and good dance routines.

Product details

  • Aspect Ratio ‏ : ‎ 1.33:1
  • MPAA rating ‏ : ‎ NR (Not Rated)
  • Product Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 7.5 x 5.5 x 0.5 inches; 2.12 ounces
  • Item model number ‏ : ‎ 385704
  • Director ‏ : ‎ Michael Curtiz
  • Media Format ‏ : ‎ NTSC
  • Run time ‏ : ‎ 1 hour and 44 minutes
  • Release date ‏ : ‎ December 11, 2012
  • Actors ‏ : ‎ Gordon Macrae, Sheree North, Ernest Borgnine, Tommy Noonan
  • Producers ‏ : ‎ Henry Ephron
  • Studio ‏ : ‎ Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation
  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B00AB2NYSM
  • Writers ‏ : ‎ William Bowers, Phoebe Ephron, John O'Hara
  • Number of discs ‏ : ‎ 1
  • Customer Reviews:
    3.5 3.5 out of 5 stars 52 ratings

Customer reviews

3.5 out of 5 stars
3.5 out of 5
52 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

Anna Parkinson
5.0 out of 5 stars The Best Things in Life are Free
Reviewed in the United States on June 7, 2013
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I'm delighted ot have been able to find this video after many years of searching for it. If you're a collector of musicals of the 1950/60's this must be one of them. I did tape it from a TV programme some 20 years ago, with adverts, but have always tried to find a video which is such a pleasure to have found it. Unfortunately one of the only ones that Dan Dailey doesn't dance in- great pity, as the dance routines are lovely. I would like to add that Sheree North is superb in those dance routines and the music makes one nostalgic for the good old days, songs are beautifully interpretated by Gordon MacRae and Dan Dailey and Ernest Borgnine couldn't have done better. I hope this video will get the attention it deserves. Anna Parkinson
5 people found this helpful
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Peggy Oldfield
4.0 out of 5 stars A Good Musical With Strange Casting
Reviewed in the United States on June 6, 2013
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"The Best Things In Life Are Free" is a musical bio-pic about the writing trio of DeSylva, Brown and Henderson who gave us many memorable tunes in the 1920's. What strikes one as a bit strange is the casting of Ernest Borgnine as one of the three composers. Yes...that Ernest Borgnine who was such a despicable villain in "From Here To Eternity" and "Bad Day At Black Rock". Also, in this film, Dan Dailey is meek, mild and subservient. We are used to seeing Dailey as the outgoing, back-slapping wisecracker. The female lead is played by Sheree North was was one of the many blonde bombshells of the 1950's who did not go far in films. The musical numbers are all very familiar and we even see how they went about composing 'Sonny Boy' for Al Jolson. This 1956 film from 20th Century Fox does not hold up to the lavish M-G-M musicals of the same era but it is a watchable and interesting film and definitely worth viewing just to see Ernest Borgnine sing and dance!
6 people found this helpful
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Mr Brian J Hall
2.0 out of 5 stars A disappointing DVD presentation from Fox
Reviewed in the United States on March 7, 2013
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This was a big Fox CinemaScope production about three song writers, however, in this cropped version we are lucky to get two on the screen at a time. The big musical numbers have been ruined by not presenting the film in the original scope. Is this how Fox are going to treat their back catalogue from now on? If and when they arrive can we only expect "Beneath The Eight Mile Reef" and "The Showers of Ranchipur".
10 people found this helpful
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Mr. G. R. Civil
1.0 out of 5 stars what a disapointment
Reviewed in the United States on January 7, 2013
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hello, i have waited for this movie to be released on dvd, and i ordered it immediatly,and couldnt wait for it to arrive, what an absolute letdown,a magnificent film like this completely ruined in full screen. it is an absolute let down as no one would expect it to be shown like this nowadays, what a waste of money, i binned it in disgust and have got out my old vhs copy that was taken from the tv some 20 odd years or so , not a brilliant copy by far , [complete with adverts] but it is in wide screen and far better than the dvd i wasted my money on,. the best things in life are free, but cetainly not this dvd
35 people found this helpful
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Gordie fan!
5.0 out of 5 stars Gordon MacRAE Was The Greatest Entertainer That Ever Lived
Reviewed in the United States on August 7, 2013
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This biopic is great! It is all about the 1920s Broadway Juggernaut writing team of DeSylva, Henderson, and Brown! There is also a lot of great dancing with some hot chicks of the era! I recommend this for all jazz enthusiasts!
3 people found this helpful
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Pieter A. Kooijman
4.0 out of 5 stars Great musical at last out on dvd but needs to be in CinemaScope.
Reviewed in the United States on February 20, 2013
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I have always loved this film Sheree Norths dancing is outstanding by the look on her face she is enjoying every minute of it. Gordon MacRae is in fine voice it really shows when he sings The Birth Of The Blues. the whole production is fabulous great musical numbers and orchestra conducted by Lionel Newman the roaring twenties songs and music is great fun even Ernest Borgnine gets to do some numbers he really fits in well with Dan Dailey,Sheree and Gordon. This really is a delightful film directed by the great Michael Curtiz, now with Fox could only find a CinemaScope print to show this film in all its widescreen glory i would give 5 stars heres hoping!
9 people found this helpful
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AD
5.0 out of 5 stars The best things in life are free
Reviewed in the United States on January 15, 2013
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one of the best musicals ever made, Ernest Borgnine, Gordon MacRae, Sherry North and Dan Dailey... just wonderful. If you want to enjoy a couple of hours of nostalgia then buy it. Feel good movie.
4 people found this helpful
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classicmovielover
3.0 out of 5 stars The Best Things in Life Are Free
Reviewed in the United States on January 12, 2013
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After reading the reviews, I decided to purchase this movie anyway because I am a great fan of Gordon MacRae. I was very disappointed, though, with the screen shots. I loved the movie itself, but sometimes an actor was cut off the side of the screen. You might be able to see their arm or hand to know they were even in the scene. I agree that this movie should have been released in widescreen. Are the studios in such a hurry to release a movie that they don't care in what format it's released? So sad for the viewers. We are the ones who miss out.
15 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

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Alan Rogers
5.0 out of 5 stars Good old classic film
Reviewed in Germany on January 6, 2018
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It was as good, if not better, than I remembered. It was delivered quickly, and in original-wrapped condition. Very good.
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Western Fan Gal
5.0 out of 5 stars Enjoyable biopic musical from 1950s
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on October 31, 2014
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One of the most underrated musicals of the 1950s - the biopic was a device to loosely combine the lives of the songwriter/composer with a number of performances of their music - ranging from a simple presentation, usually in a Woolworths store where they sold sheet music for a few cents right up to a huge elaborate set piece or dream sequence. In this case, a number of the songs are just around rehearsal hall pianos, in hotel rooms etc

There's very little biography in this one, but some stunning songs and good performances by the 4 main stars - Sheree North is particularly good - she often was cast in bit parts in western films, but does a great job singing and dancing, and shows that if she'd been given more chances, she would have performed creditably well - how Hollywood used to waste some talents or woefully miscast them

Dan Dailey was always a stalwart song & dance man - Gordon MacRae had a beautiful singing voice but rarely danced, and Ernest Borgnine as tough guy lyricist Lew Brown is great

As the for the songs themselves, DaSilva, Brown & Henderson wrote some of the great popular songs of the 1920s - the title track needs no explanation, but great songs like "Button Up Your Overcoat" and "Birth of the Blues" (this one being the big production number of the film) are scattered throughout - very enjoyable
4 people found this helpful
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juergen thoms
3.0 out of 5 stars Best things in Life are free
Reviewed in Germany on June 2, 2015
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Mir hat die DVD zwar gefallen, aber ich war enttäuscht, daß sie nicht im
CinemaScope - Format (2.35:1) gewesen ist,
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denis hartley
4.0 out of 5 stars Four Stars
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on October 16, 2014
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Very good
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dee smith
5.0 out of 5 stars Great seller would use again
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on February 1, 2023
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A present for my dad
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