Gene Kelly, Fred Astaire, Ginger Rogers Dance on Air … May 2 in Warner Home Video's New Classic Musicals Collection

Business Wire, April 26, 2000

Entertainment Editors & Film/Video/DVD Writers

NOTE TO MEDIA: Photo is available in a

Smart News Release(TM) on Business Wire's Home Page at

www.businesswire.com http://www.businesswire.com/cgi-bin/photo.cgi?pw.042600/bb2

BURBANK, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 26, 2000

Academy Award(R)-Winning Collection Features DVD Debuts

of "Anchors Aweigh," "On the Town" & "Gypsy" Plus

the Astaire & Rogers Collection -- All 10 Films Starring Movies'

Most Famous Dance Team -- Available Together for the First Time

"You can't have musicals without romance," Gene Kelly once said. "And they have to have a certain kind of music. I call it `I love you' music."

With spring in the air, romance is sure to blossom when Warner Home Video debuts its new "Classic Musicals Collection" on VHS and DVD May 2nd. Selections from the collection are also the ideal Mother's Day, Father's Day or Graduation gift, with VHS priced at a suggested $14.95 and DVD at $24.98.

The "Collections" include 28 of the best musical movies ever and introduce three new DVD titles, which are also available on VHS.

-- "Anchors Aweigh" stars the perfectly teamed Gene Kelly and

Frank Sinatra as two World War II sailors on leave in Los

Angeles. Nominated for five Academy Awards(R), including Best

Picture, and a winner for Best Adaptation Score, "Anchors

Aweigh" features one of the most memorable motion picture

scenes -- Gene Kelly and Jerry the Mouse (from the

Oscar(R)-winning duo "Tom and Jerry") performing the

live-action/animated dance sequence, "The Worry Song." The DVD

features an excerpt from the "MGM: When the Lion Roars"

documentary series recalling the origin and development of the

number.

-- "On the Town" also stars Gene Kelly and Frank Sinatra, this

time as sailors who quickly learn about life, love and

temptation during a fun-filled 24 hours in New York City.

Jules Munshin co-stars along with grand dames Ann Miller,

Betty Garrett and Vera Ellen. The original theatrical trailer

is included with this DVD.

-- "Gypsy" tells the story of the life and times of stripper

extraordinaire Gypsy Rose Lee and her determined stage mother.

Everything comes up roses for Rosalind Russell, Natalie Wood

and Karl Malden who star in the movie version of the Broadway

hit.

DVD bonuses with "Gypsy" include:

-- Outtake songs "You'll Never Get Away from Me (Duet

Version)" and "Together, Wherever We Go"

-- Original theatrical trailer

-- Production notes

The "Classic Musicals Collection" includes these additional top VHS (and, where noted, DVD) titles.

-- "Singin' in the Rain" largely considered the greatest movie

musical of all time, stars Gene Kelly, Donald O'Connor and

Debbie Reynolds. Kelly's celebrated show-stopping title number

and O'Connor's "Make 'Em Laugh" are just two of the enduring

highlights of this glorious motion picture. "Singin' in the

Rain" was voted the No. 10 film of all time by the AFI. Also

currently available on DVD.

-- "An American in Paris," also an AFI Top 100 Film, won six

Academy Awards(R), including Best Picture. Starring Gene Kelly

and Leslie Caron in the story of a struggling American artist

in Paris romantically involved with both an heiress and a

young French gamin, the enchanting musical features an

"ooh-la-la" score by the incomparable George Gershwin. Also

currently available on DVD.

-- "Gigi," winner of nine Academy Awards(R) including Best

Picture, features the consummate performances of Leslie Caron,

Louis Jourdan, Maurice Chevalier and Hermione Gingold. With a

score by Lerner and Loewe, "Gigi" is based on French author

Colette's story about a beautiful young girl being groomed as

a courtesan. Also currently available on DVD.

-- "Seven Brides for Seven Brothers," a rollicking musical about

rambunctious outdoorsmen and their unorthodox approach to

finding wives, was nominated for five Oscars(R), including

Best Picture, with a win for Best Scoring. The movie stars

Howard Keel and Jane Powell, was directed by Stanley Donen and

brilliantly choreographed by Michael Kidd. Also currently

available on DVD.

-- "Dangerous When Wet" is a romantic comedy starring Esther

Williams, Fernando Lamas and Jack Carson. In one underwater

sequence, Miss Williams cavorts with "Tom and Jerry," who

again appear in a major motion picture. Also, a young Roger

Moore is seen in a small role.

-- "Meet Me in St. Louis" stars Judy Garland who falls for and

sings about "The Boy Next Door." "The Trolley Song" and "Have

Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" are also in the musical

directed by Vincente Minnelli and featuring Margaret O'Brien

who won a special Oscar(R) as the year's best child actress. A

bonus documentary, "Meet Me in St. Louis: The Making of An

American Classic," is included along with a photo re-creation

of the deleted song "Boys and Girls Like You and Me."

-- "Babes in Arms" stars Mickey Rooney and Judy Garland in the

classic "Let's-put-on-a-show" movie musical based on Rogers &

Hart's Broadway hit featuring the song "Good Morning."

-- "The Band Wagon" stars Fred Astaire as a faded movie actor who

returns to Broadway. Memorable moments include "Dancing in the