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Amazon.com: Not only was Molly Brown unsinkable, so is the musical based on her amazing life. Released in 1964, The Unsinkable Molly Brown gave Debbie Reynolds one of her most memorable roles and earned her an Academy Award nomination (she lost to Julie Andrews in Mary Poppins). Paired with Harve Presnell, fresh from the Broadway version, Reynolds and Presnell sparkle as Molly and Johnny Brown, well-meaning but gauche nouveau millionaires who take on stuffy Denver society (who are loathe to admit that they are nouveau riche as well). During their Molly-guided quest for "respectability," the pair learns that old adage--all the money in the world can't buy happiness or contentment. From her beginnings as a foundling floating down the Colorado River to her fateful trip on the Titanic, Molly Brown aims upward, swearing "I Ain't Down Yet." Reynolds imbues her Molly with energy, determination, and poignancy. Molly feels every slight keenly and is convinced that more and bigger will make her place in society. Husband Johnny, who promised "I'll Never Say No," finds it harder and harder to keep his promise as he watches his wife's single-mindedness bury her effervescent personality. In the songs by Meredith Willson (The Music Man), Presnell's rich baritone soars on "Colorado, My Home" and begins a rousing "He's My Friend," while "Belly Up to the Bar, Boys" is a bawdy, catchy romp during which Reynolds shines--rollicking across the dance floor, she's a red-headed dynamo in a gauzy green dress. --Dana Van Nest Customer Reviews: Rating: 
Date: 2008-05-19
Rambunctious Musical Proves To Be No Debbie Downer
You have to love Debbie Reynolds. Whether it's her youthful zeal in Singin' in the Rain, her over-the-top turn as Grace's ditzy diva mother Bobbi on Will & Grace, or her daughter Carrie's vituperative portrayal of her (and Shirley MacLaine's tough-minded interpretation) in the roman-à-clef, Postcards from the Edge, Reynolds keeps on ticking with her enduring, all-American brand of foot-stomping peppiness. Based on the 1960 Broadway hit, this overlong 1964 musical is arguably her career highpoint since it's a true star vehicle and one of the last of MGM's big musicals that yielded a profit. The 2000 DVD does the film justice with a nice print that captures the vibrancy of the colors and the bombast of the musical arrangements. However, despite a musical score from Meredith Wilson (The Music Man), the problem remains that it's just not a very memorable entertainment. It certainly isn't for lack of Reynolds' all-cylinders-on approach.
Directed by Charles Walters and written by Helen Deutsch, the story is a fictionalized biopic of the legendary Molly Brown, an ill-mannered, illiterate backwoods girl intent on leaving her small town of Leadville to marry rich. She meets John Brown, who for no obvious reason is smitten with her, as he teaches her to read and she entertains the miners at the local tavern. They marry, strike it rich in silver and gold mines, and move to fashionable Pennsylvania Avenue in Denver. Shunned by the social register, they go to Europe where Molly is so embraced by royalty that she brings them back to Denver. The Browns hold a big society party which turns into a brawl, and they separate. Coming back from another European trip, Molly survives the sinking of the Titanic and keeps the spirits of her fellow lifeboat passengers up as they await rescue. Yes, this is the same Molly Brown that Kathy Bates portrays in the 1997 mega-hit.
Fresh off "The Music Man", Wilson has written a score that doesn't feature anything close to the gems of his previous hit with "Belly Up to the Bar, Boys!" the only one with enough rowdy energy to be considered rousing. In a role ironically slated for MacLaine, Reynolds is rambunctious and performs with exhausting brio, but there's no getting around the fact that Molly is a superficially driven character. I also find it amusing how contemporary she looks in her final scenes. Translating his Broadway role, Harve Presnell evokes Howard Keel's baritone and barrel-chested virility as her husband. With the decline of musicals, he didn't really find success in movies until he played the doomed father-in-law in Fargo over three decades later. Titanic aficionados will be disappointed that this part of the story is given short shrift toward the end with recycled footage from 1958's A Night to Remember. The DVD has the original theatrical trailer and a silly vintage short about the making of one of Reynolds' gowns. Only for die-hard fans of movie musicals. Rating: 
Date: 2008-04-30
Superb transfer to DVD
This review refers to 2000 DVD release of 'Molly Brown'. The movie itself is quite good and the transfer to DVD is excellent. The picture is quite sharp, essentially the same as high definition. The format is widescreen which has been enhanced for large screen TVs, so the picture fills the entire screen. The colors are fine and the sound is also great. I viewed this movie on a 46-inch LCD high definition TV, played on a 1080p Toshiba HD DVD player. Highly recommended! Rating:
Date: 2008-04-05
the unsinkable molly brown
this movie is one of the old classics . the DVD work great and i love the movie Rating:
Date: 2008-03-31
Unsinkable Molly Brown DVD
The Unsinkable Molly Brown
I've loved this movie for years and finally gave in and ordered it for myself. I enjoy watching it time and time again. It is a feel good movie that picks up your spirits! I also like the connection to The Titinac
with all the information that has been learned about it lately.
You can watch it with your family - a nice bonus. Rating:
Date: 2008-03-17
Unsinkable Molly Brown
Being a Colorado girl where Molly Brown hails from, this is a must see. As usual Debbie Reynolds is phenomenal, and you just sit in awe watching a woman with so much talent. She can sing, act, and dance, but the only debate is which she does better. One thing that I really liked was while taking dramatic license with the story; it was based on factual events. This is a must watch for anyone that enjoys a really good musical.
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