Mardi Gras

Should have widescreen but isn't!
This is not exactly a review. I enjoyed the film when I first saw it and did again when I received the dvd. Nice musical comedy romance....but I have one complaint and I figure it ought to be said. The artwork on the cover of the dvd indicates it as a Cinemascope film. It is not. For some reason, Fox decided to release it as an 'altered' edition 'formatted to fit your television screen. In other words, the opening and cloisng titles are widescreen...but the film it self is Pan & Scan.

There was no indication unless you checked the back of the wraparound cover the very very tiny small print.

This is my big complaint about a fun musical comedy film partly on location, it seems with a nice zing or two at Hollywood. It also features Barrie Chase, who was Fred Astaire's dance partner, as well as soloist, on his television specials. She blew me away when I saw her saw in this film and she stills does.

An enjoyable escapist musical. But...if you are expecting...

ANOTHER UNFORGIVABLE FOX "ARCHIVE" (???) RELEASE!
If you are another irritated DVD buyer of FOX ARCHIVE DVD-on-demand,then please read my data under "COMMENT" in reply to a very pertinent essay by "Noel" regarding the dreadful pan and scan DVD of APRIL LOVE.

Those individual comments relate perfectly to the further low-standard release of an otherwise very entertaining film, MARDI GRAS from 1958, which is also another Pat BOONE favourite which should be in CINEMASCOPE and not pressed from an old Video master of standard screen shape.

Buyer beware.

Once again, the old TV print, on hand, will have to do after waiting so long for a quality DVD in the original correct ratio.

Will FOX ever take notice?

Eric Glasby, WOODFORD NSW Australia

Good movie, not so good transfer
Fox has done it again. Instead of keeping the "Cinemascope" format, it has used the 'pan and scan' version that was made for tv broadcast. They should have gone back to the original negative and made the transfer, instead of short changing the buyers, most of whom have widescreen tvs.

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