. . . Johan Strauss II's signature piece, TRITSCH-TRATSCH-POLKA from 1858? Unless I've lost my mind, this famous movie theme (from such films as STAR TREK IV: THE VOYAGE HOME and the James Bond vehicle, MOONRAKER) is played by the MGM orchestra here from about the 3:40 mark of this 10-minute short to approximately the 3:55 point. Admittedly, the piece SHOULD have been arranged to include a minute or two more of this famous piece, used in flicks nearly as often as Carl Orff's "O Fortuna" from "Carmina Burana," but it reflects the somewhat lackadaisical nature of STRAUSS FANTASY overall. This Johnny Green musical arrangement generally lacks snap (except, perhaps, for the snippet played from the "Pizzicato Polka"--which most high school orchestras manage NOT to screw up), but maybe that's the 1950s for you. Ten years later a group such as the Boston Pops would have brought some Pizazz and Razzle Dazzle to this material, and the camera people also would have been far more imaginative. Perhaps this best serves as a stellar example of how boring the "I like Ike" years actually were.
3 Reviews
Medley
boblipton16 January 2024
A medley is a group of tunes arranged as a single piece. That's what we have here: Johnny Green conducting the MGM Orchestra is a medley of tunes by Johann Strauss Senior, and his sons, Johann Jr. And Joseph.
We often forget that besides having leading departments for cameraworks and directors, the major producers also had a lot of musical talent on staff. There were all those movies to score. It wasn't just musicals, but by the middle of the 1930s, almost every move at MGM had a score, with an attributed composer, and Johnny Green as the man in charge of doing the actual conducting most of the time. It's good to see him at work, and with such a lovely piece of music.
We often forget that besides having leading departments for cameraworks and directors, the major producers also had a lot of musical talent on staff. There were all those movies to score. It wasn't just musicals, but by the middle of the 1930s, almost every move at MGM had a score, with an attributed composer, and Johnny Green as the man in charge of doing the actual conducting most of the time. It's good to see him at work, and with such a lovely piece of music.
Two MGM/Green shorts
Michael_Elliott8 February 2009
Strauss Fantasy (1954)
*** (out of 4)
Oscar-nominated short from MGM has their Symphony Orchestra, led by Johnny Green, plays various waltzes composed by three members of the Strauss family. "Pizzicato Polka," "Tales from the Vienna Woods," "Vienna Life," and "On the Beautiful Blue Danube" are among the songs performed here in an edited form. I must admit that I wasn't too familiar with the Strauss family or their work but I did enjoy this brief, ten-minute concert that shows off some of their highlights.
La Gazza Ladra Overture (1954)
*** (out of 4)
MGM's Symphony Orchestra, led by Johnny Green, go through Rossini's overture "La Gazza Ladra", just as the title says. Once again I'm new to this series of shorts with Green but so far I'm very impressed with their quality. The 1.85:1 aspect ratio, new to the shorts format as well, is nicely used here and makes for a very pretty picture to look at as well as listen to. I'm not overly familiar with the overture here but Green does a very good job with his 80-man orchestra and makes for an entertaining 10-minutes.
*** (out of 4)
Oscar-nominated short from MGM has their Symphony Orchestra, led by Johnny Green, plays various waltzes composed by three members of the Strauss family. "Pizzicato Polka," "Tales from the Vienna Woods," "Vienna Life," and "On the Beautiful Blue Danube" are among the songs performed here in an edited form. I must admit that I wasn't too familiar with the Strauss family or their work but I did enjoy this brief, ten-minute concert that shows off some of their highlights.
La Gazza Ladra Overture (1954)
*** (out of 4)
MGM's Symphony Orchestra, led by Johnny Green, go through Rossini's overture "La Gazza Ladra", just as the title says. Once again I'm new to this series of shorts with Green but so far I'm very impressed with their quality. The 1.85:1 aspect ratio, new to the shorts format as well, is nicely used here and makes for a very pretty picture to look at as well as listen to. I'm not overly familiar with the overture here but Green does a very good job with his 80-man orchestra and makes for an entertaining 10-minutes.
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