From the RHINO HANDMADE web site:
Premiered by M-G-M in 1948, The Pirate is a stunning cinematic achievement
featuring two of Hollywood's all-time greatest talents: Judy Garland and Gene
Kelly. Beginning as the German play Der Seerauber, the property was presented
as a musical to producer Arthur Freed, who in turn took it to Garland and director
Vincent Minnelli. Soon the legendary Cole Porter was hired to write the songs.
While production was often characterized by creative self-indulgence on the filmmakers'
part and emotional turmoil on Garland's, the principal actors nonetheless turned
in career-defining performances. Soldiering through acute personal difficulties,
Garland largely left her troubles in the trailer, bringing enthusiasm and professionalism
to the set. Meanwhile, Gene Kelly was hard at work with choreographer Robert
Alton, imbuing his dance numbers with a newfound athleticism.
The Pirate opened to mixed reviews. In the liner
notes to this release, Arthur Freed explains it as, "The
public didn't want to see Judy as a sophisticate." Gene
Kelly agreed, adding that, "Judy was superb [and]
what Minnelli did with color and design in that film is
as fine
as anything that has ever been done."
One thing that is agreed upon is that The Pirate is an example of
M-G-M film music at its finest (arranger Lennie Hayton was Oscar-nominated
for Scoring
Of A Musical Picture). This Turner/Rhino release is the first to contain all
the songs and dance music as recorded for (or performed in) the released film,
reinstating the first rendition of "Love Of My Life" to its appropriate
position in the score. In addition, the material is supplemented by the original,
deleted versions of "Mack The Black" and "Voodoo."
Also included are five demonstration records of the Cole
Porter songs performed
by Roger Edens, including an abandoned "Manuela," "Voodoo" with
an unused verse, and "You Can Do No Wrong" with an alternate lyric
phrase. There are also two Eden compositions and two pre-recorded M-G-M promotional
interviews, one featuring Garland, and one featuring Kelly. New liner notes to
this release were written by John Fricke, author of the best-selling book "Judy
Garland: World's Greatest Entertainer" and the Grammy-nominated album notes
to the Capitol release "Judy
Garland: 25th Anniversary Retrospective".
The Pirate is available as an individually numbered
limited edition of 2,500 copies.
CREDITS
Produced by: George Feltenstein
Project Supervisor: Patrick Milligan
Engineered & Mastered
by: Doug Schwartz,
Muholland Music
Art Direction & Design
by: Greg Allen
@gapd with Bryan Lasley
Liner Notes by: John Fricke
Artwork Courtesy of: Turner
Entertainment, Co., George Feltenstein & John Fricke
Special Thanks to: Bruce
Baggot, Rebecca Bodmer, Nick Corsello, Michael Feinstein, Sherry
Legare, Roger
Mayer, Scott Roberts, Chuck Shultz & Steve Woolard
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