La Gazza Ladra Overture (1954) User Reviews

The Thieving Magpie

[boblipton · 7/10 · 16 January 2024]

Johnny Green leads the MGM Symphonic Orchestra in a performance of the overture from Rossini's LA GAZZA LADRA.

Towards the end of their production of short subjects in the 1950s, MGM produced several that were short musical pieces. As the movie palaces began to reduce in number and the size of their shows, they let go their own orchestras, holdovers from the silent days, when they would provide musical accompaniment to the movies, and also offer a program of music before and after. Radio City Music Hall in New York would still entertain audiences with their huge pipe organ, and so would a few others, but this would substitute for that opening music.

Two MGM/Green shorts

[Michael_Elliott · 8 February 2009]

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.

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.