Bring home ‘Blue Skies’ on Blu-ray

Category: Blu-ray's and DVD's


The 1946 Irving Berlin musical Blue Skies is now available on Blu-ray from Kino Lorber Studio Classics.  The film stars Bing Crosby, Fred Astaire, and Joan Caulfield.

The story is a bit reminiscent of Holiday Inn with both Crosby and Astaire infatuated with the same woman. And like Holiday Inn, the duo sing and dance a similar musical number with Astaire showing off his toe tapping skills and Crosby crooning in his usual style.

Jed (Astaire) is a Broadway star. His former vaudeville partner Johnny (Crosby) owns a nightclub where he entertains his guests with songs and fun. They are both taken with Mary (Caulfield) who is a singer in her own right. She is being seriously wooed by Jed but is in love with Johnny.

In the meantime, Johnny keeps selling his nightclubs to buy new ones. He cannot commit to his business or Mary who eventually becomes his wife, but for how long? He is definitely the epitome of wishy-washy. Jed continues to woo Mary but realizes she loves Johnny. This is a strange triangle.

Songs in the film include “Blue Skies,” “Puttin’ on the Ritz,” “A Couple of Song and Dance Men” with Crosby being the song and Astaire being the dance, “A Pretty Girl is Like a Melody,” “How Deep is the Ocean,” and “White Christmas.” While this has been described as one of Berlin’s great musicals, it falls short of some of his others, namely Holiday Inn and Easter Parade. However, it is a fun story with a wonderful cast. You cannot beat Crosby’s vocals and Astaire’s twinkle toes. Blue Skies was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Original Song (“You Keep Coming Back Like a Song”) and Best Music Score.

About the Author

Francine Brokaw has been covering all aspects of the entertainment industry for over 25 years. She also writes about products and travel. She has been published in national and international newspapers and magazines as well as Internet websites. She has written her own book, Beyond the Red Carpet The World of Entertainment Journalists, is the entertainment correspondent for Good Day Orange County, and has her own TV show, Beyond the Red Carpet, on Village Television in Orange County. She is a longstanding member of the Television Critics Association, was a longstanding member of the Los Angeles Press Club, and is accredited by the MPAA. Follow her on Twitter.