sadly lost in a bloated extravaganza whose music left me stone cold. This would have been pretty exceptional if it was an hour shorter and kept all the elements of Mason's beautifully rounded character. I've got the original and two further remakes to see but doubt any will come close to Mason in this.

I've read different opinions on whether music from old films is always carried over with the correct balance or if the singer's voice is elevated beyond all reason. This film felt like Garland was roaring at me rather than singing. Not quite as bad as Doris Day in a Hitchcock film, but it does make me wonder if these performers are fine singers whose work is botched as the music is converted to the small screen. Or perhaps incredibly strident singing was all the rage in the 50s.