I looked in vain for any trace of Runyon here. True, there are a pair of bloodhounds and true, they do migrate to New York from Georgia but that's where Fox and Runyon part company. It's difficult to believe that not only were major studios turning out hoke like this in the fifties but that audiences were actually sitting still for it. It seems that there WERE musicals around this time that really were tuneful and entertaining - Singin' In The Rain, Lili, Small Town Girl, I Love Melvin, On Moonlight Bay, and more but significantly none of the above emanated from Fox who had certainly turned out their share of memorable fodder featuring the likes of Alice Fay, Betty Grable, Don Ameche, Tyrone Power et al. This was probably just a glitz.

Damon Runyon's "Bloodhounds of Broadway" (1952) is basically "Kissin' Cousins" meets "Guys & Dolls"; as New York bookie "Numbers" Foster (Scott Brady) stumbles onto calico-clad Emily Ann Stackerlee (Mitzi Gaynor) in rural Georgia and takes her (and her dogs) with him back to his New York City nightclub.Simply put, no Hollywood actress ever glammed up or plained down with quite the degree of erotic fantasy contrast of Mitzi Gaynor, or at least of a young Mitzi (and she was only 21 when "Bloodhounds of Broadway" was filmed). The mind-blowing qualities of this disparity accounted for much of her popularity with audiences and producers, and gave a special sizzle to her most memorable films. On the other hand, her performances in films that failed to showcase this disparity (like "South Pacific") had a sterile flatness."Bloodhounds of Broadway" neatly exploits Gaynor's physical range, it is almost as if the storyline was written solely for this purpose. Her transformation deliberately lacks subtlety because the whole point is to overwhelm the observer with the contrast, causing them to participate in producing the synergy of the experience. It is plausible only because Gaynor has a unique physical quality which visually sells it, bookending the production at her most innocent with "In the Sweet Bye and Bye" and at her hottest (this side of Cole Porter's "Anything Goes") with "Jack of Diamonds".The audience's reaction to the transformation of Emily Ann nicely illustrates the concept of a film as a semifinished product, to be used by the viewer to complete the artistic process rather than something they simply consume.If you are buying the DVD used (or unsealed) be sure that the two-fold brochure and the 20th Century Fox envelope are included; the envelope contains four miniature black & white lobby cards on glossy heavy stock paper. Then again, what do I know? I'm only a child.

Lots of slang like used in GUYS AND DOLLS. Well it is based on Damon Runyon's stories, so why not? Gamblers and dolls. Simple plot revolves around a numbers man Scott Brady meeting up with a little hick from GA, Mitzi Gaynor. Shades of what was to become her Nellie Forbush in SOUTH PACIFIC. Her character development in this is kind of sudden. In "life" a real cute little innocent, and in the musical numbers a regular siren. But who cares. This is a musical. Fox should release more of these little gems that were no great shakes at the box office, but are very much needed in this day and age of smutty and violent films. Nice interview with Mitzi on the new DVD. She says nice things about Marilyn Monroe during THERE'S NO BUSINESS LIKE SHOW BUSINESS, but I understand she didn't like her and didn't say very nice things about her. Has she changed her mind? Hope so. Well, let's have more of Mitzi like GOLDEN GIRL and THE I DON'T CARE GIRL. BLOODHOUNDS is certainly worth a look for nostalgia if nothing else.

I loved this movie!The music and comedy is superb!All of Mitzi's bubbly talents are showcased here. I would rate this movie right up there with Golden Girl and I don't know why it hasn't been made available on VHS or DVD. I hope it will be soon. She was one of the most beautiful, talented singers and dancers and I never got enough of her before they stopped making those wonderful musicals. She demonstrated an enthusiasm and strength in her dancing that was matchless. I think now is the time to bring her movies back and give all of us a shot in the arm. Good old fashioned clean fun and entertainment!!