'Pirate' leads DVD sets of toe-tapping musicals

• "CLASSIC MUSICALS FROM THE DREAM FACTORY, VOL. 2" (Warner, 1948-85, seven discs, $59.92). No one turned out as lavish — or as many — musicals as MGM during the golden era of movies, and this collection stars such great song-and-dance veterans as Gene Kelly, Fred Astaire, Judy Garland, Vera-Ellen, Mickey Rooney, Kathryn Grayson, Mario Lanza and many more.

All except "Royal Wedding" are making their DVD debut.

— "The Pirate" (1948) is a most enjoyable romp, and arguably the best film in this set. There's a comic mistaken-identity plot, as Gene Kelly, a footloose actor, is thought to be a legendary pirate by Judy Garland. But it's the Cole Porter songs and Gene Kelly's dance routines that stand out — especially "Be a Clown," which includes those breathtaking tap-dancers the Nicholas Brothers (and which bears more than a passing resemblance to the later "Make 'Em Laugh," from "Singin' in the Rain").

— "Words and Music" (1948) is a Hollywood biography of the songwriting team of Richard Rodgers (Tom Drake) and Lorenz Hart (Mickey Rooney), but forget the schmaltz and just enjoy the great songs, and the bevy of guest stars, ranging from Lena Horne to Cyd Charisse to Judy Garland to Janet Leigh. The best highlight here is a fabulous dance set to "Slaughter on 10th Avenue," with Gene Kelly and Vera-Ellen — which is, all by itself, worth the cost of the disc.

— "That Midnight Kiss"/"The Toast of New Orleans" (1949/1950). This double-bill features two films with Kathryn Grayson and Mario Lanza. Each film's plot is routine, but the music and performances more than make up for fans of the two stars.

— "Royal Wedding"/"The Belle of New York" (1951/1952). These two Fred Astaire musicals are notable because, well, they star Fred Astaire. "Royal Wedding," which has been on DVD for years in inferior public-domain versions, is cleaned up here and demonstrates its classic status. The plot has a brother and sister (Astaire, Jane Powell) performing in London during Princess Elizabeth's wedding, and the dance routines include two Astaire signature pieces — dancing on the ceiling and dancing with a hat rack. "The Belle of New York" is a lesser vehicle, but it's still fun, with playboy Astaire pursuing charity worker Vera-Ellen.