GENTLEMEN PREFER BLONDES (1953)

Musicals Month (Film 9 of 11)

Marilyn Monroe’s other entries on the 1001 list (Her small but memorable role in The Asphalt Jungle and the classic Some Like it Hot) are both films I like more than this one . But Gentlemen Prefer Blondes is probably the film that shows Marilyn (as Lorelei Lee) at her most Monroeviest. I'm talking about the ditz who is a bit of a golddigger, but still comes equipped with a healthy supply of gold already in her heart. And we also get to see her perform “Diamonds Are a Girls Best Friend,” probably her most famous screen moment. My favorite line in the movie comes from veteran character actor Charles Coburn, who replies to Lorelei’s line that she was expecting someone older when she meets him with, “Older than what?”

P. S. Jane Russell isn’t exactly chopped liver either, and does a pretty good Marilyn impersonation during the courtroom scene.

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SEVEN BRIDES FOR SEVEN BROTHERS (1954)

Musicals month (Film 8 of 11)

The best way to find a wife, as we all know, is to throw a sack over their head and abduct them, especially when seven brothers desperately need wives. Well, there is a suspension of disbelief when it comes to musicals that you have to accept, because it is usually more about the songs and how they fit into the plot. Of course, this one may be more memorable for its dance numbers. And it also takes an even greater suspension of disbelief to accept these rustic mountain folk dancing so gracefully and so damn well. I do think the dance numbers are the highlight of the picture. My favorite is the number where the brothers are chopping wood, dancing, twirling with axes and pining about how they’d rather be sleeping with women than with sheep.

Wunderkind: Stanley Donen directed (or co-directed) three entries on the 1001 list: On the Town, Singin’ in the Rain and Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, all well before his thirtieth birthday!

The seven brothers include future Jet from West Side Story, Russ Tamblyn.

The seven brides include: Future Catwoman Julie Newmar (Newmeyer) and future dice roller from the 70’s Alex Trebek game show High Rollers, Ms. Ruta Lee.

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GUYS AND DOLLS (1953)

Musicals month (Film 7 of 11)

I’ll be brief since all these musicals are beginning to wear me out-Engaging story, some pretty good songs, but some of the scenes with Marlon Brando and Jean Simmons are a bit long. When I see Brando and Sinatra together I can’t help but think of Brando in The Godfather in his scenes with the Sinatra stand-in Johnny Fontaine. Is that just me?

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ON THE TOWN (1949)

Musicals month (Film 6 of 11)

On the Town (1949)

Twice as gay as Anchors Aweigh! –trailer promo for On the Town.

I didn’t have any expectations for the musical On the Town and I must say I was delightfully surprised. First of all, as with most of the muscials from this era you’ve got to have a great suspension of disbelief to accept the plot of three sailors on leave and how they meet and pick up/fall in love/but certainly don’t sleep (well, maybe in subtext) with the three girls they find in the big city.

The musical numbers are memorable (New York, New York It’s a Helluva Town and You Can Count on Me ). The film is fast paced, fun and the dialogue is pretty sharp. And the cast features the two biggest musical stars of the era (Gene Kelly and Frank Sinatra,) the comedy relief (Jules Munshin , Betty Garrett),the lovely Vera-Ellen and perennial tap dancing hottie Ann Miller.

Note: I admit that liking this movie has made me feel a little old. Perhaps I should follow it up with a different view of New York. Taxi Driver maybe? Well, maybe for another month.

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SINGIN' IN THE RAIN (1952)

Musicals month (Film 5 of 11)

Singin' in the Rain (1952)

This most famous of musicals is a pretty interesting piece to see after just seeing the recent Oscar-winning film The Artist cover similar terrain.

The plot of Singin' in the Rain involves two silent movie stars who have trouble adjusting to the new "talking" picture phenomenon. It's funniest moments involve either Jean Hagen and her grating voice or Gene Kelly's sidekick Donald O'Connor.

Kelly's mammoth Broadway Melody number is memorable,though his waterlogged rendition of the title song is such a part of movie lore it overshadows virutally everything else.

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THE BAND WAGON (1953)

Musicals month (4 or 11)

The Band Wagon (1953)

So that's where the song That's Entertainment came from first! Or did I already know that?

The thing about watching a lot of muscials in a row is that you get to the point where you say to yourself, why did I choose to watch so many musicals in a row? So I went into watching The Band Wagon with probably not the best of attitudes. All I knew about it was that rather over-the-top triplets number where Fred Astaire, Nanette Fabray and the other guy do that rather annoying song dressed as babies.

But as I watched, I began to like the whole musical within a musical storyline. The numbers seem pretty inspired to my untrained eye and Astaire and Cyd Charrise make a pretty good team. And the other guy (Brit Jack Buchanan) is pretty good, too.

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SWING TIME (1936)

Musicals month (3 of 12)

Swing Time (1936)

If I was going to put one Astaire/Rogers movie on the 1001 movie list it would be Top Hat. However, RKO’s Swing Time can be pretty fun too if you’re in the mood for it. I think if you are a dancer, you’re going to really appreciate Fred Astaire. I’m not a dancer, but my niece is and she gives Fred the stamp of approval. Who am I to argue?

Favorite 30’s censorship moment: Victor Moore calls a policeman a son of a bitch under his breath as he is being drowned out by a jack hammer. When the policeman asks him what he said, he says ”Look out for the Big Ditch!”

And the final dance did make me remember John Coffey at the end of The Green Mile crying while watching Fred and Ginger and saying, "Why, they's angels. Angels, just like up in heaven."

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