[DAILY DOSE OF DELIGHT #1 (From The Great Ziegfeld)]

The song Anna Held sings is suggestive but because she is dressed so chastely (only face and hands exposed) and is essentially skipping like a little girl with that lilting voice, it takes on a playful aspect.  (Picture if Madeline Kahn had sung the same song in Blazing Saddles!).

This era depicted by this movie was pre-Depression so overlooking the economic issues may be forgiven; it may be playing on nostalgia for times past "when life was much better" (people tend to have selective memory about "the good ol' days"). 

 

[Opening Salvo For Mad About Musicals Course]

Many people look at musicals as entertainment or escapism and not "serious" but I think they overlook the themes and lessons that are contained in the musicals, either explicitly or implicitly. The lessons may be subtle but they can be found.

Musicals I never tire of are Singing in the Rain, Caberet, Seven Brides for Seven Brothers (because I remember how one of my brothers and I would vigorously dance to it), The Producers, and Bye Bye Birdie.  If I can catch it on stage, I will not miss seeing Pippin.