chantele.yvette

If you have seen either or both of these actors in other films or television shows, please share your perceptions about them: For me, it was an instant recognition of Jeanette MacDonald - of course, her amazing beauty, but the voice that was legend: "Jeanette was a very talented operatic singer/lyrical soprano, with a wide vocal range, E above high C, close to 3 octaves.(IMDb - Jeanette MacDonald; Biography, Donavan Webber)" Whenever I hear her sing, I am awestruck at her range, yet also reminded of the many cartoons we watched when a character would sing and glass somewhere would shatter - and, I often now wonder if the voice of Ms. MacDonald is/was used for those... No matter where you are in your home, if a film comes on with Jeanette MacDonald in it, I find it instantly recognizable - some of my favorites from film are: San Francisco, Maytime, & Three Daring Daughters. Then, from TV, imagine my surprise to hear JM doing "Indian Love Call" on an episode of California's Gold with Huell Howser while he visited Yosemite for the "fire fall" at Yosemite Falls! AMAZING!

The Great Ziegfeld is a musical that was made after the Motion Picture Code was enforced; thus, it is filmed and scripted differently if it had been pre-code. Specific examples would be in: Costuming - back stage dress in this movie vs. Broadway Melody of 1929 are 'mu-mu's' compared to 'bikini beach apparel' in BMo1929. The actual tub scene in BMo1929 vs. TGZ where there is only the "suggestion" of Anna Held's skin being kept beautiful by "gallons of milk" baths (true, part of Flo's plot, but never would have passed code to witness...). The only flesh exposed in TGZ was male - thanks to a massage scene; ladies only appeared in robes and towels...In BMo1929 there were times in the dressing rooms or backstage, that the female actors were able to spend in the company of their male manager & the love interest alone vs. TGZ where the women seemed to spend time with men, only when escorted by another woman, mixed company, or with their husband. Additionally, in BMo1929, there was a great & required deal of skin to skin contact that I noticed in dance routines; when choreographed into similiar routines in TGZ, one of the pair was clothed at the point of contact...so silly!The times,they really have a change-ed...So, to my eyes, the change after the enaction of the Motion Picture Codes in 1930, was very evident in this 1936 film - The Great Ziegfeld.

Fun, fun, fun - off to the movies!

For me, my top three are: Sound of Music - all the songs we sang as children & now, love to go to a sing-a-long events! Wizard of Oz - great to sing along to, & I always wished, "...Somewhere over the rainbow, skies are blue and the dreams that you dare to dream really do come true. Someday I'll wish upon a star and wake up where the clouds are far behind me.Where troubles melt like lemon drops. Away above the chimney tops, that's where you'll find me.Somewhere over the rainbow, bluebirds fly,Birds fly over the rainbow, why then, oh why can't I? If happy little bluebirds fly beyond the rainbow, Why oh why can't I?"And, last, Meet Me In St. Louis - twist my arm to love a Judy Garland musical All of these are films I own, and watch and re-watch in my home - however, if they are on TCM or play in a theater or community event; I am very excited to participate! It is so nice to get out amongst fellow film aficionados and young families seeing the classics for their first times...Really looking forward to this class, the interactions with all of you, and being guided through watching so many great films this June!