d120421 Posted October 31, 2005 Yes, it's nice to see those Pre-Code films, isn't it? Even though I do enjoy the "Post Code" muscials as well. On the other hand, I recall reading in one of Peter Bogdanovich's books his opinion that LMT was not as well-crafted as the Lubitsch musicals such as THE LOVE PARADE and ONE HOUR WITH YOU (even though they obviously inspired LMT). It thus didn't surprise me when the Chevalier/MacDonald THE MERRY WIDOW showed up as one of Bogdanovich's choices on TCM's "The Essentials" a few months back. I don't believe he cited this as the "best" or his "favorite" musical during his commentary on the film, but I'm sure he regards it more highly than the oft-cited "Freed Unit" musicals of MGM. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
feaito Posted November 1, 2005 I also like post-code musicals. As for the Chevalier-MacDonald films, I've seen them all and the Lubitsch movies are first rate, but LMT, really tops them all, as a musical. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Bogey Posted November 1, 2005 When I first saw the cast for my favorite musical, my jaw dropped. I knew this film had to be something special. I was probably 17 when I first read about it. It wasn't until about two years later that I finally got to see it. After months of anticipation I was able to snatch it up on its release date when TCM helped put it out on DVD. It turned out to surpass even all my wildest expectations of its potential greatness. The cast included Frank Sinatra, Bing Crosby, Grace Kelly, Celeste Holm, and Louis Armstrong and his band. The composer - Cole Porter. The film I speak of is HIGH SOCIETY. Granted I'm only 21 and I still have loads of films to discover, it is difficult for me to imagine a finer musical. From the music to the story to the acting, it's hard to find a complaint. Perhaps it is because I saw this film first, but I consider it greater than its predecessor, THE PHILADELPHIA STORY (an all-time classic). HIGH SOCIETY deserves more praise, and I'm one that's more than willing to give it. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
feaito Posted November 2, 2005 Great Choice "Bogey" (great handle too!). High Society's score is top!! I especially like "I Love You Samantha". Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mbmuva Posted November 2, 2005 Good choice with High Society, I happen to be listening to my favorite song from it as I am typing this---True Love. I love Philadelphia Story but I have to agree that High Society deserves more acclaim then it gets. I love the Did ya Evah number with Frank and Bing, it's so funny. Grace Kelly makes a great Tracy Lord I think. For a remake, I think it is tastefully done with lots of good songs so it ranks among my favorites also. I agree about the cast also, they picked the perfect cast for it. I'm 21 also and so it's nice to see someone my age appreciating musicals as I do--that's very rare where I live. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
d120421 Posted November 3, 2005 I think HIGH SOCIETY is a cute film with a nice score and a genial cast, but I agree with the general critical concensus that it's drained all the bite out of the original PHILADELPHIA STORY script. Kelly is gorgeous, of course, but petulant and pouty where Hepburn was brittle and disdainful, and though she and Crosby generate some genuine onscreen chemistry during the lovely "True Love" flashback, otherwise he seems too old for her (not too surprising, given that he was 25 years older than she was). The girl who played "Dinah" in the remake was atrocious: coy, arch mannered and bland, and a blight on the memory of Virginia Weidler in the original film. In fact, the only one of the lead performances I thought measured up to the original was Celeste Holm's in the "Liz Imbrie" role played by Ruth Hussey, and Louis Calhern didn't do a bad job as "Uncle Willie," though even he wasn't as good as Roland Young Unfortunately, both Holm and Calhern were given too little to do in the film. I do enjoy the score, particularly "Now You Has Jazz," "True Love" and "Well, Did You Evah?" but, otherwise I feel HIGH SOCIETY is marred by the same sort of sated sluggish, smug superficiality which characterized most '50s remakes of classic '30s & '40s films which never should have been remade in the first place. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mon22884 Posted November 4, 2005 I definetly agree about Virginia Weidler, I think she was great as Dinah and really made the part memorable, which I can't say about her counterpart in High Society. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
PaJoe Posted November 4, 2005 As I read over the posts and saw all the different musicals that I like, I can say I do not have a "favorite musical". It all depends on what my mood is at the time, who do I want to hear, do I want to fall in Love with Judy Garland or Barbara Streisand or perhaps I want to be standing on the foot bridge in Music Man hearing the bells. More recently I have been thinking of getting out the "Holiday Inn" dvd where Bing Crosby sings "White Christmas" for the first time and even though I know they do a voice over for Marjorie Reynolds singing; I still love her and the twinkle in her eyes when Bing sings the Easter Parade song and others makes you know she loves him - and the way the women dance so close it those high heel shows, it's just a fun movie for me this time of the year. At the end when she is singing White Christmas with tears in her eyes and Jim ( Bing Crosby) shows up, well - it's truly a favorite scene for me. I know everyone says "White Christmas" is the classic and it is OK - but I prefer Holiday Inn with Bing Crosby and his on screen rival Fred Astair doing their antics to win Marjorie Reynolds heart. Likewise, the Irving Berlin songs are great. Of course, 10 minutes from now I could be more in the mood for a different musical - it's ironic, when I was younger I didn't like musicals, now that I am older I like them more than war or westerns. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MusicalsLover Posted December 14, 2005 Ok... I posted a list of my favorite musicals before, and I have decided to do a non-ordered listening of all musicals that I enjoy: -Once On This Island -West Side Story - Honk! -Anything Goes - Wicked -Joseph and the Amazing technicolor Dreamcoat - Mame -Guys and Dolls -Les Miserables There are soooo many others, but my brain is dead right now, I can't think very well. Oh, well. You get the point. I hope. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bellanosey Posted December 18, 2005 I love almost every musical with Astaire, Kelly or Crosby. except i didnt care for Thousands Cheer (1943) or The Story of Vernon and Irene Castle (1939) here is a list of my favorites Broadway Melody of 1940 Anchors Away On the Town Shall we Dance?(1937) Holiday Inn Ziegfeld Follies (1946) Road to " " (all of them especially Morocco) Singin' in the Rain The Bandwagon (the movie that made me fall in love with musicals) For Me and My Gal (prob my all time fav) High Society An American In Paris Brigadoon Silk Stockings Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
eirinn Posted December 22, 2005 An American In Paris and Singin' In the Rain deserve endless credit. I will always consider Hello, Dolly! the funniest musical. The music of Guys and Dolls is so highly enjoyable and I loved Marlon Brando in it, although he had never done a musical before. My Fair Lady, because of Rex Harrison as Prof. Henry Higgins, is one of my favorites. I love the Music Man, and it very well may be my favorite musical but I can never choose just one. I also love most of the Rodgers and Hammerstein films. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Totaleejohn Posted December 31, 2005 I must say my favorite musical was and is Singing In The Rain. It is the greatest musical ever created! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Sheldon Posted January 6, 2006 This one isn't my favorite but because of its underdog status plus its manyattributes--i REALLY like it: " The Belle of New York"-- I think the performances by Astaire and Vera --Ellen are totally enchanting-especially in the "Oops!" number! I really like the score and the fantasy element. My favorite song is " Seeing's Believing." Anybody elase like this musical? Would love to hear your thoughts... All the Best! Shelly Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bellanosey Posted January 7, 2006 I wish i could but i cant seem to find it at n e rental stores or on TCM. Being a huge Astaire fan i really would like to see The Belle of New York since I've heard its one of his best. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Geniebeanie Posted January 7, 2006 My favorite Musical/Dance movie is Seven Brides for Seven Brothers. I actually fell in love with Howard Keel at the age of ten. Also loved him in Kismet and Showboat. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
sandykaypax Posted January 8, 2006 Shelly, I've seen THE BELLE OF NEW YORK several times. It really is a charming little musical. I love the scene where Fred and Vera-Ellen dance on and off of the streetcar. Another great number is "I Wanna Be a Dancing Man" with Fred doing a soft-shoe routine. I'd love for this one to be on dvd. Sandy K Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Sheldon Posted January 9, 2006 I hope it's out on DVD, eventually, Sandy! I have it on laserdisc coupled with " I Love Melvin." Take care! Shelly Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
clarkent Posted January 20, 2006 is without a doubt, 42nd Street. I like them dark, but not too dark. So, that would mean I like Sweet Charity but not Chicago and Applause and The Broadway Melody. These four beauties are as dark and complex as good roast coffee! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
IloveFred Posted January 21, 2006 I have SO many: Singin' In The Rain An American In Paris The Bandwagon ALL ASTAIRE & ROGERS MOVIES The Wizard Of Oz West Side Story Sweet Charity Take Me Out To The Ball Game On The Town There's a cute new musical out on the Disney Channel..... It's called "High School Musical" Trust me it can't compare to anything that the MGM did but for 2005 it's not half bad. The real letdown is that the main characters who fall in love.....DON'T KISS they just sort of dance off the screen at the end. Just watch it to see the main guy with his shirt off! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Geniebeanie Posted January 27, 2006 Does anyone know if Peter Pan with Mary Martin is on DVD? I am trying to find it and looking everywhere. Thanks in advance. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
sandykaypax Posted January 31, 2006 I believe that it is out of print. You may be able to find a used copy on amazon or ebay. Sandy K Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
TheNewYorker Posted February 2, 2006 It's my understanding that "THE BELLE OF NEW YORK" is being released by Turner on DVD in April, along with "ZIEGFELD FOLLIES", "TILL THE CLOUDS ROLL BY", "SUMMER STOCK", and "IT'S ALWAYS FAIR WEATHER". How great is that?!! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
sandykaypax Posted February 2, 2006 Actually, I believe that THREE LITTLE WORDS is being released in that box set, not THE BELLE OF NEW YORK. Sorry to disappoint you! I would like to for BELLE to be on dvd so very much... Sandy K Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Sheldon Posted February 2, 2006 I recently watched "Strike Up the Band" and " Babes on Broadway" on the old wonderful laserdisc format!-. What wonderful films! Rooney and Garland were absolutely magical. I applauded after each number. My God, R & G were supremely talented.! Who of the current crop even comes close? Absolutely no one! There's a REASON we love classic films.They're incredibly entertaining! Garland, of course, is brilliant and Mickey Rooney is simply amazing. Check these films out again if you want to feel pure cinematic pleasure. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
WhiteTiger Posted February 9, 2006 my most fav of them all is... SINGIN' IN THE RAIN!!! and any musical with Gene Kelly! He is one sexy actor! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
