Cats (2019) and Scrooge (1970)

This past holiday season I watched two musicals set in London.

Scrooge was good; I had never seen this version in its fullness. My favorite part was when Scrooge dies and goes to the underworld and sees Marley again and the devil's slaves bring him his chains. I don't think that is depicted in another other version. I really like the songs including Thank you very Much and December the 25th. Albert Finney was really good and miserly, and I was impressed with the dialogue written by Leslie Bricusse; some expressions I had never heard of such as "prevaricating fraud" and Scrooge is described as "parsimonious" (obnoxious). I liked Alec Guiness as Marley and it occurred to me that he played a spirit ghost long before he did in Return of the Jedi as Obi Wan Kenobi.

It was only made as recently as 1970, but something about it feels so old-fashioned. Maybe that's a good thing, since it's set in the 19th Century anyhow. But everything from the expressions used to the costumes to the toys in the store (below) - everything feels so old-fashioned.

I liked Cats but didn't love it; it probably won't become a favorite of mine. It has a "modern" feel even though it could just as easily have taken place 100 years ago.

I never saw the original show so I don't know what changed. Almost every cat gets their own song and has their own personality, and I liked that; I liked Jennifer Hudson singing "Memory" . There are some dumb jokes, like when Rebel Wilson's cat says to the cockroach, "don't get cocky!' and in another scene says "watch out for the crazy cat lady". She and James Cordin seem to ad-lib some stuff and that's okay but felt the movie could have had more punch to it, and the cats seem to keep changing size; at first they seem like the size of real cats but then they seem to shrink down at times. Also I didn't like the garbage and cockroach scenes. I saw this in one of those "dine-in" theaters and you don't want to see that while eating.

I'd like to see a "making of" documentary about this movie and see how they added in the special effects; every tail and ear moves and wiggles and it's pretty cool. All the actors could have just worn suits and masks.

Fiddler on the Roof (1971) on the big screen

I had a chance to watch this movie on the big screen when it played at Chicago's Music Box Theater on Christmas day 2016.  It's rare for this film to be screened; usually it's seen as corny and sentimental, and usually not as highly regarded as some other musicals like Sound of Music.

But when it came out in 1971, it was the biggest box-office hit of  the year. It was probably "the last hit musical" to be released for years, since musicals started to go out of fashion by the 1970s.

I had forgotten that the story deals with traditional marriage arrangements, intergenerational differences, the coming Russian revolution and new political ideas, Jewish persecution in Russia, and immigration to other countries.

At the end of the movie, one character asks another, "What city in America are you moving to?" The other responds "Chicago", and that got a loud cheer from the audience, which was pretty cool to be a part of.

Directed by Norman Jewison (an Oscar-winner for 1967's "In the Heat of the Night"). The cinematography is beautiful, and the sets and costumes and impressive.

Read Dawn's post about this movie from her blog

50th anniversary of The Sound of Music

Today - March 2 2015 - marks the 50th anniversary of the release of the The Sound of Music.

The blog Birth of a Notion has a tribute today; read it here.

Here are some other tributes happening this year (Source: USA Today)

• 20th Century Fox will release a five-disc "Ultimate Collector's Edition" on Blu-Ray, DVD and Digital HD on March 10. Its 13-plus hours of bonus content include a new documentary, The Sound of a City: Julie Andrews Returns to Salzburg, revisiting key sites of the film.
• Legacy Recordings unveils The Sound of Music — 50th Anniversary Edition, the same day, remastered and featuring previously released orchestral cues and all vocal performances on one CD for the first time.
• Turner Classic Movies will open its sixth annual film festival on March 26 with the restored movie, at a gala screening featuring a Q&A with Andrews and co-star Christopher Plummer.
• The movie will reappear on big screens for two days, April 19 and 22, in more than 500 theaters across the USA.
• Books have already started arriving, among them Tom Santopietro's The Sound of Music Story (St. Martin's Press) and Barry Monush's The Sound of Music FAQ(Applause Books).
• And there's even a new touring production of the original stage musical planned, directed by three-time Tony Award winner Jack O'Brien and set to launch in September at the Ahmanson Theatre in Los Angeles.

Moonlight and Pretzels (1933)

Karl Freund, the legendary cinematographer (Metropolis), tried his hand at a musical with this 1933 feature, which is Busby Berkeley-esque.  The story begins in a small town with an aspiring songwriter (Roger Pryor) who writes a love song for his crush, a record store clerk (Mary Brian). He sells the song, and it becomes a huge hit. Roger then moves away from his small town and heads to Broadway, seemingly forgetting his roots - and his crush back home. I liked the scenes where she comes to audition for his new show (titled "Moonlight and Pretzels") and tries to rekindle his memory of her. Much of the rest of the film deals with the production and financial aspect of the show, which I didn't find that interesting, and the humor is lost in the second half. The movie ends with a big finale from Roger's show dealing with the Great Depression. You can watch it here:

The Umbrellas of Cherbourg (1965) my favorite film musical

I love this film directed by Jacques Demy. I just love everything about it. The colors. Catherine Denuve. Beautiful music by Michel Legrand. There is no other movie like The Umbrellas of Cherbourg.

A review from the blog Confessions of a Film Philistine here

Great Film Performances: The cast of "1776"

Originally a hit Broadway production in 1969 (winner of the Tony for Best Musical), this film is of course about the events leading up to America's Independence Day, July 4th 1776 . My co-worker, a history buff who normally doesn't like musicals, introduced me to the film on VHS, which I enjoyed tremendously, even if it was a horrible-looking "pan-and-scan" version. (The DVD features the restored widescreen director's cut which I highly recommend)



Though a hit on the stage, the film version never found its audience upon release. And ever since, few people outside of history buffs remember this inspiring film. Proof: it never made AFI's list of 100 Years...100 Cheers. The audience of the early '70s probably thought of this as either a snooze-fest or just cornball fluff. A thought provoking film, filled with debates among the delegates, it tackles hard issues such as slavery, and makes you think about the past, present, and future. Hardly fluff, though there is plenty of fine comic relief.

Author Peter Stone knew how to appeal to history buffs and modern 70's audiences by including a few mild-yet-still-racy sex jokes. (ooh, I got you interested now, didn't I? Pervs.)

Though the film didn't have any top box office stars, it nonetheless features a fantastic group of actors who give wonderful performances, making this a film not to be missed.......



Blythe Danner as Martha Jefferson. The film's breath of fresh air. She makes a grand entrance that reminds you of classic Hollywood. She is so pretty, and you can see the resmblance to her daughter Gwen Paltrow. And her one song - "He Plays The Violin" - is one the best in the film, in my opinion. Also in this sequence is a beautiful violin solo you'll hear as she dances with John Adams and Ben Franklin. A highlight of the film.



William Daniels as John Adams. Most people rightly remember the Emmy winning actor for his television work, but everyone forgets about his brilliant performance as Adams on Broadway and in this film. Why he did not get an Oscar nomination is beyond me.

Howard Da Silva as Ben Franklin. Da Silva plays him flawlessly with so much depth. If you want to learn about Franklin, watch this film. We see a very human portrayal: serious, playful, stern. Classic. Another Oscar nomination should have gone to Da Silva.

Ken Howard as Thomas Jefferson, the young delegate from Virginia. A great performance by another TV actor (and recent Emmy Winner - "Grey Gardens"); he portrays Jefferson as a moody newlywed faced with the challenge of writing the historic Declaration. His performance lets us feel all the uncertainly he feels about being judged by the entire world.



Donald Madden as John Dickinson, the delegate from Pennsylvania who refused to sign the Declaration. A character constantly at odds with John Adams throughout, he provides alot of interesting moments in the debate scenes, and sometimes comical. Watch this film and his performance - does he sort of remind you of former Saturday Night Live actor Phil Hartman? Almost could be twins, I always think.



Ron Holgate as Richard Henry Lee, Virginia delegate. His character, who comes from a prestigious pedigree, gets the whole story moving along. He only has one major scene, where he performs the "The Lees of Old Virgina". So memorable was his performance on Broadway that he won the Tony for Best Actor in a Musical. And he's just as enjoyable in the film.



If you enjoy musicals, and haven't seen this yet nor are familiar with the songs, I recommend giving 1776 a try. If you ask me, the songs (which range from comical to simply haunting) rank right up there with those from My Fair Lady, The Sound of Music, and West Side Story.

Plus it's a great film to watch to get a sense of America's history; you will really appreciate what these men of differing opinions went through to come together to agree on the Declaration, even though there were many outstanding issues to settle.

Review from Just a Cineaste blog

Lena Horne (1917-2010)

Legendary singer and actress Lena Horne, one of the most beloved entertainers of the twentieth century, has passed away at the age of 92. She lived a long life, and it was filled with music, movies, and memories.

At 16 she joined New York's Cotton Club where she became an orchestra singer, often touring with Cabell "Cab" Calloway and other jazz greats. She also performed on the radio, and eventually landed in short subjects & low-budget comedies such as The Duke Is Tops (which was reissued once she became famous and retitled "Bronze Venus"). MGM was so impressed with her that they signed her to a long term contract in 1943, breaking racial barriers. She first appeared as a singer in Panama Hattie and then in two films that remain favorites among her fans: Cabin in the Sky and 20th Century Fox's Stormy Weather (where she worked on loan from MGM). She appeared in other fondly-remembered musicals such as Til the Clouds Roll By and Thousands Cheer. During these WW2 years, she also entertained the troops for the USO, produced a number of "V-Discs", and was a favorite pin-up for soldiers.

With her angelic voice, she continued to perform on stage and television throughout the decades, winning a Tony and Grammy. She also received the prestigious Lifetime Achievement Honor from the Kennedy Center, as well as many other awards. And, like alot of people my age, I grew up watching her on Sesame Street and The Muppet Show, where Kermit (played by Jim Henson) described her as "a performer whose name is synonymous with style, taste, and talent". Her life and career is the subject of numerous documentaries, films, and books. Her legend lives on.

Lena's Filmography:

The Duke Is Tops (1938) - Renamed "Bronze Venus"
Panama Hattie (1942)
Thousands Cheer (1943)
Cabin in the Sky (1943)
Stormy Weather (1943)
I Dood It (1943)
Swing Fever (1943)
Broadway Rhythm (1944)
Boogie-Woogie Dream (1944)
Two Girls and a Sailor (1944)
Till the Clouds Roll By (1946)
Ziegfeld Follies (1945)
Words and Music (1948)
Meet Me in Las Vegas (1956)
Death of a Gunfighter (1969)
The Wiz (1978)
That's Entertainment! III (1994)






Below: Lena sings "Stormy Weather" from the film:

The Unsinkable Molly Brown (1964) and meeting Debbie Reynolds

Last night I saw Molly Brown on the big screen at a two-day film festival in Woodridge, IL, a suburb of Chicago. Ms. Reynolds was also in attendance, and I got a chance to meet her and even asked her to sign my DVD of Singin in the Rain (See pics below). It was a real thrill because I have always liked her from that movie. When she first walked into the theater lobby to greet fans,  I could not believe it was her. There was an aura present, an she looked very lovely. She stood and greeted everyone in line.  A woman standing in front of me in line brought her a big bouquet of flowers.

Then at 9 PM, everyone entered the theater. Ms. Reynolds came in to do a Q and A, and reminisced about Molly Brown: She said that Shirley MacClaine was originally supposed to play the lead, but MGM got Debbie instead due to some contract disputes. Then she talked about all the physical dance numbers and stunts she had to perform - truly impressive - and recalled how back-breaking they were. She said this was her favorite film of all, this one and "Mother" she liked best. Someone asked, "You like this even better than 'Singing in the Rain?'" and she said "Absolutely..."Humbly speaking I deserved to win (the Oscar that year)", but she didn't mention Julie Andrews, who did win -- I think they are good friends. She really is good in this rags-to-riches role, and deserved her Oscar nomination. You could feel along with her the pain and the joy she goes through. I must add that Harve Presnell deserves alot of credit as well, he's wonderful in this movie, a performance he reprised from the Broadway show. Howard Keel would be perfect for this part, but Debbie in the Q & A yesterday said that MGM had to scale back on the budget because they were making "Doctor Zhivago" the same year. She said the studio originally wanted the sinking of the Titanic scene to be longer, but it was trimmed to only a few minutes...a few powerful minutes - this is one of the best scenes in the movie. The Colorado scenery is breathtaking. Also worth nothing is a supporting performance by Ed Begley, who plays Molly's father. A few days ago I wrote that I didn't think he ever played a nice character, but I was wrong; he's heartwarming in this one. A film to experience at least once.

Song of the South (1946)

Producer Walt Disney had a dream project of bringing the American folklore of "Uncle Remus" to the big screen. He wanted animated sequences of his tall tales featuring the mischievous and cunning "Brer Rabbit" character. This movie is the result, but due to its offensive racial stereotypes it has not been showed in theaters since 1986 (when I first saw it as a kid).

The setting is the deep South. Little Johnny (Bobby Driscoll) is traveling from Atlanta to a plantation mansion (he thinks it's a vacation --- his parents have ulterior motives)...he travels along with his mother (Ruth Warrick from "Citizen Kane") and father, as well as their maid played by Oscar winner Hattie McDaniel.

There are a few nice scenes in the movie with McDaniel & Uncle Remus talking together, but not many. The entire movie is told from little Johnny's point of view---he hates having to stay in this big house, owned by his mean old grandmother (Lucille Watson, from "Watch on the Rhine"). He's also suspicious of why his father has to move back to Atlanta without him and mom (he writes un-explained controversial articles for a local newspaper). Further explanation of the father's actions may be too "adult" in nature for a kid's film, though. The parents later reunite.

Johnny runs away first chance he can get (can you blame him?), but meets up with the famous Uncle Remus, who tells him a tale of Brer Rabbit running away from his briar patch but finds nothing but trouble. Basically Uncle Remus is teaching him a lesson in "staying put".

Johnny then meets up with a little girl named Ginny; she gives him a little puppy and then her two mean brothers pick on him.

Remus then tells Johnny a few stories about bullies Brer Fox and Brer Bear. All these stories eventually teaches Johnny valuable life lessons.

The mean white adults don't appreciate Remus, and scold him for keeping Johnny after curfue with his tall tales.

Movie turns very sentimental when Remus, feeling unappreciated, decides to move out and away to Atlanta. Little Johnny races after Remus begging him to come back, but in the process, he gets trampled by a bull and almost dies. Remus tells another tale of Brer Rabbit.

I remember seeing this movie in the the theaters in 1986 when I was 10 years old. All the racist stuff flew over my head, and I was bored with all the drama and scenes with the humans - I just wanted to see more of the cartoon sequences with Brer Rabbit - which are just about 20 minutes in the 90 minute film. Seeing the film again in its entirety again as an adult I am able to appreciate the moral of the story and what Disney was trying to express on the screen. He meant it to be an inspiring film with alot of toe tapping and hummable tunes. A film like this is most definitely a product of it's time.

Read more about this film and its sources from the blog Voyages Extraordinaires (from Jan 2019)

Trivia:
"Zip A Dee Doo Dah" won the Oscar for Best Song of the year.

The Wiz (1979)

This movie I remember seeing many years ago and enjoying, it's a modern update (at least for the 70s) of The Wizard of Oz featuring an all black cast and urban setting, catchy songs and memorable scenes. I will never forget Lena Horne as Glinda the Good Witch. Humorous is Richard Pryor as the wizard.

An impressive adaptation of the hit Broadway musical directed by Sidney Lumet and music by Quincy Jones. Diana Ross is Dorothy, and Michael Jackson is the Scarecrow, in his only film acting role.

MJ could have gone down the route of other singers, and made bad some bad films but he never did, to his credit.

B

1776 (1972) seeing on a big screen with Q&A

I saw this today in Los Angeles at the Egyptian Theater with my friend Mike. First, it was a Broadway hit, winning the Tony for Best Musical. Then it was made into a film in 1972, produced by one of the original Warner brothers: Jack L. Warner, who loved the Broadway show. Most of the original cast was recruited; most names were unfamiliar to moviegoers, though many had notable screen credits: William Daniels had a small role in 1965's A Thousand Clowns as a social worker, and Howard DeSilva was in The Lost Weekend and Sargent York. Songs are memorable- and it's so wonderful what has been done with this film: expanded sets, beautiful exteriors, lush costumes, impressive cinematography, and great music - grand entertainment. Here's a version of a Broadway show that I think works much better on the screen than on the stage. I've seen the musical performed live twice and I always think back to this movie. William Daniels's performance is brilliant; I think he deserved an Oscar for it. The Academy didn't favor this movie, though. The big musical film of 1972 was Cabaret, and the biggest movie was The Godfather.

The screening was followed by a Q and A with director Peter Stone. At the Q&A at the Egyptian, Peter Stone recalled some fond memories of working on the stage show: how professional the actors were, and how they staged a special showing at the White House for President Nixon.

Dames (1934)

Regular Busby Berkeley cast members Dick Powell and Ruby Keeler star.

It features some good songs and musical numbers, most notably "I Only Have Eyes For You", which comes at the very end.

The film takes a long time to get going.

The silly plot about a millionaire's inheritance and a theater troupe isn't very remarkable.

Not one of Busby Berkeley's best, in my opinion; not as good as "Gold Diggers of 1933" and "Footlight Parade".

About the cast:

Ruby Keeler (1910-1993) often was paired with Dick Powell in Warner Bros musicals in the 1930s. She was married to legendary singer Al Jolsen. She retired from acting in the 1940s but returned to Broadway in 1971. Her most famous roles were in "42nd Street" and "Gold Diggers of 1933".

Dick Powell (1904-1963)was a fresh-faced and energetic star in many comedies and musicals in the 1930s and 40s. Most notably in many of Busby Berkeley's films, as well as "Christmas in July" and "Bad and the Beautiful". He died of lymphoma in 1963 at the age of 58.

Joan Blondell (1906-1979) was a character actress who played wisecracking blondes in many films of the 1930s, providing comedy relief in "The Public Enemy" and "The Perfect Specimen". Her most famous role perhaps was in "The Gold Diggers of 1933" with her scene-stealing performance. She was nominated for Best Supporting Actress in "The Blue Veil" (1951) which starred Jane Wyman.

The Apple (1980)

A very bizarre flashy musical released the same year as "Xanadu" and "Fame" and two years after "Grease" and "Hair". Lots of flash and glitter, and also thought-provoking: the Biblical symbolism - including the end-of-the-world ideas - was interesting. Around this time (late 70s/early 80s) there was alot of hysteria about the end of the world, and the apocalyptic book "The Late Great Planet Earth" was on the best seller chart; I imagine these themes would have been familiar to people at the time, certainly the filmmakers to some degree. After all, the year before, a movie version of "Earth" was released and featured Orson Welles. The doomsday/mark-of-the-beast themes are all clearly there in the film: the "BIM mark", the "rapture" scene at the end, etc. I saw Mr. Boogalow as Satan "personified", and Mr Topps as the God-like character bringing the resisters of the mark up to heaven.

Strangest quotes from the film:

Mr Booglaow (referring to Bibi): "She's already married...to the BIM"

Cop (to Alphie): You're not wearing the BIM mark..you know it's obligatory from now on"

Landlady (referring to Alphie's room): "What happened here last night, a pogrom?"

Landlady (to Alphie): "I need the money, this government's crazy!"

2nd Cop (to Alphie): "You're not wearing the BIM mark; here's a ticket"

Loudspeaker in a public park: "Time to stop ordinary activities and prepare for the national BIM tour...all citizens must participate"

Alphie (to the hippies): " 'Peace'...I haven't heard that word in a long time".

Yankee Doodle Dandee (1942) and Meeting Joan Leslie

I saw this (again) today with my friend Mike on the big screen at the Eygptian Theater in LA. Joan Leslie was there in person doing a Q and A. (She signed a photo for me) This is a movie fondly remembered by the critics who were polled by AFI (it made the AFI "Top 100" poll in 1998 and 2008). James Cagney is energetic as vaudevillian George M. Cohen, who went on to write numerous broadway productions and penned some classic American songs, such as "You're a Grand Old Flag" and "Over There". The movie highlights the entertainer's milestones and accomplishments. Filled with musical performances and show tunes taken directly from the shows he appeared in. This movie really keeps the legacy of George M. Cohen alive. Co-starring Walter Huston and Frances Langford.

Unfortunately, there is a scene in the beginning with the "The Four Cohans" that feature them all in blackface, which is really troubling. As is known, minstrel shows were very popular in that time period. Every time I watch this movie I try to see past this and appreciate the legacy of Cohan's music. Also offensive are the lines in the lyrics to "Baby in the Bunch", a tune sung by Joan Leslie very fast paced.

THE WARMEST BABY IN THE BUNCH by George M. Cohan (1897)

[Verse 1]

You're well acquainted with the Highborn lady,
You might have heard of Hot Tamale Sal,
But there's a wench that makes them all look shady,
You've got to take your hat off to dis gal,
You'll all be dazzled when you see dis member,
You'll think that you've been drinking nigger punch,
The steam comes from her shoes in cold December,
For she's the warmest baby in the bunch.

 [Chorus - only this part is sung in the movie]

When they see her coming, all dem wenches take a chill,
Diamonds glist'nin' all around and style enough to kill,
Her steady feller broke a crap game, Down in Louisville,
And buys her chicken ev'ry day for lunch.
"Come Seben!" Dreamy eyes that sparkle
and she rolls them mighty cute,
Colored gemmen say that lady cert'ny is a "beaut,"
"Go broke," dat she's a hot potater She's a red hot radiator,
She's the warmest baby in the bunch

 [Verse 2]

The coons they all acknowledge she's a wizard,
You'll cremate if around this gal you fool,
Last January when we had a blizzard,
She had to fan herself to take it cool,
The pol'cy shops are broken by this hummer,
She's luckier than a nigger with a hunch,
She leads a life of everlasting summer,
For she's the warmest baby in the bunch.

Read Sally Tonks' review from her blog Flying Down to Hollywood.
Read Monty's review from his blog 31 Days of Oscar.