The classic Stanley Donen and Gene Kelly combination, seen before in Singin' in the Rain, doesn't let you down here. Donen's past musicals include Seven Brides for Seven Brothers and Funny Face, both are among my favourites and On the Town ranks pretty strongly among them. I love watching musicals and discovering the origin of songs you've known your whole life, like On The Town's "New York, New York." Though the movie is about 3 young sailors on day leave in New York, my favourite character is by far Betty Garrett's Brunhilde Esterhazy. She's a sassy cab driver with the guts to go after what she wants, which just happens to be the boyish and somewhat clueless Chip (Frank Sinatra). She's boisterous, funny and clever - not the kind of woman you typically see in old Hollywood musicals. The boys are charming, and their quest for love in 24 hours is adorable. The music is fun, with great numbers by Kelly, Sinatra and their fellow sailor played by Jules Munshin, and I can see how some consider it one of their favourites.
Showing posts with label Frank Sinatra. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Frank Sinatra. Show all posts
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
Wendy's Films of 2010 #42: On the Town (1949)
The classic Stanley Donen and Gene Kelly combination, seen before in Singin' in the Rain, doesn't let you down here. Donen's past musicals include Seven Brides for Seven Brothers and Funny Face, both are among my favourites and On the Town ranks pretty strongly among them. I love watching musicals and discovering the origin of songs you've known your whole life, like On The Town's "New York, New York." Though the movie is about 3 young sailors on day leave in New York, my favourite character is by far Betty Garrett's Brunhilde Esterhazy. She's a sassy cab driver with the guts to go after what she wants, which just happens to be the boyish and somewhat clueless Chip (Frank Sinatra). She's boisterous, funny and clever - not the kind of woman you typically see in old Hollywood musicals. The boys are charming, and their quest for love in 24 hours is adorable. The music is fun, with great numbers by Kelly, Sinatra and their fellow sailor played by Jules Munshin, and I can see how some consider it one of their favourites.
Thursday, January 14, 2010
Wendy's Films of 2010 #16: High Society (1956)
I'm often weary of watching remakes, this one being of George Cukor's The Philadelphia Story (1940), with Katherine Hepburn, Cary Grant and James Stewart, a film that I found particularly wonderful. Yet, High Society, turning Story into a musical, has the velvety voice of Bing Crosby, the magnificent Louis Armstrong, his band, Frank Sinatra, and Cole Porter's great score.Many have expressed their dislike of this film, but to me it was like watching an old favourite, only with a new, just as talented cast. I must say, however, that I don't know if anyone will ever have the same chemistry as Hepburn and Grant, but I look forward to watching The Philadelphia Story again to see how the two really compare. The film emphasizes the importance of making mistakes and having fun, rather than attempting to keep up an impossible guise of elegance and poise. I do find it quite... ironic, that this would be Grace Kelly's last film before marrying Prince Rainier III of Monaco, heading toward a future filled with the constant pressure to be the image of grace and perfection. Ah well, what can you do? Enjoy Satchmo I guess!
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