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Brigadoon, starring Gene Kelly, Cyd Charisse, Van Johnson

Brigadoon

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Brigadoon (1954) starring Gene Kelly, Van Johnson, Cyd Charisse

Brigadoon, like most Gene Kelly movies, is a musical with plenty of singing and dancing.  More than that, it is a movie with heart, and a strong message about the values that matter.  It begins with Tommy Albright (played well by Gene Kelly) and Jeff Douglas (played to the hilt by Van Johnson). They’re Americans who are caught up in the rat race, and not loving it.  Tommy is engaged, but is not eager to marry her. Partly to delay the wedding, he accompanies his best friend, Jeff, on a hunting trip to Scotland. There, they become lost.

Brigadoon

Royal Wedding

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Movie review of Royal Wedding (1951) starring Fred Astaire, Jane Powell, Peter Lawford, Sarah Churchill

Tom and Ellen Bowen (Fred Astaire and Jane Powell) are a brother and sister dance duo invited to perform in London during the same time that Princess Elizabeth and Prince Phillip are to be betrothed — only to find their own romances that threaten to break up the act!

Royal Wedding

Broadway Melody of 1938

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movie review of Broadway Melody of 1938 (1937), starring Robert Taylor, Eleanor Powell, Buddy Ebsen, Billy Gilbert, Judy Garland

Synopsis of Broadway Melody of 1938

Steve Raleigh (Robert Taylor) wants to produce a show on Broadway. He finds a financial backer, Herman Whipple as well as a dancing leading lady, Sally Lee (Eleanor Powell). But Whipple’s scheming wife, Caroline, wants to force Steve to use a known star, not a newcomer. In a subplot, Sally (a former farm girl, who used to train horses on her parents’ farm before they lost everything in the Depression) purchases a horse and with two ex-vaudevillians, Sonny Ledford and Peter Trott (Buddy Ebsen), she trains it to win a race, providing the money Steve needs for his show.

Broadway Melody of 1938

I’ll See You in my Dreams

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I’ll See You in my Dreams, starring Danny Thomas and Doris Day

Doris Day and Danny Thomas romantically collaborate in this affectionate biopic of tunesmith Gun Kahn that’s a treasure chest of some of this century’s greatest songs. Year: 1952 Director: Michael Curtiz Starring: Doris Day, Danny Thomas, Frank Lovejoy

I’ll See You in my Dreams

Panama Hattie

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Panama Hattie (1942) starring Red Skelton, Ann Sothern, Rags Ragland, Virginia O’Brien

Synopsis

In Panama Hattie, the brassy but gold-hearted proprietress of a Canal Zone hotel, where she performs, is used to a rough-and-tumble crowd of sailors.  But she falls for a wealthy socialite soldier, and doesn’t know how to handle herself.

Panama Hattie

Three Little Words

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Three Little Words (1950) starring Red Skelton, Fred Astaire, Vera-Ellen, Arlene Dahl

 Three Little Words is a long-time favorite movie of mine, for several reasons.   First, I’m a large fan of the comedy of Red Skelton, and he’s given plenty of room to work his comedy, both physical and verbal.   Likewise, I’m a fan of Fred Astaire, and I love to watch him dance.  And he has his own very good sense of humor, that plays against Red’s very well.   And thirdly, I’m a fan of well-done musicals, and Three Little Words definitely counts in that regard.

Three Little Words

Lovely to Look At, starring Red Skelton, Howard Keel

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movie review of Lovely to Look At (1952) starring Howard Keel, Kathryn Grayson, Red Skelton, Ann Miller

 Lovely to Look At is a combination romance, musical, comedy, and fashion show — no, really.   It’s the story of three Americans (Al Marsh played by Red Skelton, Tony Naylor played by Howard Keel, Jerry Ralby played by Gower Champion). They are looking for financial backers for the Broadway show they want to put on … unsuccessfully.   They are out of options, when Al’s Aunt Roberta dies. She left him with partial ownership of a fashionable Paris dress shop.

Lovely to Look At, starring Red Skelton, Howard Keel

Du Barry Was A Lady, starring Red Skelton, Lucile Ball, Gene Kelly

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Du Barry Was A Lady (1943) starring Red Skelton, Lucille Ball, Gene Kelly

The basic plot of Du Barry Was A Lady is interesting. Hat check man Louis Blore (Red Skelton) is in love with nightclub star May Daly. (Lucille Ball) May, however, is love with a poor dancer (Gene Kelly). But due to her parents’ poverty wants to marry for money. When Louis wins the Irish Sweepstakes, he asks May to marry him. She accepts even though she doesn’t love him. Soon after, Louis has an accident and gets slipped a doctored drink (meant for Gene Kelly). He dreams that he €™s King Louis XV pursuing the infamous Madame Du Barry (Lucille Ball).

Du Barry Was A Lady, starring Red Skelton, Lucile Ball, Gene Kelly

Texas Carnival [Red Skelton]

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Texas Carnival (1951) starring Red Skelton, Esther Williams, Howard Keel, Ann Miller, and Keenan Wynn

 Texas Carnival is an interesting musical, comedy and romance that €™s a little bit different.   It has 4 very different stars €”Red Skelton, Esther Williams, Howard Keel, and Ann Miller €”with four different strengths, and gives each of them opportunity to showcase their talents.   Red Skelton has several very funny moments clowning around, Esther Williams has one extended swimming sequence, Howard Keel sings his heart out in several songs, and Ann Miller is showcased in two different dancing routines.

Texas Carnival [Red Skelton]
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