Musical

Cabaret (1972)

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July 3, 2016November 3, 2024

Cabaret (1972) starring Liza Minelli, Michael York. Joel Grey

Cabaret will never be described as a feel-good movie. It’s doubtful that it can ever be described as family friendly, either. It is, however, a very powerful movie, with great performances, very moving. It deals with broken people in a broken world, set in Germany at a time when the Nazi party is just coming to power.

The main characters are:

by user
March 7, 2016March 11, 2024

Mary Poppins, starring Julie Andrews, Dick van Dyke, David Tomlinson, Glynis Johns, Ed Wynn

It’s reported that the author of Mary Poppins despised the movie version, but she’s in a very small minority. Thankfully, unlike some other classic children’s movies such as Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, adults can enjoy Mary Poppins as much as when they were children.

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March 5, 2016February 7, 2024

Anchors Aweigh, the classical musical comedy, starring Frank Sinatra, Kathryn Grayson, Gene Kelly – where two sailors fly in love while on shore leave …

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February 14, 2016June 12, 2022

Babes in Toyland (1961) starring Ray Bolger, Annette Funicello, Tommy Sands, Ed Wynn

I am a large fan of Laurel and Hardy’s March of the Wooden Soldier. It’s a wonderful children’s story for adults. Which, among other things, had a live-action version of Mickey Mouse appear. This was done with Walt Disney’s permission, since he and producer Hal Roach were close friends. In the same way, Walt Disney’s version of the story, Babes in Toyland had a comedy team impersonating Laurel and Hardy. And although I saw it many years ago as a child, I was eager to see it again as an adult.

by user
September 7, 2015July 24, 2024

Bye Bye Birdie (1963) starring Dick Van Dyke, Janet Leigh, Ann-Margret, Maureen Stapleton, Paul Lynde, Bobby Rydell

Bye Bye Birdie is a musical, with the songs held together by a fairly funny story. Actually, there are two or three stories interwoven together. It stars Dick Van Dyke as Albert, an unsuccessful songwriter who wants to be a successful chemist. But his controlling mother (Maureen Stapleton) pressures him into staying in the job. Much to the chagrin of his girlfriend Rosie (Janet Leigh). Rosie gets the idea of saving the song business by having them write a song. A song that’s guaranteed to be a hit.

by user
August 25, 2015January 22, 2024

Chitty Chitty Bang Bang (1968), starring Dick Van Dyke, Sally Ann Howes, Lionel Jeffries, Benny Hill

I’m very conflicted writing this review of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. I loved it as a child, but I have trouble enjoying it as an adult. Time Magazine began its review saying the film is a “picture for the ages — the ages between five and twelve” and that’s probably accurate. Even as an adult, I truly enjoy the various musical numbers (especially with Dick Van Dyke at the fair, performing Me Ol’ Bamboo, and several others). As well as the first half of the movie, up until the fantasy dream sequence.

by user
August 15, 2015April 10, 2021

Anything Goes, starring Bing Crosby, Donald O’Connor, Mitzi Gaynor, JeanMarie, Phil Harris

She’s Working Her Way Through College

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July 13, 2015September 1, 2024

She’s Working Her Way Through College (1952) starring Virginia Mayo, Ronald Reagan

She’s Working Her Way Through College is an interesting musical. The basic plot has former burlesque dancer Hot-Garters Gertie (Virginia Mayo) having saved up enough money to attend college. So after talking to her former high school teacher (Ronald Reagan) who’s now a college professor. Who just happens to be in the audience for a totally innocent reason … And getting hit on by a sleazy man who offers her an oversize fur coat (an important plot point later). She leaves to attend the college where Reagan is teaching, in hopes of writing a successful play.

by user
June 17, 2015April 1, 2024

Review of the classic musical, Singin’ in the Rain (1952) starring Gene Kelly, Donald O’Connor and Debbie Reynolds

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May 26, 2015February 27, 2024

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.