Last night, during a huge thunderstorm, My husband Stephen and I drove to the Century-Oro Valley Market Place Theater in Arizona, to see one of my favorite musicals, Singin' in the Rain. I would say 30 other people, also.. came out in the rain to see the classic musical.
I was thrilled to have been one of those who were selected to receive two TCM promotional passes, for the 8/22/12 showing. I have not been to a movie theater, since my son was a little boy.
I have to share with you, that seeing a classic film, on the "big screen" is an amazing experience. I hope all of you get the opportunity to experience it at least once.
Watching the film, in a theater armed with a bag of movie popcorn and drink, sitting with an audience, is like seeing the classic for the first time. With the large size screen you really do see more detail:
The costumes really sparkled and were more amazing on the "Big Screen".
When Don was doing his "Make um Laugh" routine you could actually see his feet ripping up the carpet.
As I mentioned before.. we had a huge thunderstorm in Tucson, last night and while we were watching Gene Kelly, "Singin' in the Rain" routine, you could actually hear large claps of thunder, from outside the theater.. it was amazingly(is that a word) good timing.
Gene Kelly, dancing routines are breathtaking. Seeing the film at the theater, made me realize how well Gene Kelly, really danced..
Cyd Charise, was full of energy and commanded the screen in all her dance numbers, even though she did not have any speaking parts.
Jean Hagen's voice, was even more irritating on the 'Big Screen". Matter of fact "that voice" is still ringing in my ears.
Debbie Reynolds, voice seemed very girlish.. but it worked...
My gosh.. the color just popped off the screen, it was like watching a firework display, in some of the scenes. The black and white scenes, were amazing and odd. It was the first time in my life, that I had ever seen one up on the "big screen". Thank you The Lady Eve, Jill and Michael for making this possible! I had a wonderful time. A night I will remember for the rest of my life..
This is my contribution to the week-long Gene Kelly Centennial Blogathon, sponsored by the Classic Movie Blog Association. Please stop by other blogs(located on the sidebar) and read the many wonderful tributes celebrating Gene Kelly's 100th birthday.
Cover Girl (1944). Musical. Cast: Rita Hayworth and Gene Kelly. Directed by Charles Vidor, and was one of the most beloved musicals of the war years.
The film has 8 dance/songs written by Jerome Kern and Ira Gershwin, including: "Long Ago (and Far Away)". The film won the 1944 Academy Award for best musical scoring.It was also nominated for four other awards; Best Art Direction (Lionel Banks, Cary Odell, Fay Babcock), Best Cinematography, Best Original Song for "Long Ago (and Far Away)" and Best Sound, Recording (John Livadary).
The film begins when, Maxine Martin enters a contest to be a Vanity magazine cover girl. Rusty Parker, another dancer at Danny Maguire's Brooklyn nightclub, also enters the contest. The two women are interviewed by Cornelia Jackson, who works for the magazine.
When Jackson shows interest in Rusty, Maxine ruins her chances by telling her that Jackson is looking for a model with over the top personality. When Rusty takes her advice and puts on a huge act, Jackson thinks she is nuts. Jackson believes that Maxine, is the better candidate for the cover.
Coudair insists on going to Danny's club to see her in her "natural environment." When they get to the club they watch the girls dance number where Rusty, reminds Coudair of his long lost love, Maribelle Hicks.
After her performance, Rusty joins Danny and Genius, at Joe's oyster bar, where they enjoy their Friday night ritual looking for a pearl to bring them luck. When they return to their apartment, Rusty finds a telegram from Coudair, inviting her to his office the next day. Thinking that Coudair's offer will end their close friendship, Genius tears up the telegram. When Rusty is alone she runs back downstairs to put the pieces back together.
Rusty makes her appointment with Coudair and when he learns that Maribelle Hicks was her grandmother, he gives her the magazine's cover. Coudair brings Broadway theater owner Noel Wheaton to meet Rusty to offer her a job. At first Rusty turns him down. Coudair joins forces with Wheaton to lure Rusty to Broadway and sends Rusty an invitation to Vanity 's 50th anniversary dinner.
Mean while Danny arrives at the Coudair mansion only find to find the house empty except for Coudair who insist that Danny free Rusty from her contract.
The next day, Rusty is late for rehearsal, and Danny gives her song to Maxine to perform. Rusty hurt rushes out of the club, headed for Broadway. Will Rusty give up fame and fortune for love?
What makes this a milestone film for Gene Kelly, are the two musical numbers: Put Me to the Test.
Along with the Alter Ego. Kelly, said the alter ego number was one of the hardest dance numbers he ever performed in his career. With the amazing technicolor cinematography, Cover Girl, will forever be one of my favorite musicals.
FUN FACTS:
Columbia Pictures gave Gene Kelly almost complete control over the making of this film, and many of his ideas contributed to its lasting success. He removed several of the sound stage walls so that he, Rita Hayworth, and Phil Silvers could dance along an entire street in one take. He also used trick photography so that he could dance with himself in one sequence.
Rita Hayworth's singing voice was dubbed by Martha Mears.
Lauren Bacall had been wanted by Columbia to appear in this film as Harper's Bazaar cover girl (as she had appeared on Harper's Bazaar cover in March 1943), but instead filmed To Have and Have Not at Warner Bros. and became a star.
During the middle of shooting Rita Hayworth eloped with Orson Welles. Coincidentally the film's wedding scene was shot that day.
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Several Conover Cover Girl models appear in this film.
"MAKE WAY FOR TOMORROW"
Music by Jerome Kern
Lyrics by Ira Gershwin and E.Y. Harburg
Sung and Danced by Gene Kelly, Rita Hayworth (dubbed by Martha Mears); Phil Silvers.
"ALTER-EGO DANCE"
Music by Jerome Kern
Danced by Gene Kelly.
Kelly was born in the Highland Park neighborhood of Pittsburgh. He was the third son of Harriet Catherine and James Patrick Joseph Kelly, a phonograph salesman.
At the age of eight, Kelly was enrolled by his mother in dance classes, along with his older brother James, feeling like sissy's, they both dropped out
Kelly returned to dance after becoming an sportsman and able to take care of himself. He attended St. Raphael Elementary School in the Morningside neighborhood of Pittsburgh, PA. He graduated from Peabody High School in 1929 at the age of sixteen. He enrolled in Pennsylvania State College to study journalism but the economic crash changed his plans and he had to find employment to help support his family.
This is when he put together dance routines with his younger brother Fred, to earn prize money in local talent contests, they also performed in local nightclubs. In 1931, Kelly enrolled at the University of Pittsburgh to study economics where he joined the Phi Kappa Theta fraternity.While at Pitt, Kelly became involved in the university's Cap and Gown Club, which staged original, comedic musical productions.
Earning a Bachelor of Arts in Economics, with his graduation from Pitt in 1933, he remained active with the Cap and Gown Club, serving as its director from 1934 to 1938, while at the same time enrolling in the University of Pittsburgh Law School. Also during this period, Kelly's family started a dance studio in Pittsburgh. In 1932, the dance studio was renamed, The Gene Kelly Studio of the Dance. A second location was opened in Johnstown, Pennsylvania in 1933. Kelly, served as a teacher at the studio during both his undergraduate and law student years at Pitt.
In 1931, he was asked by the Rodef Shalom synagogue in Pittsburgh to teach dance and to stage the annual Kermess. This venture lasted for seven years until he decided to pursue his career as a dance teacher and full-time entertainer and dropped out of law school. In 1937, he moved to New York City to follow his dream of becoming a successful choreographer and actor. He did perform one time with his brother(1954), Fred Kelly in the movie:
Deep in My Heart(1954). Biographical musical about the life of operetta composer Sigmund Romberg, who wrote the music for The Student Prince, The Desert Song, and The New Moon. Leonard Spigelglass adapted the film from Elliott Arnold's 1949 biography of the same name. Stanley Donen directed and Eugene Loring choreographed.
The film, which takes its title from "Deep in My Heart, Dear," a song from "The Student Prince," which has cameos by: Cyd Charisse, Rosemary Clooney, Vic Damone, Howard Keel, Gene Kelly and his brother Fred Kelly (their only on-screen performance together), Tony Martin, Ann Miller, James Mitchell, Jane Powell, and the ballerina Tamara Toumanova. Robert Easton and Russ Tamblyn both make uncredited appearances.
Some highlights of Fred Kelly's career:
Winner of three Donaldson awards, which were the precursor of the Tony Awards: one for acting, one for comedy and one for dance (presented by Antoinette Perry, for whom the Tony awards are named).
Directed The Ice Capades.
Introduced the mambo to the New York City dance scene.
Invented the cha-cha.
Taught a young man named John Travolta to dance in Oradell, NJ.
In the movie Meet Me in St. Louis, the song “The Boy Next Door” was based on Fred and his wife, Dottie, who was his childhood sweetheart. They lived next door to each other in Pittsburgh.
Fred produced, directed, or was otherwise involved with the first television drama series, soap opera, cooking show, and talk show - a true television pioneer.
Even though Gene Kelly and Judy Garland, had such great respect for each other they only performed in three films together: For Me and My Gal (1942), The Pirate (1948) and Summer Stock (1950).
They met when Gene was performing in, Pal Joey on Broadway. After the show Gene, Judy and her mother, went to the Copacabana club to become more acquainted. After the club closed, Gene and Judy spent the rest of the evening walking through Central Park, talking about doing a movie together.
Gene, always gave Judy credit for helping him learn how to dance in front of a camera as opposed to dancing on stage in front of an audience. The silver screen couple, were very charming together in all their films.
One of my favorite, dancers, actors, singers, film directors, producers and choreographers. Gene Kelly, was known for his energetic and athletic dancing style. Gene Kelly, maybe best known for his performance in Singin' in the Rain(1952), a musical with Debbie Reynolds, Donald O'Connor and Jean Hagen. Directed by Gene Kelly and Stanley Donen, with Kelly in charge of producing the choreography. Singin' in the Rain, showcases a comic view of Hollywood and its transition from silent films to "talkies." It is believed to be one of the best musicals ever made.
Gene Kelly, was a huge force in musical films from the mid 1940s into the late 1950s. He is credited with almost single-handily making ballet popular with film audiences of his era. Kelly, received an Academy Honorary Award in 1952 for his career achievements.
Fun Facts:
During World War II he was a sailor stationed at the U S Naval Photographic Center in Anacostia, DC (where the documentary "Victory at Sea" (1952) was later assembled for NBC-TV). He starred in several Navy films while on active duty there and in "civilian" films while on leave.
He and his younger brother Fred Kelly performed together in a dancing vaudeville act. When Gene got his big break as Harry the hoofer in the dramatic Broadway production of "The Time of Your Life" in 1942, he was replaced by brother Fred, who took it on the road and won a Donaldson award.
ON THE TOWN (1949). A wonderful musical, about three sailors (Gene Kelly, Frank Sinatra and Jules Munshin) on a twenty-four hour shore leave, looking for adventure and romance.
The three sailors go on a sightseeing tour of Manhattan. First on their list: the Empire State Building, Central Park and Rockefeller Center. Ozzie and Gabey, quickly becoming bored with sightseeing and want to check out the beautiful women of New York. The three sailors see a poster of Ivy Smith, "Miss Turnstiles", for the month of June. Ozzie thinking that she is the most beautiful girl he has ever seen.
They tell her life story in a dance number. They can not believe that they find her, as soon as they arrive at the subway station, where Ivy is posing for a photo shoot. Gabey poses with her for a photograph, but she quickly disappears. Gabey, Chip and Ozzie follow Ivy in a taxicab driven by Brunhilde, who has eyes for Chip. With the poster of Ivy's as their only information, Gabey and his friends look for her in places where she might be working.
Brunhilde, takes the sailors to look for Ivy at the Museum of Natural History, where Ozzie meets Claire, an anthropologist, who quickly joins them in their search. When they break into a dance, Ozzie and Claire accidentally knock over a dinosaur skeleton at the museum. They run for their lives, but the police are hot on their heels. The group splits up and search for her separately, agreeing to meet later that evening at the Empire State Building.
Alone at last with Chip, Brunhilde takes him to her apartment, only to be disturbed by her quirky, roommate, Lucy.
Gabey eventually finds Ivy in a dance studio, where they make plans to go on a date later that evening. Ivy promises to return from her date, in time to make her performance as a coach dancer at Coney Island. Because she owes her dance instructor a lot of money for her lessons.
Chip, Brunhilde, Ozzie, Claire and Gabey meet at the top of the Empire State Building, where they hide Ozzie from the policemen who are still looking for him. When Ivy arrives, the three couples begin their night... "ON THE TOWN".
The evening comes to an abrupt halt when Ivy disappears without explanation, leaving behind only a note. His friends try to cheer him up by quickly having Lucy fill in for for Ivy. Gabey has a few drinks and thinks about his new love, Ivy. Will the two love birds find each other again?
I loved the fact that this movie was filmed on location in New York. I really enjoyed the dance numbers, for me they seemed to go with the plot instead strictly for entertainment. I also, loved the dance number where the guys dress up in Hiram costumes and sing like girls.
In her screen debut, Alice Pearce (the roommate with the sneezing problem). Alice is also known as the first actress to play the nosy neighbor Gladys Kravitz on the show Bewitched (1964).
Jules Munshin (February 22, 1915 – February 19, 1970) was a Jewish song-and-dance artist who had made his name on Broadway when he starred in, Call Me Mister(picture to the left).
Additional Broadway credits: The Gay Life and Barefoot in the Park.
Although Munshin was in successful MGM musicals such as Easter Parade and Take Me Out to the Ball Game, audiences would always remember him as one of the trio of sailors (along with Gene Kelly and Frank Sinatra) singing "New York, New York" in the hit film On the Town (1949).
Another of his great roles was Bibinski, a Russian Commisar in Silk Stockings (1957).