The Wizard of Oz - !939 - Starring Judy Garland · Frank Morgan · Ray Bolger · Bert Lahr · Jack Haley · Billie Burke · Margaret Hamilton - directed by Victor Fleming

"Toto, I have a feeling we are not in Kansas anymore"
 

I think I first saw the Wizard of Oz when it was initially broadcast on American TV in 1956.

"produced by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM), was first released in theatres on August 15, 1939. The film was then re-released nationwide in 1949, and once more in 1955. The Wizard of Oz was broadcast on television for the first time on Saturday, November 3, 1956. The film was shown as the last instalment of the CBS anthology series Ford Star Jubilee. Since that telecast, The Wizard of Oz has been shown by CBS, NBC, The WB, and several of Ted Turner's national cable channels. The film has never been licensed to any local affiliate broadcast TV station. From 1959 to 1991, the showing of The Wizard of Oz was an annual tradition on American commercial network television." From Wikipedia 

The Wizard of Oz is a celebration of colour in its transition from the black and white of Kansas to the vivid colours of the land of Oz.

After the film's second broadcast on U.S. television, subsequent network telecasts became a highly anticipated family event for many. The Wizard of Oz drew large audiences annually for many decades.

The film was directed by Victor Fleming, with uncredited contributions from King Vidor and George Cukor. It stars Judy Garland as Dorothy Gale, a young farm girl who, along with her dog Toto, is swept away by a tornado from her Kansas home to the magical Land of Oz.

Dorothy embarks on a quest to find the Wizard of Oz, who she believes can help her return home. Along the way, she meets a Scarecrow (Ray Bolger) who desires a brain, a Tin Man (Jack Haley) who yearns for a heart, and a Cowardly Lion (Bert Lahr) who seeks courage. The four companions travel along the Yellow Brick Road, facing various challenges and encounters with the Wicked Witch of the West (Margaret Hamilton) who seeks to steal Dorothy's ruby slippers and prevent her from reaching the Wizard.

The Wizard of Oz is considered one of the greatest films of all time, and it has been praised for its innovative use of color, memorable characters, and timeless songs such as "Over the Rainbow" and "We're Off to See the Wizard." 

Just last week I loved seeing  "We represent the Lollie Pop Guild" sung on The Big Bang Theory

All That Jazz is a 1979 American musical drama film directed by Bob Fosse and starring Roy Scheider

 All That Jazz is a 1979 American musical drama film directed by Bob Fosse and starring Roy Scheider

Bob Fossee (1927 to 1987)

directed these films 

Sweet Charity - 1969

Cabaret - 1972

Lenny - 1974

All That Jazz - 1979

Star 80 - 1983

 All That Jazz centers around Joe Gideon (played by a phenomenal Roy Scheider), a driven and talented choreographer-director juggling multiple projects: a demanding Broadway musical, a Hollywood film in post-production, and his failing health. As he pushes himself to the limit, fueled by cigarettes, pills, and fleeting relationships, the film delves into the themes of self-destruction, workaholism, mortality, and the price of achieving artistic excellence.

All That Jazz" is considered a semi-autobiographical work, heavily influenced by Fossee's own experiences in the entertainment industry. His signature style, characterized by sharp angles, stark lighting, and intricate choreography, permeates every frame. The film's innovative editing techniques and fantastical musical numbers further solidify Fossee's status as a visionary 

The film garnered widespread critical acclaim, winning the Palme d'Or at the 1980 Cannes Film Festival and receiving nine Academy Award nominations, including Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Actor for Scheider. 

Cry Baby - A Musical Starring Johnny Depp - directed by John Waters - 1990 -

 Cry Baby - A Musical Starring Johnny Depp - directed by John Waters - 1990

Available on Dailymotion 

I first watched Cry Baby around 20 years ago, on Television. It was a lot of fun for me to revisit Cry Baby.

Cry-Baby is a 1990 American teen musical romantic comedy film written and directed by John Waters. It stars Johnny Depp as Wade "Cry-Baby" Walker, a 1950s teen rebel, and Amy Locane as Allison Vernon-Williams, a good girl who falls for him. The film also features a large ensemble cast that includes Ricki Lake, Susan Tyrrell, Iggy Pop, Traci Lords, and Willem Dafoe. 

The film centers on a group of delinquent youth who refer to themselves as "drapes" and their interaction with the rest of the town and its other subculture, the "squares", in 1950s Baltimore, Maryland. "Cry-Baby" Walker, a drape, and Allison, a square, disturb Baltimore society by breaking the subculture taboos and falling in love. The film shows what the young couple has to overcome to be together and how their actions affect the rest of the town. 

The film features a mix of rockabilly, doo-wop, and R&B songs that perfectly capture the feel of the setting.

Hi Di Ho - A 1947 Musical Starring Cab Calloway - Directed by Josh Kinney

Hi Di Ho - A 1947 Musical Starring Cab Caloway - Directed by Josh Kinney

available on YouTube 

The 1947 musical film Hi De Ho stars Cab Calloway as himself, a bandleader who is trying to form his own band. He hires Nettie (Ida James) as his manager, which causes his girlfriend, Blossom (Jeni Le Gon), to become jealous. The film features several musical numbers, including "Minnie the Moocher," "The Hi-De-Ho Man, That's Me," and "A Rainy Sunday

In the opening scene I was turned off  by the physical and mental abuse of women exhibited as if it were normal behaviour when Cab Calloway  strikes his girlfriend.

Songs in the film

"Minnie the Moocher"

"The Hi-De-Ho Man, That's Me"

"A Rainy Sunday"

"Hey, Now!"

"Bop Bop"

"At Dawn Time"

"Minnie's a Hepcat Now"

"St. James Infirmary Blues"

"Don't Falter at the Altar"

Hi De Ho was a box office success, grossing over $1 million at the box office.

I hope to soon watch another movie starring Cab Calloway, Stormy Weather 

 

 

Summer Stock - A 1950 Musical Starring Judy Garland and Gene Kelly - Directed by Charles Waters- 1 Hour 41 Minutes

 Summer Stock - A 1950 Musical Starring Judy Garland and Gene Kelly - Directed by Charles Waters- 1 Hour 41 Minutes 

Available on YouTube 

Judy Garland shines in the 1950 musical film "Summer Stock," her last for Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) and her final onscreen pairing with Gene Kelly

Judy Garland plays Jane Falbury, a farm owner whose actress sister, Abigail (Gloria DeHaven), arrives at the family farm with her theater troupe. They need a place to rehearse, and Jane and her housekeeper, Esme (Marjorie Main), reluctantly agree to let them use their barn. The actors and actresses, including the director, Joe Ross (Gene Kelly), repay her hospitality by doing chores around the farm. Although Joe is engaged to Abigail, he begins to fall in love with Jane after Abigail leaves him in an angry fit. Similarly, although Jane is engaged to Orville (Eddie Bracken), she falls in love with Joe.

The film was a critical and commercial success, grossing over $4 million at the box office. It was nominated for two Academy Awards, for Best Music, Score and Best Music, Song ("Get Happy"). 

Springtime in the Rockies -A 1942 Musical Starring Betty Grable, Carmen Miranda and Ceaser Romero -

 

Springtime in the Rockies -A 1942 Musical Starring Betty Grable, Carmen Miranda and Ceaser Romero - 

Director: Irving Cummings

Screenplay: Ken Englund, Walter Bullock, Jacques Théry

Music by: Alberto Colombo

Distributed by: 20th Century Studios

Box office: $3.5 million (United States) $240,000 (United Kingdom)

Springtime in the Rockies 

Springtime in the Rockies tells the story of Vicky Lane (Grable) and Dan Christy (Payne), a successful dance team on Broadway. However, their off-stage relationship is strained by Dan's philandering ways. After a fight, Vicky leaves Dan and goes to work at a dude ranch in the Canadian Rockies. Dan follows her, determined to win her back.

The film features several memorable musical numbers, including "I Had the Craziest Dream," "You Made Me Love You," and "Sleepy Lagoon."

It was a major box office success, grossing over $2 million in 1942.

It was filmed on location in Lake Louise, Alberta, Canada.

The film's costumes were designed by Irene Gibbons, who won an Academy Award for her work.

The film's choreography was by Hermes Pan.

The Pajama Game - A 1957 Musical - Starring Doris Day - directed by George Abbott and Stanley Dohen - Correography by Bob Fossee

 

The Pajama Game - A 1957 Musical - Starring Doris Day - directed by George Abbott and Stanley Dohen - Correography by Bob Fossee

Release date: August 29, 1957 

Box office: 2.5 million USD (US rentals)

Distributed by: Warner Bros.

Adapted from: The Pajama Game, 7½ Cents

The story takes place in a pajama factory in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, where the workers are on strike for a seven-and-a-half-cent raise. The new superintendent, Sid Sorokin, falls in love with Babe Williams, the head of the union grievance committee. Their romance is complicated by their opposing roles in the labor dispute.  The Scenes in the factory, the labor slowdown  and the company picnic are marvelous 

There are ten songs as well as the marvelous Correography of Bob Fosses

A Night at the Opera- A 1935 Musical Comedy with Groucho, Chico and Harpo Marx - Directed by Sam Wood - 1 Hour 31 minutes

 A Night at the Opera- A 1935 Musical Comedy with Groucho, Chico and Harpo Marx - Directed by Sam Wood - 1 Hour 31 minutes 

The film is a prime example of the Marx Brothers' unique brand of physical and verbal comedy. Groucho's quick wit and Groucho glasses are legendary, while Harpo's silent antics and use of props (like his horn and harp) are always a source of laughter. Chico's rapid-fire Italian-accented speech and piano playing add another layer of humor to the mix.

Ricardo Baroni (Allan Jones) and Rosa Fiorello (Kitty Carlisle). He becomes their manager and, with the help of his brothers, Harpo (the silent prankster) and Chico (the fast-talking gambler), tries to help them achieve their dreams on the grand stage of the New York Opera. However, their path is filled with obstacles, including the scheming impresario Rodolfo Lassparri (Walter Woolf King) and the snobby socialite Mrs. Claypool (Margaret Dumont).

Despite the comedic chaos, the film also features some beautiful operatic singing, particularly from Allan Jones and Kitty Carlisle. The most famous scene is probably the "Stateroom Scene," where the brothers and a growing number of passengers cram into a tiny cabin, leading to hilarious pandemonium.

The film was the Marx Brothers' first movie at MGM after leaving Paramount Pictures.

Oklahoma - A 1955 Musical Directed by Fred Zimmermann - A Rodgers and Hammerstein Production - 2 Hours 25 Minutes

Oklahoma - A 1955 Musical Directed by Fred Zimmermann - A Rodgers and Hammerstein Production - 2 Hours 25 Minutes 

Available on YouTube 

 Academy Awatd Winner for Best Sound and Best Score 

The 1955 film adaptation of Oklahoma! is a beloved classic that brought the beloved Rodgers and Hammerstein musical to the big screen. 

Directed by: Fred Zinnemann

Starring: Gordon MacRae, Shirley Jones, Gloria Grahame, Gene Nelson, Charlotte Greenwood, Rod Steiger, James Whitmore, Eddie Albert

Based on: The 1943 Broadway musical of the same name

Oklahoma! is considered one of the greatest movie musicals ever made. It helped to popularize the widescreen format and is known for its beautiful cinematography, memorable songs, and strong performances.

It was the first film to be shot in the Todd-AO 70 mm widescreen process.

The film was originally going to be shot in black and white, but the producers changed their minds after seeing the success of Singin' in the Rain.

The film's budget was $6 million, which was a lot of money for a musical at the time.

The film was a major box office success, grossing over $40 million worldwide.

I very much enjoyed Oklahoma