Gene Kelly plays the "King of the Trapeze turned buck army private" magnificently, supplemented with the chirping of Kathryn Grayson. It shows how, even in his early years, (This is only the second year of Gene in Hollywood pictures) he was a great dancer/actor. (His dance with the mop was the best part of the movie for me) This great movie is supplemented by the great bands of Jose Iturbi and Bob Crosby, and with the great talents of silver screen greats like Red Skelton, Lucille Ball, Gloria DeHaven, June Allyson, and the spectacular Judy Garland. This movie is a must for all classic musical buffs!!!
Reviews
6 Reviews
Ziegfeld Follies
(1945)
1/2 Grandeur, 1/2 Glamour
16 June 1999
If you get easily bored with those old movies that seem to roll and roll forever, this is for you. It really has no plot, but you really don't need one. You could call this movie the Grand Ball, because it really is a set of dances. (Except for a few comedy scenes) Overall, I strongly believe that it is a really good movie, especially in those Fred Astaire numbers (Here's to the Girls, This Heart of Mine, and the Limehouse Blues) This movie is a real MUST for classic movie and Ziegfeld lovers alike.
Girl Crazy
(1943)
A fabulous songfest
8 June 1999
Judy and Mickey, one of the best team-ups in the history of motion pictures, team up again in this rather fun musical. With Tommy Dorsey and his band there, and with Gershwin-composed songs, really, what more can you ask? I consider Judy's rendition of "But Not For Me" to be one of her best songs.
He's (Danny Churchill Jr. - Mickey Rooney) the playboy, who fools around with girls too much and is sent out west to a "all boys college- Cody College- to reform" He did not even reach there yet when he saw two legs sticking out of a stalled car. Even in jeans, they could be none other's than Ginger Gray, the granddaughter of the dean of Cody. He tries to get her hand in love, but to no avail. She's just laughing at the way he is trying to adjust to western life. He can't ride a horse correctly, and looks ....well, weird in Western clothing. When Danny finally wants to quit, Ginger drives him to the train station. He tries, for one last time, to convince her in a song, but she rejects him continuing the song. When she drops him in the station, he decides to walk back because of his love for Ginger. As the two fall in love, the college receives news that it is closing down. Should Danny stay to save both Ginger and the college? Or should he take Ginger and run back to New York and his former college, Yale? Find out in this exciting video.
He's (Danny Churchill Jr. - Mickey Rooney) the playboy, who fools around with girls too much and is sent out west to a "all boys college- Cody College- to reform" He did not even reach there yet when he saw two legs sticking out of a stalled car. Even in jeans, they could be none other's than Ginger Gray, the granddaughter of the dean of Cody. He tries to get her hand in love, but to no avail. She's just laughing at the way he is trying to adjust to western life. He can't ride a horse correctly, and looks ....well, weird in Western clothing. When Danny finally wants to quit, Ginger drives him to the train station. He tries, for one last time, to convince her in a song, but she rejects him continuing the song. When she drops him in the station, he decides to walk back because of his love for Ginger. As the two fall in love, the college receives news that it is closing down. Should Danny stay to save both Ginger and the college? Or should he take Ginger and run back to New York and his former college, Yale? Find out in this exciting video.
A Star Is Born
(1954)
Very moving
6 June 1999
I think that Judy Garland turned in one of her best performances, despite her real-life troubles. Even though she was already hooked to sleeping pills, pills to wake up, and pills to control her weight, she acted brilliantly. James Mason also turned in HIS best performance, acting like that "washed up" movie star that is so hard to play while you are in your prime.
It's about Esther Blargett (Judy), who gets "discovered" by the washed up actor, Norman Maine (James) who has a really bad problem controlling his alcoholism. She gets into a major studio and is a big hit. However, when the two fall in love, he gets a little better, even stopping his alcoholism for a while. However, after a few weeks, he gets back into it and really embarrasses her in a few places, including in the Academy Awards. A judge puts Norman under Vicki's (Esther's studio name) custody in turn for the stunning finale.
When Judy Garland sang "I Was Born In A Trunk", that was almost her real life story.
It's about Esther Blargett (Judy), who gets "discovered" by the washed up actor, Norman Maine (James) who has a really bad problem controlling his alcoholism. She gets into a major studio and is a big hit. However, when the two fall in love, he gets a little better, even stopping his alcoholism for a while. However, after a few weeks, he gets back into it and really embarrasses her in a few places, including in the Academy Awards. A judge puts Norman under Vicki's (Esther's studio name) custody in turn for the stunning finale.
When Judy Garland sang "I Was Born In A Trunk", that was almost her real life story.
For Me and My Gal
(1942)
99% Guaranteed to make you cry
25 May 1999
20 year old Judy Garland takes her first stab at adult acting in this great musical that naturally makes you cry. Before this 1942 debut, Judy had played those child/juvenile roles. (like Dorothy Gale in The Wizard of Oz) Even a few years later, in 1944, she still played a 17 year old Esther Smith in Meet Me in St. Louis. Also, Gene Kelly, who will always credit Judy to abolish his "camera fright" has his movie debut in this movie. He, of course, was fresh off Broadway.
This movie is about a song and dance team in those "good old days of vaudeville", back in 1917, where Jo Hayden (Judy) teams up with Harry Palmer (Gene) as a song and dance team. However, when Jo senses unfaithfulness in Harry, she moves to performing soldiers out in France during World War I. It only worsens when Harry is drafted............
This was released when men were fighting out in the pacific and European theatres, and it was not pretty. Japanese and Nazi advances were at their extent, and MGM decided to make a movie to spark "patriotic" interest, with the abstract idea that you should enlist or buy war bonds. The first time I saw this, even I wanted to buy war bonds.
I recommend this movie to anyone because it will tug at your heart and make you really proud of the US.
This movie is about a song and dance team in those "good old days of vaudeville", back in 1917, where Jo Hayden (Judy) teams up with Harry Palmer (Gene) as a song and dance team. However, when Jo senses unfaithfulness in Harry, she moves to performing soldiers out in France during World War I. It only worsens when Harry is drafted............
This was released when men were fighting out in the pacific and European theatres, and it was not pretty. Japanese and Nazi advances were at their extent, and MGM decided to make a movie to spark "patriotic" interest, with the abstract idea that you should enlist or buy war bonds. The first time I saw this, even I wanted to buy war bonds.
I recommend this movie to anyone because it will tug at your heart and make you really proud of the US.
Meet Me in St. Louis
(1944)
A heartwarming musical
24 May 1999
Judy Garland stars as Esther Smith, the girl at the turn of the century with practically two motives; go after "the boy next door" (John Truitt, played by Tom Drake), and keep the family from moving to New York before the 1904 World's Fair in St. Louis because Alonzo Smith, the father of the family, has been accepted in the company's head office in that city. Esther's older brother, Rose, (Lucile Bremer) is after a man who she really never met before, Warren Sheffield.
Judy sings 3 of the songs that would appear on her concerts 10 to 25 years after the movie was made in 1944, The Boy Next Door, The Trolley Song, and Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas, which were made by the famous Hugh Martin, which would become even more famous a year later in Ziegfeld Follies.
The movie was an instant smash hit, when it premiered in St. Louis in Movember of 1944. Little Margaret O'Brien was given a special Academy Award to the best juvenile actress of 1944, similar to the one given to Judy Garland in 1939 for her work in The Wizard of Oz.
Judy did not want to do the movie, but after lots of persuation from producer Arthur Freed and director Vicente Minnelli, she finally did it. As filming progressed, she began to like her role and later admitted that Esther Smith was the character she loved playing best. Also, as shooting of the movie progressed, the star Garland and the director Minnelli fell in love, marrying a year later and continuing the legendary voice by giving birth to Liza Minnelli in 1946.
Judy sings 3 of the songs that would appear on her concerts 10 to 25 years after the movie was made in 1944, The Boy Next Door, The Trolley Song, and Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas, which were made by the famous Hugh Martin, which would become even more famous a year later in Ziegfeld Follies.
The movie was an instant smash hit, when it premiered in St. Louis in Movember of 1944. Little Margaret O'Brien was given a special Academy Award to the best juvenile actress of 1944, similar to the one given to Judy Garland in 1939 for her work in The Wizard of Oz.
Judy did not want to do the movie, but after lots of persuation from producer Arthur Freed and director Vicente Minnelli, she finally did it. As filming progressed, she began to like her role and later admitted that Esther Smith was the character she loved playing best. Also, as shooting of the movie progressed, the star Garland and the director Minnelli fell in love, marrying a year later and continuing the legendary voice by giving birth to Liza Minnelli in 1946.
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