Favorite MGM musicals — Page 13

Well I agree wholeheartedly about Words and Music not being a great picture -- but, yes, the soundtrack is grand. "Thou Swell"

I have a hunch that all of the "great composer" musicals will be released as a DVD set eventually -- Till The Clouds..., Words, Deep In My Heart and (maybe) Three Little Words. A similar set was released on laser disc. And there are alot of deleted numbers and audio out-takes as well.

But, man, portions of Words and Music are a stronger sleep aid than Ambien.

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I like "parts" of ZIEGFELD FOLLIES. It's a film that makes one eternally grateful for the "fast Forward" button.

But there just aint NEARLY enough Judy in there.

I think alas that all the cut numbers are lost. They SURELY would have turned up by now.

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The first time I saw Ziegfeld Follies it was on tv at 3 am. (think pre-home video days) I forced myself to stay awake through over two hours of boring comedy skits (why don't I ever think Red Skelton is funny?) only to find out that Judy's number is one of the final three! Could have just woken up early and watched it over breakfast!

I do love the Astaire numbers with Lucille Bremer. An actress she aint -- but a damn fine dancer she is!

and Dancergirl, I remember loving "That's Dancin'" :)

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I cannot stomach Red Skelton in anything.

The only time I liked him is when he was told by George Sidney to shave his chest for BATHING BEAUTY, and though he at first refused - he was very proud of his thick, coppery-red chest hair (á la Denis O'Hare)- but only agreed to do it for $200 cash.

But aside from that, I feel about Red the way I feel about Danny Kaye. Unfunny and annoying.

Andy, wasn't it maddening in the 1970s when 3 am was the ONLY time network TV woulds show MGM (or ANY) musicals?! I remember setting my alarm clock to get up for (and make a casette tape of) GIRL CRAZY, but I overslept and only got "Fascinating Rythum", "But Not For Me", and the "I've Got Rythum" finale...so I came out OK.

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Updated On: 5/26/05 at 03:11 PM

Cookie -
Who stole my heart away? Who makes me dream all day?
Dreams I know will never come true,
seems as though I'll ever be blue.
Who means my happiness? Who would I answer yes to?
Well you oughta guess, who, no one but YOU.

Thanks for the holiday weekend JG fix!

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I have felt as welcomed on this thread as Betty Hutton did at MGM!

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ConvinceMe, LOL!!
...and Not Since Ninevah is a great number! (as for "Unsinkable" - sorry, but Debbie Reynolds just doesn't do it for me. Hence the no comment. "Aba Daba Honeymoon", perhaps.)

Cookie, "you stepped out of a dream..."

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Thanks for a response, Andy. Although, I don't know how that number couldn't do it for you. What a masterpiece of choreography and execution!

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"Don't you usuallty tear a pheasant with Miss Lamont?"

ConviceMe, I'll pop in the dvd of Unsinkable tonight. Maybe I need to re-visit this one. I adore director Chuck Walters.

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Andy, just watch that one number - "He's My Friend", the title came to me, earlier.

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Brice as Snooks is perhaps better heard than seen now. Though I love the "Why? Because!" number in EVERYBODY SING! It really doesn't hold up under repeated viewings, and one of the 1938 critics said that it gave a VERY diluted idea of the Broadway Snooks. I'm sorry the "Russian Dolly Sisters" number with Judy & Fanny from EVERYBODY SING! seems to be lost, and may have never been recorded (though costume shots of Judy in Russian Cossack costume exist). I don't think "The Sweepstakes Ticket" in ZIEGFELD FOLLIES shows Brice at her best. "Hello, Bootcheh?"

In 1949 or so, Brice appeared as Snooks in some sketches broadcast on very early television. Remarkably, they have survived and I've seen them. They are unimaginably creepy.

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Oh Judy, would you take a second chorus?
OK, boys, that I'll do!
And Judy?
Hmmmm?
If we find the right spot, can we come in with you?
Why sure!
Thanks a lot!

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