Favorite MGM musicals — Page 9

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#201

Where do I start?

Posted: 5/8/05 at 12:16am

There's an equally offensive yet somehow entertaining blackface number called "Abraham" in the Fred Astaire/Bing Crosby Paramount musical Holiday Inn.

It still astounds me how long it took "liberal" Hollywood to catch on to the idea that blackface was offensive. Every time I watch Babes on Broadway or Holiday, I'm shocked all over again.

And Glebby, why did you fall asleep on the Bandwagon? I love that movie!

#202

Where do I start?

Posted: 5/8/05 at 12:19am

I was sleepy.

Shirley Temple has a few lavish song and dance scenes that would be considered offensive as well.

" ...the happiness in the tune convinces me that I'm not afraid."

#203

Where do I start?

Posted: 5/8/05 at 2:17am

Hmmm...I love On the Town, The Bandwagon...oh and The Pirate. Gotta have Gene Kelly flyin' around in them tight little pirate pants.

"I would rather be with the people of this town than with the finest people in the world."--Fred Willard as Mayor Deebs in Roxanne

#204

Where do I start?

Posted: 5/8/05 at 9:14pm

Victor/Victoria..... of course

#205

Where do I start?

Posted: 5/8/05 at 9:50pm

When I watch Judy Garland in "Strike Up The Band" (Conga) and in "Presenting Lily Mars", I see Lucy Ricardo.

" ...the happiness in the tune convinces me that I'm not afraid."

#206

Where do I start?

Posted: 5/9/05 at 4:17pm

The "Abraham" number in Holiday Inn is pretty bad - I cringe every time I see it. It is interesting to see some of the not-politically-correct stuff in these old films. and scary...

I sing for myself. I sing when I want, whenever I want to, just for me. I sing for my own pleasure. Do you understand that?

#207

Where do I start?

Posted: 5/9/05 at 4:27pm

The first time I saw Babes In Arms in Wisconsin the local station cut the minstrel number.

I know it's intensely racist (just as I cringe when I watch some limp wristed gay impression in older movies) but some of these blackface numbers are "keepers" in my book. Garland doing "Frankin D. Roosevelt Jones" for one. Has anyone noticed that it is a four minute number all shot in one long camera take? (except the final crane pull back shot) She's all knees and elbows. Fine Busby Berkeley.

Glebb, yes, you slept right through 'The Bandwagon'. Woke up for Nannete Fabray's "Louisiana Hayride" number and then promptly fell back asleep. LOL

"ubiquitous"

#208

Where do I start?

Posted: 5/9/05 at 4:31pm

I hear tell there's a stranger in the Jones household... You know you have a problem when you actually know all the lyrics to FDR Jones... There's also a few amazingly long camera takes in Meet Me In St. Louis - when they are putting out the lights and when they are at the Christmas dance. A film professor at Wisconsin used them as examples of some very well choreographed camera work.

I sing for myself. I sing when I want, whenever I want to, just for me. I sing for my own pleasure. Do you understand that?

#209

Cyd Charisse is HOT!

Posted: 5/9/05 at 5:13pm

I love me some Cyd Charisse. What an incredibly sexy woman!

Updated On: 5/9/05 at 05:13 PM

#210

Cyd Charisse is HOT!

Posted: 5/9/05 at 5:38pm

Tula's got great gams!

Right AndyHardy. I loved Nanette singing that song. Huge close up, cutie but not much of a nose. :)

" ...the happiness in the tune convinces me that I'm not afraid."

#211

Cyd Charisse is HOT!

Posted: 5/9/05 at 5:57pm

Tula's my grandmother's name (my dad's mom)

#212

Cyd Charisse is HOT!

Posted: 5/9/05 at 5:58pm

" ...the happiness in the tune convinces me that I'm not afraid."

#213

Cyd Charisse is HOT!

Posted: 5/9/05 at 6:55pm

AndyHardy, when Judy the camera pulls back from Judy as she sings "My Friends...my friends...let's...all...shout...Hoo-RAAAAAAAY" in that ringing voice that was hers alone. Chills!!!

Many years ago, Lypsinkas very first one-woman show opened with her doing Judy Canovas "The Lady In Red" (in a glam red gingham Farmerette dress) then led into the ultimate version of "Louisiana Hayride" (complete with puppet lips of Jonquil Jezebel, Primrose Paradise and others mentioned in the song).

A less fabulous, but even more jaw-dropping Judy singing "Swing Low, Sweet Chariot" from EVERYBODY SING! can be found at the link (You need a Quicktime player installed on your PC to view the clips) Are these clips racist? Yes - very much so. But they are also fascinating. And the bit of the DOLLY SISTERS number tops "Springtime For Hitler".
"Uncle Toms Cabin" in Hollywood

"Christ, Bette Davis?!?!"

#214

Cyd Charisse is HOT!

Posted: 5/9/05 at 10:45pm

#215

Where do I start?

Posted: 5/9/05 at 11:19pm

Thanks again, Master! You know the best stuff!

How genius was it of Oscar Hammerstein and Jerome Robbins to take Uncle Tom's Cabin out of the blackface, racist tradition and tell its anti-slavery story with Southeast Asian theatre techniques AND advance the plot of King and I at the same time. Dazzling on so many levels.

#216

Where do I start?

Posted: 5/10/05 at 10:37am

Master, thanks for the link. I need to educate myself more on Fox musicals.

As for Judy's "Swing Low":
"Where da fields of cotton just die with blight
And me pappy reads Esquire wit' delight
While my Aly-bammy mammy plays bridge all night
Way down south in Dixie"

...and Cookie! You have no idea how much I adore The Pirate. Many thanks.

"Through all the Carib-BE-an or vicinity,
Macoco leads a flaming trail of masculinity,
And suddenly I feel I've got a big affinity,
And I'm "loco" for Mack, Mack,
Mack the Black, Macoco!

...and Marquise. I watched Cyd in Silk Stockings last night. Damn fine dancing going on there!!!

"ubiquitous"

#217

Where do I start?

Posted: 5/10/05 at 11:11am

#218

Where do I start?

Posted: 5/10/05 at 6:28pm

#219

Here's where you start!

Posted: 5/11/05 at 9:39am

Every day is the perfect day for rare Judy Garland radio clips!

The Whole World is Waiting for your Sunshine!

"Christ, Bette Davis?!?!"

#220

Here's where you start!

Posted: 5/11/05 at 9:56am

Skip down to 01-30-1951 ("I'm in Love with a Wonderful Guy") and imagine what it would have been like if Judy had been well and they had cast her instead of annoying Mitzi Gaynor in the movie of South Pacific...

#221

Here's where you start!

Posted: 5/11/05 at 10:00am

Great minds think alike, PalJoey!

As fabulous as Doris would have been in it..the mind REELS how awesome Judy would have been.

"Christ, Bette Davis?!?!"

#222

Here's where you start!

Posted: 5/11/05 at 10:01am

I still imagine Doris Day whenever I see SOUTH PACIFIC.

#223

Here's where you start!

Posted: 5/11/05 at 12:02pm

Well go listen to 1-30-1951, Wildcat, and start imagining Judy!

#224

Here's where you start!

Posted: 5/11/05 at 3:04pm

As good as that 1951 recording is, there is a recording of her singing an even better arrangement at the Met circa 1958. The sound quality is pretty dreadful but as she nails the last note I swear the Met sounds like its going to collapse. (Getting shivers thinking of it)

"ubiquitous"

#225

Here's where you start!

Posted: 5/11/05 at 3:08pm

Ooooh... AndyHardy getting shivers...

What else does it to ya, Andy?

Judy singing "Sweet Danger"?

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