Gene Kelly in The Pirate? — Page 2

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#26

Gene Kelly in The Pirate?

Posted: 6/26/13 at 3:57pm

"(THE PIRATE) was just way to high brow for the average audience(...)"

Good God -- I'm just at a loss to see how THE PIRATE is highbrow. An audience that finds THE PIRATE too highbrow is one that is still awaiting the development of opposable thumbs.

"If they can get you asking the wrong questions, they don't have to worry about the answers." Thomas Pynchon, GRAVITY'S RAINBOW "Reality is that which, when you stop believing in it, doesn't go away." Philip K. Dick My blog: http://www.roscoewrites.blogspot.com/

Updated On: 6/26/13 at 03:57 PM

#27

Gene Kelly in The Pirate?

Posted: 6/26/13 at 4:09pm

Hi Roscoe..

According to most biographies, the audience of the 1940's (Outside of NYC - and possibly inside NYC) had no idea what to make of "The Pirate" in it's inital theatrical run...

Now, it simply may have been because they wanted Judy and Gene to play what they would normally play (plucky show folk) and that was part of their reaction..

That said: If they remade "The Pirate" today and released it starring Emma Stone and Channing Tatum and shot it scene for scene like the original...

It would lay like ton of bricks in an audience primed on "Man Of Steel".

"There's no damn business like show business - you have to smile to keep from throwing up." - Billie Holiday

#28

Gene Kelly in The Pirate?

Posted: 6/26/13 at 4:12pm

Hey, Anth -- I think those biographies are working overtime to make THE PIRATE seem more important and/or interesting than it really is. By calling it "highbrow" or "difficult" they can avoid calling it "badly written and directed crap."

#29

Gene Kelly in The Pirate?

Posted: 6/26/13 at 4:20pm

I don't see how this is highbrow in any way.

It's just a musical.

It might not do well because audiences today are picky about their movie musicals and this one is rather old-fashioned, but it certainly isn't difficult.

It's rather laughable that anyone has tagged it as "difficult" or "highbrow"

....but the world goes 'round

#30

Gene Kelly in The Pirate?

Posted: 6/26/13 at 4:22pm

Musicals can certainly be highbrow, but there's just no way that that silly little trifle THE PIRATE is at the same level as SWEENEY TODD or PENNIES FROM HEAVEN.

#31

Gene Kelly in The Pirate?

Posted: 6/26/13 at 4:34pm

I understand...but in 1948 - this one was an oddity. Of course today - well - it is what it is but back then it came off as, yes, a bit too self important, stylized and sophisticated and that dreaded word, artsy.....

It didn't make money..

Think of it this way:

Garland follows "The Pirate" with "Easter Parade" and it becomes the biggest hit of the year for MGM..a film that's not self-important, stylized or very sophisticated...and sure as hell not artsy..

Kelly follows this with "Take me out to the Ball Game"....big hit...not artsy...

so, while today we see it for what it is - back then, they just thought it was too, well, high brow..

It was based on a Lunt/Fontane vehichle...

The average American in 1948 didn't want to know from Lunt/Fontane...

"There's no damn business like show business - you have to smile to keep from throwing up." - Billie Holiday

Updated On: 6/26/13 at 04:34 PM

#32

Gene Kelly in The Pirate?

Posted: 6/26/13 at 4:58pm

Still not seeing anything about THE PIRATE as "artsy" or "difficult." A lot of Revisionist History, like MGM flacks trying to polish a turd. Blame the audiences for not getting it.

Updated On: 6/26/13 at 04:58 PM

#33

Gene Kelly in The Pirate?

Posted: 6/26/13 at 5:03pm

Roscoe - you see no difference between "The Pirate" and 'Easter Parade" or "A Date with Judy"....

I have to admit, I'm not a big fan of "The Pirate" so I'm the lost person to want to polish it..lololol

"There's no damn business like show business - you have to smile to keep from throwing up." - Billie Holiday

#34

Gene Kelly in The Pirate?

Posted: 6/27/13 at 1:41am

I remember the filming of this movie being touched upon in "Me & My Shadows". According to that Judy (Judy Davis) had hidden pills amoung the beads in the blue dress. They scattered all over the room when Vincent (Hugh Laurie) tore her dress. I also recall a throw away line that seemed to suggest Gene and Vincent were doing some playing on the side.

"All our dreams can come true -- if we have the courage to pursue them." -- Walt Disney We must have different Gods. My God said "do to others what you would have them do to you". Your God seems to have said "My Way or the Highway".

#35

Gene Kelly in The Pirate?

Posted: 6/27/13 at 9:43am

OK -- can someone please explain to me exactly what about THE PIRATE is "highbrow" or "artsy" or "sophisticated"? I just don't see it. It just comes off to me like yet another piece of over-produced MGM schlock.

#36

Gene Kelly in The Pirate?

Posted: 6/27/13 at 9:53am

Eh. I'm with Roscoe. From an unbiased first-time viewer, who is a regular watcher of these films, I simply did not pick up that "sophistication"

#37

Gene Kelly in The Pirate?

Posted: 11/26/13 at 3:35pm

Bump!

Let's continue our discussion of Kelly's Glutes here in this unsullied place.

....but the world goes 'round

#38

Gene Kelly in The Pirate?

Posted: 11/26/13 at 3:36pm

HOW DID I MISS A WHOLE "THE PIRATE" THREAD???

#39

Gene Kelly in The Pirate?

Posted: 11/26/13 at 3:37pm

Even in his final film, XANADU, he was a sexy sexy man.

Gene Kelly in The Pirate?

#40

Gene Kelly in The Pirate?

Posted: 11/26/13 at 3:37pm

Porque no estabas prestandole atencion.

#41

Gene Kelly in The Pirate?

Posted: 11/26/13 at 3:39pm

"Tish, that's French!"

#42

Gene Kelly in The Pirate?

Posted: 11/26/13 at 3:41pm

"HOW DID I MISS A WHOLE "THE PIRATE" THREAD???"

Fear no more, Reg. Time to enjoy!

Gene Kelly in The Pirate?

#43

Gene Kelly in The Pirate?

Posted: 11/26/13 at 3:42pm

Wow, you can really see his scar (which I love) in that photo.

#44

Gene Kelly in The Pirate?

Posted: 11/26/13 at 3:45pm

That's one helluva sexy scar!

Was SUMMERS STOCK the film in which he does the dance with the broom on the stage and tears the newspaper in four pieces with his feet? I forget.

He was dreamy in ANCHORS AWEIGH.

and the only time I hated Natalie Wood on film is when she repeatedly kissed him in MARJORIE MORNINGSTAR.

#45

Gene Kelly in The Pirate?

Posted: 11/26/13 at 3:50pm

How did he get the scar? Do we know?

#46

Gene Kelly in The Pirate?

Posted: 11/26/13 at 4:14pm

He looked pretty swell in a snug sailor uniform, too!

#47

Gene Kelly in The Pirate?

Posted: 11/26/13 at 4:22pm

According to Gene- “I’d love to ascribe that scar to some great dramatic event, but actually I fell off my tricycle when I was a sprout of five."

#48

Gene Kelly in The Pirate?

Posted: 11/26/13 at 5:42pm

How did he get the scar? Do we know?

Sorry. I got a little rambunctious one night...

#49

Gene Kelly in The Pirate?

Posted: 11/26/13 at 6:07pm

When he was five?

#50

Gene Kelly in The Pirate?

Posted: 11/26/13 at 6:22pm

When I was!

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