Pre-Historic Ethel Merman "I Get a Kick Out of You"
#1Pre-Historic Ethel Merman "I Get a Kick Out of You"
Posted: 10/14/07 at 7:28pm
From the 1936 movie of Anything Goes with Bing Crosby as Billy. It had to be renamed "Tops Is the Limit" in the 1950s, when Bing remade the movie with Mitzi Gaynor. (Mitzi Gaynor?)
For those who have never heard pre-World War 2 Ethel, you'll be surprised at how sweet her voice is. It didn't attain its famous foghorn sound until after the war.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XLqnB_l4IKs
There's also a 1950s television version with Ethel, with Frank Sinatra as Billy and Bert Lahr as Moonface Martin.
mauriposa
Broadway Legend Joined: 12/14/05
#2re: Pre-Historic Ethel Merman 'I Get a Kick Out of You'
Posted: 10/14/07 at 7:49pmI love this. Thanks for sharing.
#2re: Pre-Historic Ethel Merman 'I Get a Kick Out of You'
Posted: 10/15/07 at 11:47amI've always wanted to see a production of Anything Goes that re-created that flying O-ring for Reno.
bwaylvsong
Broadway Legend Joined: 7/28/05
#3re: Pre-Historic Ethel Merman 'I Get a Kick Out of You'
Posted: 10/15/07 at 7:46pmWow! Her voice is almost lyrical!
#4re: Pre-Historic Ethel Merman 'I Get a Kick Out of You'
Posted: 10/15/07 at 8:46pm
See?
Try these, from a few years earlier.
"After You've Gone" (1931)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=csc2WNQDeFk
"My Future Just Passed" (1930)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v9vXkIKhh5Q
#5re: Pre-Historic Ethel Merman 'I Get a Kick Out of You'
Posted: 10/15/07 at 10:04pmI remember seeing her in the movie Strike Me Pink (with the hysterical Eddie Cantor) and hearing her sing a little ditty at the beginning, I was stunned by how sweet and soft her voice sounded.
#6re: Pre-Historic Ethel Merman 'I Get a Kick Out of You'
Posted: 10/16/07 at 9:30am
You mean these, ahmelie?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_GoWTwQitZg (I love this song!)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yi-bMpne23g (shake that fringe, baby!)
(This one is breathtaking - she's photographed like Garbo! Staged by Robert Alton)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p9iFKmjhM3Q
#7re: Pre-Historic Ethel Merman 'I Get a Kick Out of You'
Posted: 10/16/07 at 9:44amMerman as Garbo? You go too far!
#8re: Pre-Historic Ethel Merman 'I Get a Kick Out of You'
Posted: 10/16/07 at 11:18pm
Fromk that same 1936 movie, Ethel and Big Crosby sing "You're the Top."
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ns3UZg_591o
#9re: Pre-Historic Ethel Merman 'I Get a Kick Out of You'
Posted: 10/16/07 at 11:23pm
And the finale of that movie, a non-Cole Porter and decidedly politically incorrect production number: "The Shanghai-De-Ho"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KJyYrZ_VlIk
"You've got to have rhythm--if you want romance.
You've got to have rhythm or you haven't got a Chinaman's chance."
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