Pre-Historic Ethel Merman "I Get a Kick Out of You"

[PalJoey]

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]

Posted: 10/14/07 at 7:49pm

I love this. Thanks for sharing.

[PalJoey]

Posted: 10/15/07 at 11:47am

I've always wanted to see a production of Anything Goes that re-created that flying O-ring for Reno.

[bwaylvsong]

Posted: 10/15/07 at 7:46pm

Wow! Her voice is almost lyrical!

[PalJoey]

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

[ahmelie]

Posted: 10/15/07 at 10:04pm

I 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.

[MasterLcZ]

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

[PalJoey]

Posted: 10/16/07 at 9:44am

Merman as Garbo? You go too far!

[PalJoey]

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

[PalJoey]

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."