"It's Always Fair Weather"

Tonight's movie was "It's Always Fair Weather" (1955), a classic MGM musical starring Gene Kelley and Cyd Charisse. I found the movie at the Libe and I was due for a musical, so I took a chance with an unknown title and it turned out great. Kelly and Charisse I knew of course, two of the greatest dancers in movie history, and great stars as well. In the story, WW2 has just ended. Gene Kelly and two of his Army buddies (Dan Dailey and Michael Kidd) have landed in New York and the first thing they do is to head into a bar. The three, who did not know each other beforehand, have become close comrades during the war, and as they drink together, they swear to each other that they will remain lifelong friends. They seal the deal by vowing in unison to meet again in ten years, at the same bar. The bartender rains on their parade, telling them he's seen the phenomenon before - Army buddies making pacts of postwar friendship that never took hold.

The three set out to prove him wrong. Ten years later, they reunite. But by now, each one has moved into a comfortable civilian life in his own way. As they get re-acquainted, they realise that they have nothing in common, that the war was their only connection, and that they really don't even like each other now. Or so it seems.

But this is MGM, and this is a Musical, and so Optimism Must Prevail.

And it does, with the help of a new invention called Television. Cyd Charisse is a TV writer who happens to meet Gene Kelly, and sees an opportunity for a viewer-sympathetic show about Three Army Buddies Who Reunite Ten Years Later. A few problems exist, one being that the story is phony; the guys have found that they really don't know - and can't stand - each other. Another is that Gene Kelly is now a low level gambler and boxing promoter involved with organised criminals. And the third problem is that Charisse has conspired to create a phony-baloney reunion with the three buddies, unbeknownst to them, on a popular late night show called "Midnight With Madeline", hosted by an extreme but talented Drama Queen. "Madeline" is played by an actress named Dolores Gray, and she plays her role to the hilt.

After the movie, I was looking for Youtube clips of the musical numbers, which are classic, and they have a clip of Dolores Gray from the movie. Man, people were so talented in those days, they could do it all - sing, dance, do comedy, farce, satire, present themselves onscreen with huge charisma.

Not easy to do, my fellow movie fans. That's why the Studio System worked so well, despite it's tyrannical reputation. The production heads had their actors and actresses working day and night to perfect all of these talents, in classes held right there on the lot.

The Dolores Gray scenes inspired me to tell you that, because she is so over-the-top and yet so perfectly cast, so talented.

Musicals were what I will call "of-a certain-time", and all the best ones were made by MGM in the post-war period, when America needed a pick-me-up. The themes were always optimistic, always about overcoming adversity with the right mindset. Think "Singin' In The Rain". The title says it all.

Also, there was a songwriter named Arthur Freed who was instrumental in these musicals. He wrote the words for all the songs and he also produced the movies, and he really was a main component in the success of the best MGM musicals.

Musicals - or at least the great ones - are from the past, and so are by definition an acquired taste. Like the Kabuki movies I've described, you have to give them a chance. However, MGM musicals are easier to digest, shall we say, and if you do give them a try, you might find something you like, which will lead to another musical with other stars........until you are a fan like me.

I don't watch musicals all the time like I do Westerns or War movies or Noir or Sci-Fi. But every now and then I have to watch one, and when I do, I am not only entertained but enriched by the greatness of Old Hollywood, and the talents of it's Stars, Producers and Directors, the greatest conglomeration of creativity in movie history, from the 30s through the 50s.

That's all the news for today. Elizabeth, if you read I hope you had a good day and are enjoying the Christmas season. I saw one post, via Sarah, about working on new material, so maybe that means you are too. I look forward to it!....   :):)

See you in the morning.  xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo  :):)