Miscellaneous Movie Musings - Page 467

Gemini Cricket · 08-28-2009, 11:36 AM

Singin in the Rain and On the Town:
Can I just say that these movies are absolutely wonderful and hysterical? That Gene Kelly, not only was he a great dancer but he had an incredible sense of humor, too.

Snowflake · 08-28-2009, 01:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gemini Cricket

Singin in the Rain and On the Town:
Can I just say that these movies are absolutely wonderful and hysterical? That Gene Kelly, not only was he a great dancer but he had an incredible sense of humor, too.

And Jean Hagen was absolutely under-utilized by MGM in comedy. She was glorious as Lina Lamont (YOU can't make a fool outta Lina Lamont, YOU can't make a LAUGHINGSTOCK outta Lina Lamont. A glowing and shimmering star in the cinema firmament, it says so, right there.....).

Also, Donald O'Connor was no slouch when it came to dancing.

innerSpaceman · 08-28-2009, 12:35 PM

Can I just say that Isaac and nirvanaman are now officially members of Western Civilization, having successfully seen Singin' in the Rain at long last, last weekend.

Gabba Gabba, gentlemen, we accept you.

Yes, we accept you. One.Of.Us.

Gemini Cricket · 08-28-2009, 01:03 PM

Singin' in the Rain is a movie that always makes me happy. And I can watch the scene where Lina flies head over heels when her mic cord gets pulled over and over and over. It makes me laugh a lot.

Gee, this is dumb!

Gemini Cricket · 08-28-2009, 01:25 PM

One of these days I'm going to write an essay about the "Singin' in the Rain" sequence of "Singin' in the Rain". The song and the accompanying scene has been glorified and parodied to the point where it's become tired in some people's eyes. But it's a great song. It's about smiling amidst adversity. It's a rebellious song. That is why I love it. Being happy while things around you may not be so great is a wonderful message. His small interaction with the cop is f*cking priceless. The cop is trying to get him to stop and maybe he does for now but he's still unapologetically smiling and singing and is so happy he doesn't freakin' need his umbrella any more and gives it away to someone who needs it. Seriously, folks, the man was inspired.

AND to make it pertinent to LoT, Lisa has a cameo in this scene. In the window of the perfume store. There's an ad there featuring a glamorous, fashionable redhead surrounded by cats. lol!

*ETA: Well, they look like cats. But upon viewing it again, I'm not sure. lol

SITR

Snowflake · 08-28-2009, 01:32 PM

GC, that's a John Held Jr. figure and the cats look like a pair of Sphynx to me. So yeah, cats of a sort!

JWBear · 08-28-2009, 02:12 PM

While I adore SITR, imo his masterpiece is the American in Paris ballet sequence.

innerSpaceman · 08-28-2009, 02:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JWBear

While I adore SITR, imo his masterpiece is the American in Paris ballet sequence.

IMHO, the American in Paris ballet sequence is an overbloated, far overlong, pretentioius segment of nonsense and non-musicality.

By contrast, the swift, tight, ultra-musical, story-in-five-minutes Broadway Melody ballet in SitR is genius incarnate.

Less is more.

Snowflake · 08-28-2009, 02:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JWBear
While I adore SITR, imo his masterpiece is the American in Paris ballet sequence.

iSm said:
IMHO, the American in Paris ballet sequence is an overbloated, far overlong, pretentioius segment of nonsense and non-musicality.

By contrast, the swift, tight, ultra-musical, story-in-five-minutes Broadway Melody ballet in SitR is genius incarnate.

Less is more.

Difference:
American in Paris - Vincent Minnelli
Singin in the Rain - Stanley Donen

IMO, Donen always, always had a much lighter touch and easy feel with the films and musicals he directed.

Minnelli, while admittedly an artist has always struck me as pretentious. He's also left us one of the hootiest fun films in The Cobweb (and a few other stinkers, too). As much as I love looking at The Pirate, it's a misfire. Lush, yes, but a little too rich sometimes. I'm with iSm on this, I think. Then again, I will watch Oscar Levant in anything. :-)

Alex · 08-28-2009, 02:13 PM

What? It wasn't the roller skating in Xanadu?

08-28-2009, 11:36 AM	#1
Gemini Cricket ... Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 13,244	Singin in the Rain and On the Town: Can I just say that these movies are absolutely wonderful and hysterical? That Gene Kelly, not only was he a great dancer but he had an incredible sense of humor, too.
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08-28-2009, 12:35 PM	#3
innerSpaceman Kink of Swank Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Inner Space Posts: 13,075	Can I just say that Isaac and nirvanaman are now officially members of Western Civilization, having successfully seen Singin' in the Rain at long last, last weekend. Gabba Gabba, gentlemen, we accept you. Yes, we accept you. One.Of.Us.
	Submit to Quotes

08-28-2009, 01:03 PM	#4
Gemini Cricket ... Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 13,244	Singin' in the Rain is a movie that always makes me happy. And I can watch the scene where Lina flies head over heels when her mic cord gets pulled over and over and over. It makes me laugh a lot. Gee, this is dumb!
	Submit to Quotes

08-28-2009, 01:25 PM	#5
Gemini Cricket ... Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 13,244	One of these days I'm going to write an essay about the "Singin' in the Rain" sequence of "Singin' in the Rain". The song and the accompanying scene has been glorified and parodied to the point where it's become tired in some people's eyes. But it's a great song. It's about smiling amidst adversity. It's a rebellious song. That is why I love it. Being happy while things around you may not be so great is a wonderful message. His small interaction with the cop is fcking priceless. The cop is trying to get him to stop and maybe he does for now but he's still unapologetically smiling and singing and is so happy he doesn't freakin' need his umbrella any more and gives it away to someone who needs it. Seriously, folks, the man was inspired. AND to make it pertinent to LoT, Lisa has a cameo in this scene. In the window of the perfume store. There's an ad there featuring a glamorous, fashionable redhead surrounded by cats. lol! ETA: Well, they look like cats. But upon viewing it again, I'm not sure. lol SITR
	Submit to Quotes

08-28-2009, 01:32 PM	#6
Snowflake lost in the fog Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: San Francisco Posts: 7,831	GC, that's a John Held Jr. figure and the cats look like a pair of Sphynx to me. So yeah, cats of a sort!
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08-28-2009, 02:12 PM	#7
JWBear Worn Romantic Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Long Beach California Posts: 8,435	While I adore SITR, imo his masterpiece is the American in Paris ballet sequence. __________________ Unrestrained frivolity will lead to the downfall of modern society.
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08-28-2009, 02:13 PM	#10
Alex . Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 13,354	What? It wasn't the roller skating in Xanadu?
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