Humoresque (1946) "My Heart Stood Still"

Humoresque (1946) Warner Bros
Directed By: Jean Negulesco
Starring Joan Crawford, John Garfield & Oscar Levant

~ Nominated for an Academy Award, Scoring in a Dramatic or Comedy Picture
~ The famed costume designer Adrian did all gowns for Joan Crawford in this film. (Adrian & Joan had a long working relationship @ MGM which he designed many of her gowns and films).

Tagline: "TWO WHO MET AND KISSED AND NEVER SHOULD HAVE MET AGAIN!"

Plot:

This dramatic story centers on a woman named Helen Wrifght (Crawford) whom is high society. Helen meets a young and up-coming violinist Paul Boray (Garfield). Paul wants to be a successful musician but has a long way to do so. Helen sets her sights on him and becomes very smitten so they embark on an affair together. Helen with her social prominance and wealth can provide what Paul needs for his career, the right people and connections. In return the couple start to fall in love. The issue later is that Paul's love for his music is very much what is his primary importance in life and Helen sees this. His love and passion for his violin and career will come before anything even if it means love. This information kills Helen and she starts to see while his career rises thanks to her assistance the realtionship suffers and comes into question. A great love that Helen takes in such stride and importance may just bring her to the brinks of drastic decisions......A lovely film of Joan Crawford's that show's her love and dramatic side of the 40's a very well done film!

"The Barkleys of Broadway"..Astaire/Rogers Dance "Shoes With Wings On" (1949)

The Barkleys of Broadway (1949)

Fred Astaire & Ginger Rogers FINALLY work together in a MGM musical, how grand it is!!!

Directed By: Charles Walters  / MGM Studios

Starring: Fred Astaire, Ginger Rogers, Oscar Levant, & Billie Burke

Tagline: "Joyously together again!"

• First and only screen pairing of Astaire/Rogers for MGM Studios and in technicolor!
• First film the dance team did together in 10 yrs since filming "The Story of Vernon & Irene Castle"

Plot:

The film is set in the 1950's with Broadway's more successful acting couple of the time being Josh (Astaire) and Dinah (Rogers) Barkley. These Barkley's of Broadway have done for years a lovely musical revuew together that everyone has come to know and love. They are known as acting sweethearts since being a couple on and off screen for soo many years. What people do not know is that behind the scenes this loving couple just like any other normal one has MANY TIFTS.....they yell and are ready to leave one another.

Dinah has always wanted to take her career to another level and not do just musical comedy but drmatic acting that her husband will simply not entertain. Josh loves the celebrity and can not ever thing of doing anything else other than dancing the night away on stage for millions of adoring fans with his wife, the formula works why change it! Dinah is unhappy and meets Jacques whom sees her potential in the dramatic theater. Dinah loves the attention and decides to leave her husband and the show to go after her dream of playing dramatic roles on stage while Josh taps his feet away on stage still and is very angry. The mutual friend Ezra (Levant) tries to keep them together and to see where each is coming from. Both finally come to grips that they both have a point and can enjoy things but ALWAYS TOGETHER. This couple is always met to be together and I could never imagine them splitting always ending together and growing old such a beautiful couple on screen!

Noteable Musical Numbers: "Swing Trot" They Can't Take That Away From Me" and "Bouncin the Blues"

What a way to end the Astaire/Rogers films then to send it off with a MGM classic musical like no one else can do, a must see!!!