Best Foot Forward (1943) The Boogie-Woogie and the Blues

Best Foot Forward (1943) / MGM Pictures

Directed By: Edward Buzzell 

Starring: Lucille Ball, June Allyson, Nancy Walker, Gloria DeHaven, William Gaxton, & Virginia Weidler

Costumes: Irene (Supervisor)

Plot:

It is WWII and one of the biggest stars that Bud Hooper (Tommy Dix) pines after is no other than Lucille Ball. At Bud's millitary academy he is a cadet and sorely wants the screen actress to be his date at the acadmey's prom. To get the message out there Bud writes a letter pleading that the actress comes and becomes his date. With Bud's fingers crossed the letter is sent and arrives to Lucy and her publicity man Jack O'Reily (Gaxton).

Jack thinks that the surprise visit from the screen goddess (his client) would be just perfect for the public relations side of her flat lining career. Lucy is talked into what a great stunt it would be for her and how great it would be to accompany a cadet who is getting ready to fight so the travel to the acaademy becomes reality. Lucy arrives looking devine and meets Bud who she is going to accompany who is simply stunned of her arrival and that everything that he dreamt is not reality. This is where the problems start to ensue from here on in. Bud not thinking that Lucy would ever take his invitation seriously nor even see it already invited his current girlfriend Helen (Weidler). Helen is already supremely excited and ready to go arm in arm with her bow but now is told she is dropped due to the big time actress showing-up and now needs to be his date.

Bud asks the leading lady to play the part of Helen for his date since the screening committee may due to time and other reasons may not accept her attending. Helen is angry of being replaced at the last moment and on top of that the actress is going to take her identity for the evening not allowing her to truly attend with anyone else. While this craziness is happening Bud is trying to keep the others cadets hands off his new big time date and hide his date so no one finds out which is not working that well. The great Harry James and his Orchestra appears and play great music during the dance. During the dance where we see Ethel (Allyson), Minerva (DeHaven), & Nancy (Walker) young ladies who have cadte dates and perform a standout performance musical number: "The Barrelhouse, The Boogie-Woogie and the Blues."

What ends up is more slapstick fun where we find Lucy's dress being torn at the dance to shreds and more laugh out loud moments. Lucy finds out that from all these games being done that Bud is in deep trouble and is not going to graduate.....can Lucy come to the rescue and help Bud graduate and will Helen and Bud get back together, watch the 1940's MGM comedy/musical!

 

Summer Stock (1950) "Get Happy!"

Summer Stock (1950) MGM Studios
Directed By: Charles Walters
Starring: Gene Kelly, Judy Garland, Eddie Bracken, Gloria DeHaven, Marjorie Main & Phil Silvers

Costumes: Walter Plunkett
Costumes for Gloria DeHaven: Helen Rose

~ This was Judy Garland's last film working with MGM Studios, after this film the studio ended it's long contract with the tuneful and talented leading lady.

Plot:

A New England farm owner, Jane Falbury (Garland) allows her theatrical sister Abigail (DeHaven) to bring theater to the family farm. The way they are going to do so is the theater troup Abigail is part of will now practice in the barn even though Jane has A LOT of reservations against it. Both sisters are very polar opposites with Jane being a very dedicated hard working farm owner to the light hearted actress. Before Jane knows it the farm is over taken by the theater and the music is heard from the rafters and in enters the dashing and very charming Joe Ross (Kelly).

To repay their time on the farm each is working at chores on the farm. One key problem that starts to develop with more time being spent with one another is that Joe is starting to fall in love with Jane even though he is engaged to Abagail. At the same time Jane is falling in love with Joe even though she too is engaged with her long time bow Orville (Bracken). A fight ensues with the current couple and Abagail decides to leave Joe and the show all together leaving the show with no leading lady. As any true MGM true classic someone steps in at the last second to safe the day and this time it is Jane!

Jane steps in to become the leading lady for the  play and also for Joe's love life. Everything is now rosey on the farm! Of course there are spectacular musical numbers in the film such as:

1. "If You Feel Like Singing, Sing" – Judy Garland
2. Mem'ry Island" – Gloria DeHaven
3. "You, Wonderful You" Kelly and Garland
4. "Friendly Star" – Garland
5. Newspaper Dance ("You, Wonderful You") – Kelly
6. All for You" Kelly and Garland
7. "Heavenly Music" Kelly, Silvers
8. "Get Happy" Garland
9. "(Howdy Neighbor) Happy Harvest" (finale)

~ The most noteable and one of Judy Garland's BEST musical numbers "Get Happy" is her dressed simply in a black tuxedo jacket, black hat, and black nylons with a simple backdrop and male dancers, she looked, sounded and performed at her best!!!