Babes In Arms (1939) Good Mornin!

Babes in Arms (1939) / MGM Studios

Starring: Mickey Rooney & Judy Garland

Directed By: Busby Berkeley / Nominated for 2 Oscars including Best Actor

Starring: Mickey Rooney & Judy Garland

Plot:

This film centers on a young man named Mickey Moran (Rooney) whom is from a musical family whom has his eyes on a lovely girl named Patsi Barton (Garland). One day the opportunity of his lifetime comes to Mickey which is to set up his own show with the help of Patsi. The young couple in love together work hard to put together the best musical show in there own backyard with many opsticles. This film has many lovely musical numbers with of course the help of Busby Berkeley!

One has to love the beloved pair of Mickey Rooney & Judy Garland where they reigned supreme as MGM's huge box-office draw! MGM often paired these actors whom had instant chemistry on camera and were best of friends off camera. Mutual respect was held from these stars whom always spoke highly of one another. If you have never watched this pair teamed up do so and you will see why MGM found countless opportunities to pair them up time and time again where the plot would be very alike though as the stars got bigger and the movies did great via the box-office the budget would increase to have more lavish musical numbers arranged by the famed Busby Berkley.

Lovely to Look at (1952/MGM) You're Devastating!

 

Lovely to Look at (1952) / MGM Studios

 

Directed By: Mervyn Leroy

 

Starring: Howard Keel, Kathryn Grayson, Ann Miller, Red Skelton, Marge/Gower Champion, Zsa Zsa Gabor

Gowns By: Adrian

Plot:


The musical is based on the play/musical from 1935 entitled "Roberta." We meet three good friends being; Tony Naylor (Keel), Al Marsh (Skelton), and Jerry Ralby (Gower Champion). A party is held by the three friends who are looking for big time investors to back the new show they want to put on.

A message comes for Al whose Aunt Roberta has passed away in Paris resulting in him owning half of her elegant clothing boutique. The boutique makes it's own clothing for the best of the best of clients. The three good friends are over the moon of the potential cash windfall that Al has fallen into. The thought is to all over to Paris and see the boutique that could possibly be sold off for a hefty revenue.

The three friends head over to Paris and meet the adopted sisters to the Aunt Roberta who are; Stephanie (Grayson) and Clarisse (Marge Champion). Things do not start off that well since the three friends simply want to do a business transaction and have the two ladies buy Al's shares out. Unfortunately, the boutique is not what it once was as a thriving shop but one that is about to close it's doors.

Tony right off takes note to the beautiful Stephanie and blames her for the poor business with the poor and older looking clothing line. They exchange words and the passion starts! What is decided is that a Broadway style review is needed at the boutique after the clothing line is spruced up and brought awake again. Tony thinks this is a must and Al/ Jerry agrees. By doing this, Al can sell his half off and go back to Broadway. The bankers listen to Tony's ideas for the boutique and buy into with backing and advancing more money for the endeavor. Enters Bubbles a showgirl and a flame for Tony who is in Paris with her man.

Beautiful dance numbers ensue for all actors to take part. Zsa Zsa is a famous model in Paris who wears the boutiques clothing in it's elaborate runway show. With Jerome Kern's music in place it is a lovely classic to watch!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hit The Deck (MGM/1955)

 

Hit The Deck (MGM/1955)

 

Directed By: Roy Rowland

 

Starring: Jane Powell, Debbie Reynolds, Ann Miller, Tony Martin, Vic Damone, Walter Pidgeon, Gene Raymond

 

Costumes By: Helen Rose

 

 

 

 

 

Plot:

 

        "Hit The Deck" is based on the musical which was released in the 1920's which in turn was made into a film for Fred Astaire & Ginger Rogers entitled: "Follow the Fleet" (RKO). Enters this final adaptation of the movie which makes a great star vehicle for MGM's terrific stars.

 

 

The movie centers on three young sailors on leave in San Francisco. During the leave each fella meets a lovely lady to make each of their leaves lively and very entertaining. This MGM Musical is very lovely with bright colors, sets, songs, and musical numbers which will get your feet tapping!!

 

 

 

 

 

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!

 

Love Me or Leave Me (1955)...the life of Ruth Etting!

Love Me or Leave Me (1955) / MGM Studios

Directed By: Charles Vidor

Starring: Doris Day, James Cagney & Cameron Mitchell

Costumes By: Helen Rose

Tagline:   "...The dramatic musical love story of Ruth Etting!"

Academy Awards
Year	Result	Award	Category
1956	Won	Oscar	Best Writing, Motion Picture Story Daniel Fuchs
	Nominated	Oscar	Best Lead Actor James Cagney
			Best Music, Original Song Nicholas Brodszky (music) Sammy Cahn      (lyrics) For the song "I'll Never Stop Loving You"
			Best Music, Scoring of a Musical Picture Percy Faith George Stoll
			Best Sound, Recording Wesley C. Miller (M-G-M)
			Best Writing, Screenplay Daniel Fuchs Isobel Lennart

~ The songs placed into this classic were actually for the majority actual tunes that the actual Ruth Etting sung back in the 1930's such as "Ten Cents a Dance" & "Love Me or Leave Me." Two brand new songs written for the film were: "Never Look Back" & "I'll Never Stop Loving You."

^~    The soundtrack for the motion picture was a huge success staying at the number one spot on Billboard for 17 weeks.

~ Jane Russell turned down the role to possibly play Lillian Roth in the musical film: "I'll Cry Tomorrow" which alas went to Sussan Hayward.


Plot:

The fictional acount of the life of the star during the 1920's and 1930's is shown in this huge MGM film of Ruth Etting. Doris Day plays the role of Ruth Etting who rises in the heights of stardom from a dancer to a major movie star. The person who takes a shining to Ruth is Martin "Moe the Gimp" Snyder, her first husband and manager (James Cagney). Martin finds her when she is at the beginning dreaming of stardom and with his power he helps to get her worthy opportunities and doors to open that by herself would not happen as fast. We see very quickly they are passionate about one another though the fire is also dangerous where it becomes very volatile a web where Martin is obessessed with Ruth and will never give her up no matter what.

Ruth loves the rise to stardom and the power and faith that Martin now her Manager and husband provides but gives her no room to breath and tells her every move to make and every move she makes is carefully watched. It seems her fame is coming with a major cost where she is now placed in a box and is dictated on what to wear and what to do and does not care for it and wants her wings to fly and experience her true career and try other opportunities.

During this Ruth meets Myrl Aldreman (Cameron Mitchell), her pianist and she finds a great love and devotion with. They are spirits that truly understand music together and what each other wants is the same path musically, they see things eye to eye and their bond grows as Ruth's problems at home with Martin make her have a lot more resentment for the control he presses on her. Eventually love does conquer all and it is shown through the lovely musical numbers and lyrics....a true classic pairing Doris Day & James Cagney together...what a dynamic film!

Ziegfeld Follies (1945)..."Bring on those Beautiful Girls!"

Ziegfeld Follies (1945) MGM Studios
Directed By: Charles Walters, George Sidney, Merrill Pye, Vincent Minnelli, Robert Lewis, Roy Del Ruth, & Lemuel Ayers. Each director contributed to at least one segment of this musical filled with many segments.

Starring: Fred Astaire, Lucille Ball, Cyd Charisse, Esther Williams, Lena Horne, Kathryn Grayson, Virginia O'Brien, Gene Kelly, Lucille Bremer, Red Skelton, William Powell, Keenan Wynn, Fanny Brice, Victor Moore, Edward Arnold, & Marion Bell.



Lucille Ball!

MGM Studios allowed this film the entire lot of stars to use for the filming and had a HUGE budget of one million dollars!




Cyd Charisse!

Fun Facts:

• The original cut film ran two hours and fivty-three minutes which was to be found too long by audiences whom orginially screened it. Leaving the only option to scrap out many scenes that were left on the cutting room floor, a shame!!!
• Lena Horne did not like the ghetto enivonment that was the setting for her segment of "Love" that she never recorded a commercial single for the film until years later. She did cover the song on her own shows and concerts but not speciifaclly for the MGM soundtrack for the film.
• The horse that Lucille Ball rides in her segment is in fact that horse for the Lone Ranger's stallion, Silver!
• Several older ladies are highlighed in the segment of "Bring on those Beuatiful Girls" whom are actually original Ziegfeld Follies ladies.

Esther Williams the bathing beauty!

Plot:

This is the first MGM musical to actually not have a plot what so ever! It is simply a musical with several segments to be exactly like "Ziegfeld Follies" was done on Broadway to be a musical and eye delight filled with musical splender and large sets. This classic is the take of what Florence Ziegfeld since passed would have done in the age of the motion picture with his beloved follies. I believe he would have done it exactly the same with the availability of the star power of MGM along with the grand sets, directors, costume designers, cinematographers, make-up artists and more that only MGM and it's MEGA POWER of a studio could do!



Fred Astiare & Gene Kelly!!

What a lovely musical that is delightful for any musical fan to watch several segments with your favorite stars of the day such as Luciclle Ball & Cyd Charisse in a segment entitled "Here's to the Girls" which Lucille is a ravishing lion tamer whom happen to be taming ladies! Along with Cyd Charisse's dancing through a beautiful set and bubbles, then it is off to watch Gene Kelly and Fred Astaire sing "The Babbit and the Bromide" then we see the sultry Lena Horne sing one of her trademark songs "Love" which is one of my favorites!


Lena Horne belting out "Love!"

My eyes are simply glues to the screen when watching this gem of a film going back and foth of all the lovely sets and segments, I just love it! More noteworthy segements is with Judy Garland singing, "A Great Lady Has An Interview" along with Esther Williams doing a beautiful swimming number along with the deadpan Virginia O'Brien doing "Bring On The Wonderful Men" also James Melton and Marion Bell do a simply lovely part of "La Traviata" which is oohhh soo red and spectacular! Another is the pairing of dance partners of Fred Astaire and Lucille Bremer doing a number entitled, "This Hearf of Mine" I voulf go on and on with such lovely numbers...wait there is of course Fanny Brice's segment I just can not forget which is from her radio show entitled, "The Sweepstakes Ticket" which is simply brilliant, what a comedian!!!
This is one of those true classic and all time MUST SEE MGM Musicals!!!!


Cyd Charisse & Fred Astaire!

Virginia O'Brien!

Lucille Bremer & Fred Astaire!

Kathryn Grayson!!!