MUSICALS, include humor, music, dancing and a story.
One of the reasons I love musicals, is the use of beautiful background scenery. Dancers seem to perform as if there is a live audience watching.
This is my version of DANCING WITH THE STARS.
Meet the People(1944). The film stars Lucille Ball as Julie Hampton, a stage actress who goes to work in a shipyard after the play in which she was planning to star in is cancelled by shipyard worker Dick Powell.
The first day on the job, the actress discovers that the shipyard workers are talented group of people. Swanson and Hampton, come up with an idea to put on a show.. only to butt heads.
Lucille Ball, was at the height of her looks in this film. Bert Lahr, Virginia O'Brien and a young June Allyson, also perform in supporting roles.
Meet the People features Vaughn Monroe and his orchestra, as well as Spike Jones and his City Slickers, as well as Virginia O'Brien from the original stage cast, who sings the hit song, Say We're Sweethearts Again.
Virginia O'Brien (April 18, 1919 – January 16, 2001). O'Brien was best known for her comedic roles. This was because of her humorous singing style, with no facial expressions and very little movement. The audience thought she was hilarious and she was soon hired to repeat this performance in a number of movies beginning in 1940s.
The films she performed in during her time at MGM were, Till the Clouds Roll By(1946), The Big Store (1941), Ship Ahoy (1942), Thousands Cheer, Du Barry Was a Lady, Meet the People, The Harvey Girls and Ziegfeld Follies.
O'Brien was suddenly dropped from her MGM film contract and she moved into television and back to live performances. She made only two film appearances after this: Francis in the Navy and the 1976 Walt Disney Studios comedy, Gus.
Lucille Ball, will always be remembered as the lovable Lucy Ricardo. She was a energetic teenager who entered a dramatic school in New York, unfortunately her classmate Bette Davis received all the attention, Lucille was sent home because she was, "too shy." She found work modeling for Hattie Carnegie's and in 1933, she was chosen to be a "Goldwyn Girl" and perform in the film, Roman Scandals (1933).
She was put under contract with RKO and performed in the films, Top Hat (1935), Stage Door (1937) and The Big Street (1942). While filming Too Many Girls (1940), she met and fell madly in love with Desi Arnaz. Even with different personalities, lifestyles, religions and ages (he was six years younger), they were married in November, 1940. Lucy soon switched to MGM, where she was offered roles in films such as, Du Barry Was a Lady (1943), Best Foot Forward (1943) and Without Love (1945). In 1948, she took a starring role in the radio comedy "My Favorite Husband". In 1950, CBS came with the idea of turning it into a television series. After convincing the network to let Desi play her husband and to sign over the rights to and creative control over the series to them, they began working on the most popular and beloved sitcom of all time, I love Lucy.
One of my favorite Lucille Ball movies is, The Long, Long Trailer(1954). Which started out as a novel by Clinton Twiss from the 1950s. It is about a couple who buy a new travel trailer and spend a year traveling across the United States. My husband and I did the same thing about 28 years ago with our 5 year old son at the time. I have to say it was one of the most memorable times in our lives.
Follow the Fleet(1936). Musical/comedy. A film with a nautical theme and stars Fred Astaire, Ginger Rogers, Randolph Scott, Harriet Hilliard, and Astrid Allwyn, with music and lyrics by Irving Berlin. Lucille Ball and Betty Grable also perform, in supporting roles. Director:Mark Sandrich with script by Allan Scott and Dwight Taylor based on the 1922 play Shore Leave by Hubert Osborne.The fifth (of ten) dancing partnership of Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers.
FOLLOW THE FLEET (RKO Radio, 1936), directed by Mark Sandrich, marks the fifth pairing of Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers, and one of their top musicals with a wonderful score by Irving Berlin, also the composer of TOP HAT (1935). Reworking the formula from their earlier performance, ROBERTA (1935), Astaire and Rogers not only share screen time with another couple closer to their own age, but are characters already know each from the start. Unlike ROBERTA, Astaire and Rogers have equal status with the other couple played by Randolph Scott (of ROBERTA) and Harriet Hilliard (making her screen debut). Another change to the series is Astaire switching his elegant top hat, white tie and tails for a sailor's uniform.
The story begins with Bake Baker and Bilge Smith who are shipmates in the U.S. Navy who are looking forward to going on shore leave. Bake reunites with Sherry Martin, his former dancing partner now working at the Paradise Club. Sherry's sister, Connie, a schoolteacher, comes to visit her sister at the club, and gets a head to toe makeover. Soon after, Connie goes looking for Bilge, who had earlier ignored her on their first meeting. Now with with her new look, Bilge become interested in her. Once Connie mentions something about "wanting a husband at the helm," Bilge gets cold feet. while saying good by, he meets Iris Manning, a society girl who later takes him back to his ship, causing him to be late from leave. Connie, who has salvaged her late father's ship for Bilge soon finds out that he has moved on. Sherry has troubles of her own with Bake.
Of the musical numbers my favorite are, "Let's Face the Music and Dance". It's a production number in a Monte Carlo setting with their signature costumes, Rogers in elaborate dress with bell-type sleeves. Harriet Hilliard has two solos. "Where Are You?" is a beautiful love song.
Look closely for a young Tony Martin as one of the sailors, and Lucille Ball as a blond Kitty Collins.
"We Saw the Sea"
(uncredited)
Written by Irving Berlin
Performed by Fred Astaire and chorus
"Let Yourself Go"
(uncredited)
Written by Irving Berlin
Performed by Ginger Rogers and chorus
"Get Thee Behind Me, Satan"
(uncredited)
Written by Irving Berlin
Performed by Harriet Hilliard
"Let Yourself Go"
(uncredited)
Instrumental Reprise
Dance performed by Ginger Rogers
"I'd Rather Lead a Band"
(uncredited)
Written by Irving Berlin
Song performed by Fred Astaire
Dance performed by Fred Astaire, chorus
"But Where Are You?"
(uncredited)
Written by Irving Berlin
Performed by Harriet Hilliard
"I'm Putting All My Eggs in One Basket"
(uncredited)
Written by Irving Berlin
Song and dance performed by Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers
"Let's Face the Music and Dance"
(uncredited)
Written by Irving Berlin
Song performed by Fred Astaire
Dance performed by Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers
