Search Results for: blog anything goes 1956

The Philadephia Story (1940) and High Society (1956)

You’re getting two for one today. “High Society” is a musical remake of “The Philadelphia Story,” and the two movies are so similar, I thought I’d just review them side by side. The basic story is as follows: Tracy Lord, an aristocratic divorcee, is preparing for her second marriage. Her ex-husband, C. K. Dexter Haven, is a loveable lout who is still in love with her. He’s made no secret of the fact that he’d like her back, but she’s too stubborn to even talk about it. Tracy’s father has been philandering with an actress, and if the story gets … Continue reading →

Anything Goes (1956)

In an unlikely pairing of actors, “Anything Goes” stars the sophisticated Bing Crosby and the comedic Donald O’Connor. Bing is Bill Benson, a Broadway sensation who has been around the block a couple of times. Donald is Ted Adams, a television star with scads of adoring teenage fans. When Bill needs a co-star for a new show, it seems that Ted is a good candidate for the role. But there’s a problem. They both think they’re the star, and they both think that they are in charge of finding an actress to play the leading lady. While seeing a show … Continue reading →

Clive Davis Comes Out

In the recent past, many celebrities have come out of the closet.  It seems that as each opens the closet door, the fanfare drops further and further.  Just a few weeks ago, Jim Nabors, at age 82, married his longtime partner. Music exec and record producer Clive Davis has worked with such musical greats as Whitney Houston, Aretha Franklin, Alicia Keys, Rod Stewart, Kelly Clarkson, Carlos Santana, Barry Manilow, Jennifer Hudson, and Christina Aguilera.  And this week, he came out as being bisexual at the ripe of age of 80. Davis admitted in his new memoir, “The Soundtrack of My … Continue reading →

52 Romantic Movies You Either Love or Hate

Dale’s blogs about some of her favorite romantic movies (see “Favorite Romance Movies” and “Favorite Romance Movies-Part 2”) has inspired this next one from me. The idea took hold because I sympathized with a comment one reader, deedee1231, left on both blogs regarding the movie Casablanca. She wasn’t a fan. (Though she didn’t begrudge Dale for including it on her fave list.) Deedee1231 thought Casablanca was overhyped. (Though she also admitted she’d seen it so many times she was just plum over it.) I chuckled with sympathy when I read her comment. Though it wasn’t Casablanca I had in mind, … Continue reading →

Follow the Fellow Who Follows a Dream

The title of this blog is taken from the last musical Fred Astaire ever made, “Finian’s Rainbow.” In the movie, he’s chasing a rainbow in hopes of finding the pot of gold. But that’s not what I want to talk about right now. Throughout history, we see evidence of men and women who were dreamers. Edison dreamed he could invent a phonograph. Salk dreamed he could invent a vaccine. The Wright Brothers dreamed they could fly. Each of these individuals were laughed at and scorned, often by friends and neighbors, and sadly, often by family. We have examples of dreamers … Continue reading →

Les Girls (1957)

This fun movie tells the story of three showgirls who work together in Barry Nichols’ theater in Paris. It’s been a few years since the act broke up, and one of the girls, Sybil, has written her life story and had it published. Angele, the second of the three girls, is suing her for slander. Sybil claims that Angele tried to kill herself, and Angele insists that she did not. We see what happened from Sybil’s perspective as the movie goes into flashback while Sybil is on the stand. Barry Nichols (Gene Kelly) is a handsome rogue who enjoys flirting … Continue reading →

Fancy Pants (1950)

Bob Hope and Lucille Ball are two of the biggest stars ever to come down the pike. With faces recognized the world over, they each remain untouched as far as popularity. That said, “Fancy Pants,” although it starred both of them, pretty much stunk. Lucille Ball stars as Aggie Floud, an American girl from a small town called Big Squaw. Her family has recently come in to money, and she and her mother are touring Europe. When an English lord decides to court Aggie, he realizes her devotion to family, but he has none. He heads down to his favorite … Continue reading →

Riding High (1950)

This predictable Bing Crosby movie had a lot of build-up and a whole lot of let-down. I don’t know about you, but when I hear that a movie has a big name in it, like, oh, I don’t know – Bing Crosby, I tend to think that it’s going to be a decent film. I also think that I’m going to hear some really good singing. Oh, I’m so naïve. Hollywood sometimes misses the mark, and when the actors are under contract to star in whatever movie they’re told to take, there is no guarantee. Bing plays Dan Brooks, a … Continue reading →