Search Results for: blog seven brides for seven brothers 1957

Seven Brides for Seven Brothers (1957)

One of my favorite movies of all time, “Seven Brides for Seven Brothers” tells the story of Adam Pontipee (Howard Keel), oldest brother in a family of seven, who decides that what his farm needs is a woman. He can get sugar at the general store, and feed, too, so why shouldn’t he head to town and pick out a wife? The movie opens with a jovial song sung in Howard Keel’s velvet voice, the lyrics of which are: “Bless your beautiful hide, wherever you may be. We ain’t met yet but I’m willin’ to bet, you’re the gal for … Continue reading →

Tristi’s Favorite Musicals

I grew up watching musicals. I love Doris Day, Gene Kelly, Fred Astaire – in fact, there are very few movie stars from Hollywood’s golden era that I don’t like. There’s just nothing like a man and woman gazing into each other’s eyes and then breaking into song. Some of my all-time favorite musicals are, in no particular order: “Oklahoma!” Who could forget Shirley Jones in her first role as shy and idealistic Laurie, caught up in her feelings for that rascally cowboy, Curly? “Show Boat” took on a tough topic – that of race discrimination – and brought us … Continue reading →

Royal Wedding (1951)

“Royal Wedding,” starring Fred Astaire and Jane Powell, featured some of the most advanced special effects seen in Hollywood up to that point. I’ll fill you in on the details throughout the review. Tom and Ellen Bowen (Astaire, Powell) are a brother/sister dance team who have made quite a name for themselves on the New York circuit. Their next engagement will take them to London, where they will play their show during the same time span as a royal wedding, and they’re delighted to be a part of those festivities. There’s just one fly in the ointment – Ellen has … Continue reading →

Show Boat (1951)

I’ve been on a bit of a Howard Keel kick lately, as I’m sure you’ve noticed, and no Howard Keel kick would be complete without “Show Boat.” Nollie Hawkes (Kathryn Grayson) lives on a riverboat with her mother and father. They travel up and down the Mississipi River with a full complement of actors and actresses on board. Whenever they come to a town, they put on a show and invite everyone in the town to come. Each season brings a new show, and the townsfolk look forward to the arrival of the showboat. Julie and Bill are the stars … Continue reading →

Roman Holiday (1953)

Princess Anne (Audrey Hepburn) has never been out by herself. Confined to her palace and her schedule, she wishes to be a regular girl, able to go for a walk and get an ice cream cone. While on tour in Rome, the pressure reaches its boiling point and she becomes upset, tired of the whole royal routine. The doctor comes and gives her a sedative, thinking that’s the end of that. But as soon as everyone’s back is turned, Anne slips out of her room and into the streets of Rome, determined to find out for herself just what’s on … Continue reading →

Kiss Me Kate (1953)

This charming movie is one of my all-time favorites. Fred (Howard Keel) and Lilli (Kathryn Grayson) used to be married and spent a lot of time on stage together, starring in opposite roles. They’re divorced now, but when Cole Porter gives them a call to talk to them about a new musical version of “The Taming of the Shrew,” they are willing to put their differences aside for the sake of art. In fact, Fred decides to use the play as his opportunity to win Lilli back, and it would have worked, too, if not for the fact that he’s … Continue reading →

Calamity Jane (1953)

“Calamity Jane” is the story of a girl (Doris Day) who doesn’t quite know she’s a girl. She has dressed in buckskins her whole life, knows how to shoot better than most men, can lasso, ride, and drink just like a man. But beneath all that bravado beats the very real heart of a woman – she’s in love with Lieutenant Danny Gilmartin (Philip Carey, who later went on to play Asa Buchanan on “One Live to Live.”) After all, didn’t she ride in and save him from a band of Indians? But no matter what she does, she just … Continue reading →

Two Weeks With Love (1950)

My family happened upon this movie rather accidentally. It was showing at the Avalon Theater (mentioned in another blog) as the second feature to another movie we were excited to see, and to this day, none of us can remember what that other movie was. “Two Weeks With Love” captured our hearts completely. Jane Powell plays Patti, a seventeen-year-old girl teetering on the brink of womanhood. Her lifelong sorrow is that she is not yet allowed to wear corsets. Her father is absolutely dead-set against them and will not hear of it. Melba, Patti’s younger sister (played to the hilt … Continue reading →

San Francisco (1936)

In the year 1906, the city of San Francisco was rocked with the worst earthquake it had ever seen, and it still holds the record for the most destructive. In 1936, Hollywood decided to memorialize that event with the movie “San Francisco,” starring Clark Gable, Jeanette MacDonald, and Spencer Tracy. The most amazing thing about the movie is the use of special effects. Today we have computers to digitally enhance the images and create spectacular effects, but in 1936 they didn’t have those luxuries. Nevertheless, the effects are quite astounding. Gable plays Blackie Norton, a casino owner with a taste … Continue reading →