Anchors Aweigh (1945) - Star of the month... Frank Sinatra

"Look at me! I'm dancing!" - Jerry the Mouse in 'Anchors Aweigh'

'Anchor's Aweigh' is a 1945 MGM musical comedy directed by George Sidney and starring Frank Sinatra, Kathryn Grayson, Gene Kelly and José Iturbi. The film's supporting cast features Dean Stockwell, Pamela Britton, "Rags" Ragland, Leon Ames and Sharon McManus.

Written by Isobel Lennart, the song and dance romance was produced Joe Pasternak and edited by the great Adrienne Fazan.

Navy buddies Joe Brady (played by Kelly) and Clarence Doolittle (played by Sinatra) are awarded bravery medals and granted four days leave in Hollywood. Whilst on leave, they meet young boy Donald Martin (played by Stockwell), who wants to join the navy. When they take Donald home to his Aunt Susie Abbott (played by Grayson), both Joe and Clarence find themselves both in love with her. To impress Susie, they lie and boast about being able to secure Susie a Hollywood audition with the great Jose Iturbi.

Watch the trailer

Jose Iturbi's orchestra spells out the word "NAVY"

The opening sequence

The film's opening scene is among my favourites for a musical. I really like the way George Sidney has used  a montage of shots featuring the different instrument group individually, before cutting to José Iturbi conducting the full orchestra playing 'Anchor's Aweigh'. At the end of the song, we see the orchestra is standing in position to spell out the word "NAVY".

Gene Kelly dances with Jerry the Mouse
in 'The Worry Song'

Gene Kelly dances with Jerry the Mouse

This film is best known for featuring Gene Kelly dancing with Jerry the Mouse from 'Tom & Jerry'. This was one of the first times animation was mixed with live action footage.

Originally, Gene Kelly was meant to dance with Mickey Mouse, however Walt Disney refused to allow Mickey Mouse to appear in an MGM film. Jerry the Mouse (owned by MGM) became a easy substitute. I believe Jerry was a better choice anyway, and don't feel Mickey Mouse was the right choice for this sequence.

In the documentary series, 'MGM: When the Lion Roars' (1992), animators William Hanna and Joseph Barbera reveal how they made this magical sequence:

• Gene Kelly rehearsed with a cardboard cut out of Jerry the Mouse
• After rehersals, Gene Kelly was filmed without the cut out
• The film footage was then traced onto animation paper, with Jerry put onto the animation paper after the footage
• With both images of Kelly and Jerry on the animation paper, the paper was filmed again to give the final effect

At a screening for MGM executives, it was noted Gene Kelly had a reflection on the floor, but Jerry did not. To improve the experience, the animation team re-animated the sequence, with Jerry's reflection on the floor.

Song: "The Worry Song" - Gene Kelly & Jerry the Mouse (from 'Tom & Jerry')

Musical highlights

The film features many musical highlights including:

Gene Kelly & Frank Sinatra sing and dance

in 'Anchors Aweigh' 

• "Anchors Aweigh" - José Iturbi & his Orchestra
• "We Hate to Leave" - Frank Sinatra & Gene Kelly
• "Brahm's Lullaby" - Frank Sinatra
• "I Begged Her" - Frank Sinatra & Gene Kelly
• "If You Knew Susie" - Frank Sinatra & Gene Kelly
• "Jealousy" - Kathryn Grayson
• "What Makes the Sunset?" - Frank Sinatra
• "(All of a Sudden) My Heart Sings" - Kathryn Grayson
• "The Worry Song" - Gene Kelly & Jerry the Mouse
• "The Charm of You" - Frank Sinatra
• "I Fall in Love Too Easily" - Frank Sinatra

"If You Knew Susie" - Frank Sinatra & Gene Kelly

Song: "I Begged Her" - Frank Sinatra & Gene Kelly

Song: "Jealousy" - Kathryn Grayson

Song: "Waltz Serenade" - Kathryn Grayson

Song: "I Fall In Love too Easily" - Frank Sinatra

Inspirations Aweigh

'Anchors Aweigh' has inspired several more contemporary productions, including Paula Abdul's music video for 'Opposite's Attract', where Abdul dances with an animated cat, and even an episode of 'Family Guy', where Stewie dances with Gene Kelly instead of Jerry the Mouse.

Music Video: "Opposite's Attract" - Paula Abdul

Clip: "Family Guy sequence" - Stewie dances with Gene Kelly

Did you know...

Frank Sinatra sings "I Fall in Love Too Easily" at

The Hollywood Bowl

• This was the first of three "buddy films", Gene Kelly and Frank Sinatra made together
• The film won an Oscar for Best Original Music Score - in 2001, actor Kevin Spacey purchased this Oscar statuette at a Butterfield & Butterfield estate auction, and returned it to the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences
• Tom Cat appears briefly as a butler in the animated sequence
• The film provides a rare colour glimpse of the MGM studio, including the front gate, backlot, commissary, a scoring stage and the Thalberg Building
• The song "I Fall in Love Too Easily" was filmed on location at the Hollywood Bowl
• This was the first and only time Gene Kelly received an Academy Award nomination for Best Actor
• It took 73 takes to film the song 'I Begged Her', as Frank Sinatra (not a trained dancer) had difficulty with synching his dancing

Awards and nominations

• Academy Award winner for Best Original Music Score
• Academy Award nomination for Best Picture
• Academy Award nomination for Best Actor (Gene Kelly)
• Academy Award nomination for Best Cinematography in a color film
• Academy Award nomination for Best Song ("I Fall in Love Too Easily")

Closing remarks

'Anchors Aweigh' in my opinion is one of the best MGM musicals ever made, and I have seen it many times. The songs are catchy, the stars are great and the film entertains for each of its 140 minutes.   I am surprised this film has not yet been turned into a Broadway musical, as I feel it feel it would translate well to the stage. 

The 3 Musketeers (1948) - Star of the month... Angela Lansbury

Lana Turner as the beautiful yet dangerous
Countess de Winter

'The Three Musketeers' is the 1948 Technicolor version of Alexandre Dumas' classic adventure novel. The film is directed by George Sidney and stars Lana Turner, Gene Kelly, June Allyson, Van Heflin, Angela Lansbury, Frank Morgan, Vincent Price, Keenan Wynn, John Sutton, Gig Young, Robert Coote and Reginald Owen.

Angela Lansbury as Queen Anne

D'Artagnan (played by Kelly) travels to Paris to join King Louis XIII's (played by Morgan) musketeers. The Musketeers are Athos (played by Heflin), Porthos (played by Young) and Aramis (played by Coote).  Along the way, he meets and falls for the beautiful Constance Bonacieux (played by Allyson), a confidante of Queen Anne (played by Lansbury), and the seductive yet dangerous femme fatale, Countess de Winter (played by Turner).

Did you know...

• Louis Hayward had originally shown interest in playing the role of d'Artagnan
• Douglas Fairbanks Jr. was rumoured to star as d'Artagnan
• William Powell was considered to play one of the three musketeers
• This is Lana Turner's first film in colour
• In order to appear as Lady de Winter, Lana Turner turned down a role in an unfinished film called 'Bedeviled'
• Deborah Kerr turned down the role of Constance

Closing remarks

Hot from the success of 'The Pirate' (1948), MGM wasted no time in casting Gene Kelly in yet another swashbuckler. Although not a musical and no dancing, Kelly's strong dance training and athletic physique gives an agile yet graceful portrayal of d'Artagnan. An almost unrecognisable Frank Morgan does a great job as King Louis XIII, and Lana Turner plays the ultimate femme fatale.

While the film is best remembered for it's brilliant sword duel choreography, the photography and choreography of the duel along the water, reminds me very much of a duel from the Warner Bros. film 'Captain Blood' (1935) with Errol Flynn. Speaking of Flynn, I am surprised Warner Bros. had not already produced a version of 'The Three Musketeers' in the early 1940s, as I feel it would have been the perfect backdrop for yet another Errol Flynn/Olivia de Havilland film.

I have now seen the 1935, 1948, 1973 and 1993 film adaptations of 'The Three Musketeers', and of the four I would consider this to be the best and most entertaining version.

The 3 Musketeers (1948) - Star of the month... Gene Kelly

Lana Turner as the beautiful yet dangerous
Countess de Winter

'The Three Musketeers' is the 1948 Technicolor version of Alexandre Dumas' classic adventure novel. The film is directed by George Sidney and stars Lana Turner, Gene Kelly, June Allyson, Van Heflin, Angela Lansbury, Frank Morgan, Vincent Price, Keenan Wynn, John Sutton, Gig Young, Robert Coote and Reginald Owen.

Angela Lansbury as Queen Anne

D'Artagnan (played by Kelly) travels to Paris to join King Louis XIII's (played by Morgan) musketeers. The Musketeers are Athos (played by Heflin), Porthos (played by Young) and Aramis (played by Coote).  Along the way, he meets and falls for the beautiful Constance Bonacieux (played by Allyson), a confidante of Queen Anne (played by Lansbury), and the seductive yet dangerous femme fatale, Countess de Winter (played by Turner).

Did you know...

• Louis Hayward had originally shown interest in playing the role of d'Artagnan
• Douglas Fairbanks Jr. was rumoured to star as d'Artagnan
• William Powell was considered to play one of the three musketeers
• This is Lana Turner's first film in colour
• In order to appear as Lady de Winter, Lana Turner turned down a role in an unfinished film called 'Bedeviled'
• Deborah Kerr turned down the role of Constance

Closing remarks

Hot from the success of 'The Pirate' (1948), MGM wasted no time in casting Gene Kelly in yet another swashbuckler. Although not a musical and no dancing, Kelly's strong dance training and athletic physique gives an agile yet graceful portrayal of d'Artagnan. An almost unrecognisable Frank Morgan does a great job as King Louis XIII, and Lana Turner plays the ultimate femme fatale.

While the film is best remembered for it's brilliant sword duel choreography, the photography and choreography of the duel along the water, reminds me very much of a duel from the Warner Bros. film 'Captain Blood' (1935) with Errol Flynn. Speaking of Flynn, I am surprised Warner Bros. had not already produced a version of 'The Three Musketeers' in the early 1940s, as I feel it would have been the perfect backdrop for yet another Errol Flynn/Olivia de Havilland film.

I have now seen the 1935, 1948, 1973 and 1993 film adaptations of 'The Three Musketeers', and of the four I would consider this to be the best and most entertaining version.

Anchors Aweigh (1945) - Star of the month... Gene Kelly

"Look at me! I'm dancing!" - Jerry the Mouse in 'Anchors Aweigh'

'Anchor's Aweigh' is a 1945 MGM musical comedy directed by George Sidney and starring Frank Sinatra, Kathryn Grayson, Gene Kelly and José Iturbi. The film's supporting cast features Dean Stockwell, Pamela Britton, "Rags" Ragland, Leon Ames and Sharon McManus.

Written by Isobel Lennart, the song and dance romance was produced Joe Pasternak and edited by the great Adrienne Fazan.


Navy buddies Joe Brady (played by Kelly) and Clarence Doolittle (played by Sinatra) are awarded bravery medals and granted four days leave in Hollywood. Whilst on leave, they meet young boy Donald Martin (played by Stockwell), who wants to join the navy. When they take Donald home to his Aunt Susie Abbott (played by Grayson), both Joe and Clarence find themselves both in love with her. To impress Susie, they lie and boast about being able to secure Susie a Hollywood audition with the great Jose Iturbi.

Watch the trailer

Jose Iturbi's orchestra spells out the word "NAVY"

The opening sequence

The film's opening scene is among my favourites for a musical. I really like the way George Sidney has used  a montage of shots featuring the different instrument group individually, before cutting to José Iturbi conducting the full orchestra playing 'Anchor's Aweigh'. At the end of the song, we see the orchestra is standing in position to spell out the word "NAVY".

Gene Kelly dances with Jerry the Mouse
in 'The Worry Song'

Gene Kelly dances with Jerry the Mouse

This film is best known for featuring Gene Kelly dancing with Jerry the Mouse from 'Tom & Jerry'. This was one of the first times animation was mixed with live action footage.

Originally, Gene Kelly was meant to dance with Mickey Mouse, however Walt Disney refused to allow Mickey Mouse to appear in an MGM film. Jerry the Mouse (owned by MGM) became a easy substitute. I believe Jerry was a better choice anyway, and don't feel Mickey Mouse was the right choice for this sequence.

In the documentary series, 'MGM: When the Lion Roars' (1992), animators William Hanna and Joseph Barbera reveal how they made this magical sequence:

• Gene Kelly rehearsed with a cardboard cut out of Jerry the Mouse
• After rehersals, Gene Kelly was filmed without the cut out
• The film footage was then traced onto animation paper, with Jerry put onto the animation paper after the footage
• With both images of Kelly and Jerry on the animation paper, the paper was filmed again to give the final effect

At a screening for MGM executives, it was noted Gene Kelly had a reflection on the floor, but Jerry did not. To improve the experience, the animation team re-animated the sequence, with Jerry's reflection on the floor.

Song: "The Worry Song" - Gene Kelly & Jerry the Mouse (from 'Tom & Jerry')

Musical highlights

The film features many musical highlights including:

Gene Kelly & Frank Sinatra sing and dance
in 'Anchors Aweigh' 

• "Anchors Aweigh" - José Iturbi & his Orchestra
• "We Hate to Leave" - Frank Sinatra & Gene Kelly
• "Brahm's Lullaby" - Frank Sinatra
• "I Begged Her" - Frank Sinatra & Gene Kelly
• "If You Knew Susie" - Frank Sinatra & Gene Kelly
• "Jealousy" - Kathryn Grayson
• "What Makes the Sunset?" - Frank Sinatra
• "(All of a Sudden) My Heart Sings" - Kathryn Grayson
• "The Worry Song" - Gene Kelly & Jerry the Mouse
• "The Charm of You" - Frank Sinatra
• "I Fall in Love Too Easily" - Frank Sinatra

"If You Knew Susie" - Frank Sinatra & Gene Kelly

Song: "I Begged Her" - Frank Sinatra & Gene Kelly

Song: "Jealousy" - Kathryn Grayson

Song: "Waltz Serenade" - Kathryn Grayson

Song: "I Fall In Love too Easily" - Frank Sinatra

Inspirations Aweigh

'Anchors Aweigh' has inspired several more contemporary productions, including Paula Abdul's music video for 'Opposite's Attract', where Abdul dances with an animated cat, and even an episode of 'Family Guy', where Stewie dances with Gene Kelly instead of Jerry the Mouse.

Music Video: "Opposite's Attract" - Paula Abdul

Clip: "Family Guy sequence" - Stewie dances with Gene Kelly

Did you know...

Frank Sinatra sings "I Fall in Love Too Easily" at
The Hollywood Bowl

• This was the first of three "buddy films", Gene Kelly and Frank Sinatra made together
• The film won an Oscar for Best Original Music Score - in 2001, actor Kevin Spacey purchased this Oscar statuette at a Butterfield & Butterfield estate auction, and returned it to the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences
• Tom Cat appears briefly as a butler in the animated sequence
• The film provides a rare colour glimpse of the MGM studio, including the front gate, backlot, commissary, a scoring stage and the Thalberg Building
• The song "I Fall in Love Too Easily" was filmed on location at the Hollywood Bowl
• This was the first and only time Gene Kelly received an Academy Award nomination for Best Actor
• It took 73 takes to film the song 'I Begged Her', as Frank Sinatra (not a trained dancer) had difficulty with synching his dancing

Awards and nominations

• Academy Award winner for Best Original Music Score
• Academy Award nomination for Best Picture
• Academy Award nomination for Best Actor (Gene Kelly)
• Academy Award nomination for Best Cinematography in a color film
• Academy Award nomination for Best Song ("I Fall in Love Too Easily")

Closing remarks

'Anchors Aweigh' in my opinion is one of the best MGM musicals ever made, and I have seen it many times. The songs are catchy, the stars are great and the film entertains for each of its 140 minutes.   I am surprised this film has not yet been turned into a Broadway musical, as I feel it feel it would translate well to the stage. 

Scaramouche (1952)

Star Birthday... Janet Leigh

Star Birthday... Janet Leigh

Janet Leigh was born on 6 July 1927, and is the mother of actress Jamie Lee Curtis.

Janet's love for film began during her childhood. Her immigrant parents would take her to the movies and leave her there all day while they worked, as it was cheaper than a babysitter.  In 1945 she was discovered by actress Norma Shearer, who helped secure her a contract with MGM.

Janet enjoyed a prolific career saw her co-star opposite almost every many popular leading man including Van Johnson, Van Heflin, Anthony Perkins, James Stewart, Robert Ryan, Tom Drake, John Wayne, Kirk Douglas, Errol Flynn, Walter Pidgeon and Tony Curtis, who she would later marry.

Janet Leigh is most remembered for playing the ill-fated Marion Crane, murdered in the shower in Alfred Hitchcock's film, 'Psycho' (1960).

Janet Leigh died on 3 October 2004 after suffering a heart attack.

Recommended viewing

The famous image of Janet Leigh screaming in 'Psycho'

• The Romance of Rosy Ridge (1947)
• Words and Music (1948)
• Little Women (1949)
• That Forsyte Woman (1949)
• Angels in the Outfield (1951)
• Scaramouche (1952)
• The Naked Spur (1953)
• Confidentially Connie (1953)
• Touch of Evil (1958)
• Psycho (1961)
• Bye, Bye Birdie (1963)
• The Fog (1980)
• Halloween H20: 20 Years Later (1996)

Scaramouche (1952)

Scaramouche is a 1952 romance adventure film directed by George Sidney and starring Stewart Granger, Eleanor Parker, Janet Leigh, Mel Ferrer, Richard Anderson, Nina Foch, Lewis Stone and John Litel.

The swashbuckler is based on the historical novel by Rafael Sabatini. The 8 minute sword-duel scene took 8 weeks of preparation, features 87 fencing passes and is the longest sword fight in film history.


Watch the trailer:

The plot

Janet Leigh as Aline

In France, just before the French Revolution, Queen Marie Antoinette (played by Foch) asks her cousin, Noel, the Marquis de Maynes to find and stop dangerous rebel known as Marcus Brutus. Meanwhile Andre Moreau (played by Granger), the bastard son of a French nobleman, prevents his beloved Lenore (played by Parker) from marrying another man, and agrees to marry her.

Andre soon meets Aline de Gavrillac de Bourbon (played by Leigh), and falls in love with her, but sadly determines she is his long-lost half sister. Aline does not know this.

Marquis tracks down Marcus Brutus, who happens to be Andre's best friend, Philippe de Valmorin (played by Anderson). After Philippe is killed, Andre vows to get revenge upon the villainous Marquis.

Stewart Granger disguised as Scaramouche holds
Eleanor Parker as Lenore

Shortly after Andre hides out in a commedia dell'arte performance troupe, where he disguises himself as the character Scaramouche.

Did you know...

• Lewis Stone starred as the Marquis de Maynes in the 1923 film version of 'Scaramouche' 
• The film was initially intended to be a MGM musical starring Gene Kelly as Andre Moreau with Ava Gardner as Lenore and Elizabeth Taylor as Aline
• Other actors considered for the role of Andre Moreau include Fernando Lamas and Ricardo Montalban
• Nina Foch wears the same dress Norma Shearer wore in the 1938 film Marie Antoinette
• During filming, Mel Ferrer was almost crushed by a falling chandalier
• By the time filming had finished Stewart Granger had a damaged shoulder, a wrenched knee and a injured back

Closing remarks

'Scaramouche' is a fantastic film. It is a film with universal appeal which entertains from start to finish. The film  jumps directly into the narrative, and features swashbuckling action scenes and random bursts of comedy.

Young Bess

Spotlight on... Royalty on Film

"You dare defy me? Yes, you dare... I'm beginning to like you"

'Young Bess' is the 1953 elaborate costume drama telling the younger years of Queen Elizabeth I, or Young Bess as she was called by her father.

Directed by George Sidney, Jean Simmons plays the virgin Queen, with Charles Laughton reprising his role of Henry VIII (Laughton previously played King Henry in the 1933 film 'The Private Life of Henry VIII'). The film co-stars Deborah Kerr  as Catherine Parr and Stewart Granger as Thomas Seymour.

This first rate cast is supported by Kay Walsh, Guy Rolfe, Cecil Kellaway, Alan Napier, Kathleen Byron, Leo G. Carroll and Dawn Addams.

The film chronicles all the key events from her birth leading to her accession of the throne, including the execution of her mother Anne Boleyn, her exile as a child, her relationship with stepmother Catherine, and the death of her father King Henry VIII.

Queen Elizabeth I

Queen Elizabeth I was the daughter of King Henry VIII (the one who beheaded his 6 wives), and Anne Boleyn, who her father had beheaded when Elizabeth was just two years old. Elizabeth was known as The Virgin Queen, due to her never being married or having children. Despite her inability to bare children, I would question how virginal she really was considering the number of young men she had floating around her palace. She was one of the first powerful female leaders, and was even referred to as "a king in petticoats".

The role of Queen Elizabeth is one of the most sought after roles for an actress to play, having also been played by actresses including Bette Davis, Cate Blanchett, Dame Judi Dench, Glenda Jackson, Agnes Moorehead, Helen Mirren and Vanessa Redgrave, just to name a few.

Concluding remarks

'Young Bess' is an enjoyable and fascinating film to watch, although my favourite biography of Queen Elizabeth I is still The Private Lives of Elizabeth and Essex (1939), starring Bette Davis in one her finest roles.