This is Tom Jones: Juliet Prowse (1969) - Star of the month... Juliet Prowse

On 29 May 1969, Juliet Prowse guest starred on the "This is Tom Jones" show.


"You Got A Long Way To Go From St. Louis" - Juliet Prowse & Tom Jones

"I Get A Kick Out of You" - Juliet Prowse & Tom Jones

The Frank Sinatra Show: Juliet Prowse (1957-1958) - Star of the month... Juliet Prowse

Juliet Prowse made several appearances on "The Frank Sinatra Show" from 1957 to 1959.

Although I wasn't able to find complete episodes online, here is a clip you may enjoy...

Includes:

• Frank Sinatra sings "It's All Right With Me" to Juliet Prowse
• Frank Sinatra introduces Juliet Prowse & wishes Cole Porter a recovery
• Juliet Prowse dances to an instrumental medley of Cole Porter songs (including "Love of My Life", "Anything Goes", "Too Darn Hot", among others)

Anything Goes (1954) - Star of the month... Frank Sinatra

'Anything Goes' is a 1954 episode of the Colgatte Comedy Hour, starring Ethel Merman, Frank Sinatra, Bert Lahr and Sheree North with Arthur Gould-Porter. Produced by Jule Styne, the TV special is an abridged version of Cole Porter's classic musical comedy.

Reno Sweeney (played by Merman) is on her way from America to England to marry Sir. Evelyn Oakleigh (played by Gould-Porter). Reno's ex-boyfriend Harry Dane (played by Sinatra) follows her on the boat. Also on the boat is public enemy #1, Moonface Martin (played by Lahr) and his friend Bonnie LeTour (played by North).

Musical program

• "Anything Goes" - Ethel Merman
• "You Do Something To Me" - Frank Sinatra & Ethel Merman
• "Anything Goes (Reprise)" - Ethel Merman
• "I Get A Kick Out of You" - Ethel Merman
• "I Get A Kick Out of You (Reprise)" - Frank Sinatra
• "Just One of Those Things" - Frank Sinatra & Ethel Merman
• "Blow, Gabriel, Blow" - Ethel Merman
• "All Through the Night" - Frank Sinatra
• "Friendship" - Ethel Merman & Bert Lahr
• "I Get A Kick Out Of You (Reprise #2) - Ethel Merman & Frank Sinatra
• "Anything Goes (Reprise #2)" - Cast
• Encore: "Anything Goes" - Ethel Merman, Frank Sinatra & Bert Lahr

Did you know...

• Ethel Merman originated the role of Reno Sweeney on Broadway more than 20 years earlier

Watch the full TV special:

Closing remarks

'Anything Goes' is a good TV special with memorable and well-known Cole Porter songs, designed to showcase the talents of Ethel Merman and Frank Sinatra. The plot is very thin, and a little different to the Broadway show. Some of the character names are different, and many of the songs are removed.

The musical 'Anything Goes' is very special to me, as I played Lord Evelyn Oakleigh in a production when I was in high school.

Not as enjoyable and showstopping as the Broadway show but still worth watching.

The Frank Sinatra Show: Juliet Prowse (1957-1958) - Star of the month... Juliet Prowse

Juliet Prowse made several appearances on "The Frank Sinatra Show" from 1957 to 1959.

Although I wasn't able to find complete episodes online, here is a clip you may enjoy...

Includes:

• Frank Sinatra sings "It's All Right With Me" to Juliet Prowse
• Frank Sinatra introduces Juliet Prowse & wishes Cole Porter a recovery
• Juliet Prowse dances to an instrumental medley of Cole Porter songs (including "Love of My Life", "Anything Goes", "Too Darn Hot", among others)

Les Girls (1957) - Star of the month... Gene Kelly

"Gentlemen, I give you Les Girls. All but one." - Gene Kelly (as Barry Nichols in 'Les Girls')

Mitzi Gaynor, Kay Kendall, Gene Kelly & Taina Elg in 'Les Girls'

'Les Girls' (pronounced "Lay Girls" - rhymes with "Play Girls") is a 1957 musical comedy directed by George Cukor and starring Gene Kelly, Mitzi Gaynor, Kay Kendall & Taina Elg with Jacques Bergerac, Leslie Phillips, Henry Daniell and Patrick Macnee.

The film features 5 new Cole Porter songs, was produced by Sol C. Sigel, with Saul Chaplin as associate producer, with a screenplay written by John Patrick, based on a story by Vera Caspary.

Sybil Wren (played by Kendall) is sued for defamation by her former colleague Angèle Ducros (played by Elg) for writing a tell-all book about their time working at cabaret troupe, Les Girls. In her book, Sybil alleges Angèle had an affair with troupe owner Barry Nichols (played by Kelly), while she was engaged to Pierre Ducros (played by Bergerac). 

One narrative, three perspectives

Taina Elg, Kay Kendall, Gene Kelly & Mitzi Gaynor
in 'Les Girls'

The narrative presents the spectator with three different points of view of the events at Les Girls. First, the perspective of Sybil, alleging the affair between Barry and Angèle. Secondly, the perspective of Angèle, alleging an affair between Barry and Sybil. Finally, Barry provides his side of the story to set the record straight.

I find this as an effective narrative technique, to really dig into the characters.

Gene Kelly gives you Les Girls -
Mitzi Gaynor, Kay Kendall & Taina Elg

Relationship of the girls

After finding out Angele is engaged, Sybil and Joy agree to keep it a secret from Barry. It is ironic Sybil says "No, one does not betray a friend", yet she writes abot Angèle's private life in her book.

Musical program

• "Les Girls" - Gene Kelly, Mitzi Gaynor, Kay Kendall & Taina Elg
• "Ça C'est L'amour" - Taina Elg (with Gene Kelly)
• "Ladies in Waiting" - Mitzi Gaynor, Kay Kendall & Taina Elg
• "Be a Clown" - played as background music
• "You're Just Too Too!" - Gene Kelly & Kay Kendall
• "Les Girls" (Reprise) - Gene Kelly, Mitzi Gaynor, Kay Kendall & Taina Elg
• "Ladies in Waiting" (Reprise) - Mitzi Gaynor, Kay Kendall & Taina Elg
• "Why Am I So Gone (About That Gal?)"

Song: "Les Girls" - Gene Kelly, Mitzi Gaynor, Kay Kendall & Taina Elg

Song: "Why Am I So Gone (About That Gal?)" - Gene Kelly & Mitzi Gaynor

Song: "Ça c'est l'amour" - Taina Elg (with Gene Kelly)

Did you know...

• This was sadly Cole Porter's last film score
• Cole Porter wrote 12 new songs for this film, but only 5 were used
• Cyd Charisse was originally cast as Joy Henderson, but turned it down as she wanted to make 'Silk Stockings' with Fred Astaire instead
• Leslie Caron turned down a role of Angèle Ducros, due to creative differences with director George Cukor
• Jean Simmons and Carol Haney were both considered for roles in this film
• The song 'Ça C'est L'amour' was filmed on one of Esther Williams' swimming pools
• Kay Kendall had leukemia during filming and died ?/
• Kay Kendall's singing was dubbed by Betty Wand
• Taina Elg's singing was dubbed by Thora Mathiason
• This was Gene Kelly's last musical and movie under the MGM contract he signed in 1942 - his next appearance in an MGM film was in the documentary film 'That's Entertainment!' (1974)
•  If you listen closely you'll hear the music of "Be A Clown" from 'The Pirate' (1948) playing immediately after the rope number fiasco



Gene Kelly dances with Mitzi Gaynor

• As only the title from Vera Caspary's original story was used, she joked she was the highest paid writer in the world - being paid $80,000 for writing two words

Awards and nominations

• Academy Award winner for Best Costume Design 
• Academy Award nomination for Best Art Direction
• Academy Award nomination for Best Sound
• Golden Globe Award for Best Motion Picture - Musical/Comedy
• Golden Globe Award for Best Actress (Kay Kendall & Taina Elg - tied)

Closing remarks

Gene Kelly dances with Mitzi Gaynor

'Les Girls' was released during the decline of the Hollywood musical, and was a surprise critical and box office success.  Gene Kelly is looking youthful as ever at age 45, glamourous Oscar winning costumes by Orry-Kelly and the Cole Porter songs are fantastic! Jack Cole's choreography is impressive, particular the rope rehearsal, which is always fun to watch.

Something I thought interesting is that director George Cukor does not consider 'Les Girls' to be a musical comedy. He prefers to call it a comedy with music. In my opinion the film is a musical comedy, as there are several moments away from the Les Girls theatre, where the characters burst into song. There is a very fine line between the two definitions in this film, so I'll let you be the judge.

Taina Elg, Kay Kendall & Mitzi Gaynor sing 'Ladies in Waiting'

That said, the musical numbers are beautifully filmed by Cukor, a director who traditionally did not make musicals. Sadly his next musical 'Let's Make Love' (1960), with Marilyn Monroe was dull and boring.

Enchanting, alluring and captivating... 'Les Girls' is a fun exploration into the world of theatre, friendship, gossip and betrayal, which will always leave you wondering "what is truth?"

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

"Don't call me pure soul... It irritates me!" - Judy Garland (as Manuela Alva in 'The Pirate')

'The Pirate' is a 1948 MGM musical directed by Vincente Minelli and starring Judy Garland, Gene Kelly, Gladys Cooper, Walter Slezak, Gladys Cooper, Reginald Owen, George Zucco and the Nicholas Brothers. The film's screenplay was written by Frances Goodrich, based on the 1942 play by S.N. Behrman, and features original Cole Porter songs.

Watch the trailer:

Manuela Alva (played by Garland) is infatuated with the legemdary pirate, Mack "the Black" Macoco. Meanwhile, her Aunt Inez (played by Cooper) has just arranged Manuela's marriage to the town mayor, Don Pedro (played by Slezak).   Serafin (played by Kelly) is a travelling performer, and after shortly after meeting Manuela, pretends to be Mack "the Black" Macoco in an attempt to win her affections. Things are complicated once Serafin (believed to be Macoco) is arrested and sentenced for executed.

Clip - Watch my favourite scene from the film... Manuela goes crazy!

Musical program

The film features a number of Cole Porter songs, written especially for the film.

These include:

Gene Kelly & the Nicholas Brothers

• Opening Titles: Mack the Black - MGM Chorus
• Nina - Gene Kelly
• Mack the Black - Gene Kelly
• You Can Do No Wrong - Judy Garland
• The Pirate Ballet - Gene Kelly
• Be A Clown - Gene Kelly (with the Nicholas Brothers)
• Love Of My Life - Judy Garland
• Be A Clown (Reprise) - Gene Kelly & Judy Garland

Song: "Be A Clown" (Reprise) - Gene Kelly & Judy Garland

Song: "Mack the Black" - Judy Garland

Song: "You Can Do No Wrong" - Judy Garland

Song: "Be A Clown" - Gene Kelly (with the Nicholas Brothers)

Song: "The Pirate Ballet" - Gene Kelly

Song: "Nina" - Gene Kelly

Deleted musical numbers

Gene Kelly & Judy Garland in 'Be A Clown'

Three musical sequences were deleted from the final film:

• 'Mack the Black' was originally a longer song with additional lyrics
• 'Love of my Life' was originally performed twice in the film - the first rendition was deleted
• Gene & Judy performed a song called "Voodoo" - the torrid romance in the song outraged MGM boss Louis B. Mayer so much that he demanded the negative be burned... the sequence is still lost today

Did you know...

Judy Garland as Manuela sings "Mack the Black"

• The "Be A Clown" sequence with the Nicholas Brothers was originally cut from screenings in the American South, such as Memphis, because the Nicholas Brothers were African American performers
• Gene Kelly fought to have the Nicholas Brothers featured in the film
• Judy Garland's addiction to prescription drugs caused her to be absent from 99 of the 135 filming days
• The film lost $2million for MGM due it's box office failure
• During filming Gene Kelly helped to invent a device which allowed the bulky Technicolor camera to shoot from low angles
• The film was originally to star Cary Grant & Greer Garson - after these plans fell through it was turned into a musical
• Cole Porter only agreed to write the songs for this film on the condition the pirates name be changed from Estramundo to Macoco - Macoco was the name of a friend of Porter's who was nicknamed Mack the Black
• Features the film debut of Lola Albright
• Lena Horne was originally to star in the film as a Caribbean dressmaker, however the character was cut from the film
• During the filming of this film Judy Garland smoked four packs of cigarettes a day



Judy Garland gives Gene Kelly a spanking

• This was the second of three films Judy Garland & Gene Kelly filmed together

Award nominations

• Academy Award nomination for Best Original Music Score

Closing remarks

Gene Kelly in the Pirate Ballet

'The Pirate' is a swashbuckling romantic musical adventure starring MGM's two most iconic stars. The toe-tapping Cole Porter songs are great, the dance sequences brilliant, and Judy and Gene bring down the house.

Gene Kelly's dances are a feast for the eyes and ears, especially the ingenious "Pirate Ballet" sequence. Other musical highlights include Judy's inspiring performance of "Mack the Black" and both versions of "Be A Clown",

Despite it's poor box office failure, 'The Pirate' is a film I like very much. 

With it's lavish costumes and tropical set, 'The Pirate' is a colourful carnival on the Caribbean you're unlikely to forget in a hurry.