'Sinatra Singing at His Best' is a 2004 DVD release featuring some of Sinatra's best performances with a linking narration by Henry Stephens providing some context to the songs. The release features the following songs:
"I've Got the World on a String"
"Stardust"
"I've Got my Love to Keep Me Warm"
"Ol' Man River" (footage from the film 'Till the Clouds Roll By')
"Fly Me to the Moon" (with Count Basie)
"Last Night When We Were Young"
"I'll Never Smile Again" (with The High-Lows)
"When You're Smiling the Whole World Smiles With You"
"My Romance" (with June Hutton)
"Hello, Young Lovers"
"Oh, Look at me Now" (with Eileen Barton)
"That Old Black Magic"
"Talk To Me" (with Mitzi Gaynor)
"It Had to be You" (featuring montage footage of Ava Gardner, Rita Hayworth, Shirley MacLaine, Gina Lollobrigida, Kim Novak, Eleanor Parker & other screen sirens)
"Luck Be A Lady" (with Count Basie)
"High Hopes" (begins with a brief clip from the film 'A Hole in the Head', followed by a performance with a children's choir)
"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.
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 title is borrowed from the immortal showtune from 'Annie Get Your Gun', and tells the story of vaudeville family, the 5 Donohues: Terrance (played by Dailey), Molly (played by Merman), Tim (played by O'Connor), Katy (played by Gaynor) and Steve (played by Ray). Marilyn plays singer Victoria "Vicky" Hoffman.
From the deep red velvet curtain backdrop during the opening credits, one gets a sense of excitement about what is to come... Ethel Merman and Marilyn Monroe in a vaudeville musical featuring Irving Berlin songs... unfortunately the excitement ends there.
'There's No Business Like Show Business' features some fantastic show stopping musical numbers, however the story is no great, it gets rather boring and runs way too long.
I would consider this to be more of an Ethel Merman film than a Marilyn Monroe film. It is the only film Marilyn made after 1953 in which she plays a supporting role - it takes almost half an hour for her to appear. It is also one of the only films Marilyn appears in where she does not steal the film. It is Monroe vs. Merman, and as always Merman lands on top! In my opinion, Marilyn was not the right actress to star in this film, and 20th Century Fox would have been better off casting a less prominent star.
Musical highlights
Despite the slow pace of the film, there are a few fantastic big budget musical numbers, including Marilyn singing "Heatwave", and Ethel Merman singing her signature tune "There's No Business Like Show Business" - in fact no one can sing this song quite like Ethel.
Here are some YouTube videos showing my favourite musical moments from this film:
Song: "Heatwave" - Marilyn Monroe
Song: "There's No Business Like Show Business" - Ethel Merman
Song: "After You Get What You Want You Don't Want It" - Marilyn Monroe
Song: "Midnight Choo Choo Goes To Alabam' / Won't You Play A Simple Melody?" - Ethel Merman & Dan Dailey
Song: "Alexander's Ragtime Band" - Ethel Merman, Dan Dailey, Mitzi Gaynor, Donald O'Connor and Johnnie Ray
Closing remarks
As I previously said, this film is a big snooze - no surprise it was a big box office bomb upon it's initial release and failed to recover its production cost. Had the film not featured Marilyn Monroe it would be a forgotten film today.
I would recommend this film to die hard Marilyn or Ethel Merman fans only - anyone else should focus their efforts on a spectacular MGM musical.
Wednesday, 13 June 2012
We're Not Married! (1952)
Star of the Month... Marilyn Monroe
We're Not Married! is the hilarious comedy of five couples who are married by a confused Judge from 24 to 31 December, before his official appointment on 1 January. The error is identified 2 and a half years later, where one of the couples is with child, another is expecting and another is in the middle of a messy divorce.
The film is funny, however it focuses far too much on the characters played by Ginger Rogers and Fred Allen. The first 30 mins are dedicated primarily to this couple, with the remaining 4 couples getting approx. 10-15 of storyline each. The five episodes are of varying quality, with some funnier and more entertaining than others.
Marilyn stars as a beauty pageant winner, Anabel Jones Norris, and is mainly shown wearing a bathing suite, both marketing her sex appeal, yet exploiting her at the same.
Although Ginger Rogers is one of my favourite stars, I would consider this to be one of her weaker performances, with the highlight performances in this film going to Zsa Zsa Gabor as a vindictive gold digger, and of course Marilyn as a beauty pageant winner.
Although the ending is predictable, the film is still fun to watch. This would have been yet another forgotten B-grade comedy of the early 50s had Marilyn Monroe not featured in the film.
