Yes, it's true, I have just spent the afternoon sitting in my armchair and at the end a tear or three rolled down my cheeks. Much blowing of nose and clearing of throat was required. The reason? Bloody Hollywood, of course!
I had better explain. This afternoon BBC2 showed that great compilation movie of Hollywood musicals, That's Entertainment. Has there ever in the history of the world been a greater collection of brilliant talents as there was at the MGM studios from the '30s to the '60s? I don't just mean the great names who starred in all those musicals but also the thousands who supported those terrific endeavours - writers, designers, camera operators, lighting experts, choreographers, song-writers and all the 'hoofers' who filled those enormous stages.
Of course, they touched on all those truly great musicals but, right at the end, they played a short extract from one of the greatest movies ever made, Gigi, directed by that Hollywood genius, Vincent Minnelli. They ran that shot towards the end of the film when the hero played by the late Louis Jourdan (who only died last February) is standing in profile silhouetted against the Parisian fountains at night wearing his top hat and tails with his hat tipped forward over his head and his cane over his shoulder as he comes to the realisation that he loves Gigi. That, my friends, is one of the greatest images Hollywood ever produced and it was at that point I had a quiet cry.
I know, I know, pathetic but whilst I don't expect everyone to share my tastes I do have an eye and an ear for great art and artistry and at their very best those MGM musicals reach the heights of classical art. If you have never seen That's Entertainment then go buy a DVD - like NOW!
I never miss seeing the old musicals when they turn up on the telly, generally on a lazy Sunday afternoon.
I know most of them by heart already can't resist watching one more time.
Those were the days indeed.
Posted by: Andra | Saturday, 29 August 2015 at 20:24
To be fair, I'm not sure I could sit *all* through some of them, the dialogue can be toe-curlingly banal but once the music starts and the toes start tapping - I'm lost.
Posted by: David Duff | Saturday, 29 August 2015 at 21:47
This too is (one of) my secret vice(s).
I 'may' have a large collection of dvd's (and not just MGM but all those 20th Century Fox Rogers and Hammerstein ones too).
I'd say Seven Brides for Seven Brothers is still my favourite (a fact that may go a long way to explaining just why my 'dance moves' are so 'enthusiastic' – they look so much better when I do them with an axe).
I'm carefully refraining from mentioning the leading ladies (Jane Powell – Oh my aching … er, heart - in crinolines and ... frilly underwear too!) as an additional attraction (the 'good old days' when ladies were ladies and all a man had to do was be able to sing harmony and get a bunch of friends to dance some complicated choreography to get a date – sigh!).
Posted by: Jerven | Sunday, 30 August 2015 at 07:58
I think, Jerven, your ambitions could be realised because I, and others, I'm sure, would pay good money to see you dancing with an axe, or better still, doing that routine I saw in the excerpt yesterday where the men did a fantastic dance on planks raised in the air - one slip and - ouch!
incidentally, Seven Brides is playing in London at the moment.
Posted by: David Duff | Sunday, 30 August 2015 at 08:34
Do you want to see a country in decline? Watch "that's entertainment" then watch "straight outta Compton".
Posted by: Dom | Monday, 31 August 2015 at 14:23
Sorry, Dom, I could only skim-read the Wiki summary and now I feel like crying again but for very different reasons.
Posted by: David Duff | Monday, 31 August 2015 at 15:33