Wednesday, November 30, 2011

Beautiful, please don't worry.

Time for a new song comparison! Yay!! Since Thanksgiving has passed, it is now officially time to start listening to Christmas music. I wanted to do this post before everyone got tired of Christmas songs. It happens to be one of my favorite wintry songs and I think it's a little silly to be considered a Christmas song, but I guess it makes more sense than "My Favorite Things." Now, I've got a long list of comparisons, so buckle up!

The song is: Baby, It's Cold Outside. It was originally written by Frank Loesser and was primarily performed by Loesser and his wife at parties. When Loesser sold the song to MGM to use in Neptune's Daughter, his wife was furious. I've heard her anger abated, however, when the song won an Academy Award. It should also be noted that in the music, the parts are written as "the mouse" and "the wolf."

1. Here's how the song was originally performed in Neptune's Daughter with Ricardo Montalban and Esther Williams.




It's probably unnecessary for me to say that this is my favorite version of the song. It is, pure and simple, the original intent of the song, and I like that. I like that I have complete confidence in the mouse to handle herself around the wolf. I actually really like Esther Williams and Ricardo Montalban as a pair, period. He's so sure of himself and so flirtatious but she's completely independent and able to take care of herself. A fun fact about this scene is that one of Ricardo's lines leading into the song is, "lovely lady, soft music, a warm summer's evening. You know, for an evening that started out so badly, it has definite possibilities." I love it because it gives the song a whole new twist. Well, maybe not twist. But it makes it much more humorous that he's trying to argue that it's too cold to go out when it's the middle of summer! After he sings his first line, she gives him this incredulous look like, "are you kidding me?" So funny! I love it! Okay, so that's number 1.

2. The duet immediately following this one pans over to Esther's sister, played by Betty Garrett, who is busy romancing Red Skelton (who, by the way, she thinks is Ricardo Montalban).



I think it's funny that this song is often performed this way - with the girl playing the wolf role. I love Betty Garrett. She's so cute! I like this version a lot in that I love the way they play around with the coats. It's very clever, I think. She keeps getting him to take the coat off.

3. The third film version of this song, from the movie Elf.


Other than the two versions in the original film, I find that this version is the freshest and most original. While they're singing the same words, the scene has a totally different feel. Ironically, it's potentially the sexiest scene, just because she's in the shower while she's singing - yet because the movie is the way it is, and the way the scene is played, all that comes out of this scene is innocence. That's what's so great about this version of the song: it's innocent. I don't think any other rendition of this song has that claim! And it's so sweet and kind of romantic the way he's singing along. So cute!

4. Last version I'm going to share is from television, so it's a little different than my usual set-up in that way, but it's worth a look. I should explain, first, that I am not a Glee fan. I've actually only ever seen the pilot episode. Nothing against Glee, it's just not my style. But, they did do a rather unique twist on an old classic. They performed it with two guys. Same basic idea. They sound great together. It's mostly odd to me because the mouse character does not seem at all opposed to the idea of being seduced by the wolf, but maybe that's the point. Perhaps that's an added twist. Who knows? What do you think?

Monday, November 28, 2011

I eat husbands.

So, one of my favorite screwball comedies is a lesser known Claudette Colbert and Don Ameche film called Midnight. I know I've mentioned it before. The plot is moderately simple: penniless chorus girl, Eve (Colbert), is on the hunt for a rich husband when she meets taxi driver, Tibor Czerny (Ameche). Afraid she's falling in love with him, she's runs away and runs right into a high society party and a tricky love triangle. Now, a rich husband, George Flamarian (John Barrymore), wants Eve to help him separate his wife (Mary Astor) and her lover (Francis Lederer). Eve assumes Tibor's name to put on the charade and help George out. When Tibor finds out, he's on his way to find out why she's using his name... and to make it permanent! Here's a scene from the movie and I hope it'll whet your appetite to see the whole thing; it's a delightful film!



P.S. I titled the post as such because I think that line is so funny! And weird. What kind of a line is that?

Sunday, November 27, 2011

Well, you might have mentioned me first on the billing.

I hope everyone had a marvelous Thanksgiving!! Now, that it's officially past, we can now turn our minds to Christmas! Yay!! And as such, here's a wintery-type photo of Myrna, who looks like she's all ready to be comfy cozy in that robe. She's so beautiful!

Saturday, November 26, 2011

Was I out yonder somewhere blinking at a star?

So. I deleted my more recent post about Gigi. The more I thought about it, the more disgusted I became with myself. Someone took the time to recommend something to me and what did I do? I bashed the movie. It was terribly bad form and dreadful manners. I want my friends to feel comfortable recommending movies to me. I do apologize.

Friday, November 25, 2011

"You oughta be wearing golashes."

Last week's quote: "I know what I like and I liked what I saw and I said to myself..." is from State Fair. The fill-in-the-blank was "That's For Me," which is also the name of the song! The song was written by Rodgers and Hammerstein and, in the '45 version of the film, was performed by Vivian Blaine.

This week's quote is: "You oughta be wearing golashes."

Monday, November 21, 2011

Thanks a lot...

So, I thought this clip rather appropriate for this week. I love this scene and I've been rather addicted to this song for some strange reason lately.

Sunday, November 20, 2011

it has definite possibilities

It's almost Thanksgiving!! Hooray!! Thanksgiving is one of my all-time favorite holidays. Right next to Christmas. And my birthday. And this photograph is my favorite fall-ish photo. The trees are actually pretty green in the photo, so it's probably not really fall. But it is California, so it could have been fall. Who knows? But their outfits and the coloring of the photo just say fall to me. I love it so much! I realize that I've posted it on here a bajillion times, but I never get tired of it. It's the background on my computer, and my iphone, and my computer at work. And every time I see it, I get all happy. So, here it is again.

Friday, November 18, 2011

"I know what I like and I liked what I saw and I said to myself..."

Last week's quote: "Honey, you're the cutest piggy-bank in town" was from Kiss Me Kate.

This week, just to change things up, let's do a little fill in the blank: "I know what I like and I liked what I saw and I said to myself _____"

Hint: the fill-in-the-blank, is the name of the song.

Monday, November 14, 2011

and in Italy, everybody sings

Exciting news!!! I found one of my all-time favorite scenes from Hit the Deck on YouTube! Ah, YouTube. Seriously, what would I do without it? Anyway, this scene is one of my favorites because a) Vic Damone sings b) the song is cute and c) everybody in this scene has such good chemistry. It's incredible! I'm going to be honest; I'm not always very good at pointing out who has good chemistry with who. But. In this scene, I'm so caught up with how much fun they seem to be having with each other. You really feel like they get along famously. It's little things.
Like when:
Kay Arden winks at Tony Martin as she hands him his wine
and when Debbie Reynolds tugs on Russ Tamblyn's tie to tell him to sing
and then when Russ Tamblyn laughs after singing (probably because he really isn't)
and when Debbie Reynolds pulls Russ Tamblyn's arm closer around her and leans on his hand
and when Russ Tamblyn leans his head on Kay Arden's shoulder
and when they all dance around the room and switch partners as if it's a surprise
and when Jane Powell whispers something to Vic Damone and he laughs
and when Kay Arden taps Debbie Reynolds under the chin

can you tell I've watched this scene a couple of times?
Ahem. Yeah, I really like it. It's so fun to watch. And it's fun to sing. Try it.



Do tell me what you think of this scene!

Sunday, November 13, 2011

and you'll shoo the blues away.

I love this photo! Have I mentioned how much I love Vic Damone? Look how cute he is in that sailor outfit! hehe. Anyways...

Friday, November 11, 2011

"Honey, you're the cutest piggy-bank in town."

Last week's quote: "Thanks for the darling uranium mine!" is from the "Thanks A Lot, But No Thanks" scene in It's Always Fair Weather. The song was written by Betty Comden and Adolph Green and was performed in the film by Dolores Grey.

This week's quote is: "Honey, you're the cutest piggy-bank in town."

Monday, November 7, 2011

That doesn't rhyme!

So, the other day, Brian Solomon highlighted a song on his fantastic blog, Standard of the Day: "Ain't We Got Fun?" His post led me to searching the song on YouTube and I came across this delightful scene from By The Light of the Silvery Moon. I've never seen the movie, but I want to now! This scene is so cute!

Sunday, November 6, 2011

Well, gee... That'd be swell!

I don't know why, but this photo strikes me as very fall-ish - despite the fact that she's wearing shorts. The tree in the background is all bare and it's all in sepia tones, so I just see this photo and think of fall.

Friday, November 4, 2011

"Thanks for the darling uranium mine."

Last week's quote: "Oh, father, we could buy the other half of the blanket!" is from Kismet. Marsinah (Ann Blythe) says it to her father (Howard Keel) when they come into money. I love that line!

This week's quote is: "Thanks for the darling uranium mine."

Wednesday, November 2, 2011

What's your Christmas wish?

So, now that Halloween is over, we can all turn with full excitement towards the holidays. I don't care what my best friend says, I want to listen to Christmas music now! This is when I start buying my Christmas presents and start planning what I want to spend my birthday money on. I think I know where most of what I buy myself this year will come from: the Warner Bros. Archive Collection. Have you seen it? It's glorious. I have a whole wishlist of movies I want to buy. I actually haven't even seen most of them but I really want to watch them and they're not available on Netflix. And there are actually a few that I have but I'd like to own more legally. Besides, it's so awesome that they're releasing these movies that I want to support them as much as possible. So, here's my wishlist from the wonderful site:

Movies I've seen and must own:
- The Merry Widow - It's not my favorite Maurice Chevalier film, but he's so classically Chevalier-esque in this one, it's impossible to pass up!
- Bachelor Mother - I have a copy of this one already, but I love it so much, I'd like to have it again. It's so funny!
- It's Love I'm After - I've wanted this one ever since I saw it. It's so funny. I pretty much want any Leslie Howard romantic comedy I can get my hands on. There seem to be few of them.
- Small Town Girl - I'm talking about the 1953 version with Jane Powell. I love this movie! I actually haven't seen it in years but I remember it as being very funny and very fun.
- A Damsel in Distress - I am not the world's biggest Joan Fontaine fan but I do love Fred Astaire. Plus, George and Gracie Allen alone are worth buying the film.
- The Merry Andrew -
I'd really like to own this one mostly to enhance my Danny Kaye collection. I love Danny Kaye!

Movies I've yet to see:
- Meet Me In Las Vegas - I really only want this because it has "Frankie and Johnny" and I'm curious to know what context the scene has in the story.
- Athena - Vic Damone. That's really the only reason I want it.
- Hard to Get - I don't know much about this one but it has two of my favorite people in it: Olivia de Havilland and Dick Powell. I'm very curious as to how they work together.
- Having a Wonderful Time - I love Ginger Rogers and this one looks really cute!
- Rich, Young and Pretty - Again, Vic Damone.
- It's a Wonderful World - I can't get a hold of this movie anywhere but the reviews of it seem pretty stellar. It looks so funny and cute! James Stewart and Claudette Colbert - they seem so unlikely but I like the idea of it!
- Yolanda and the Thief - Ok. This one looks really weird. But it has Fred Astaire and was directed by Vincente Minelli so you know there are going to be some awesome dances in it.
- Summer Holiday - I mostly want to see this one because of Gloria de Haven. She's so gorgeous and she always gets snotty type roles. I'm hoping this one's nicer because she's so cute!
- Invitation to the Dance - I feel like any Gene Kelly fan should have the opportunity to at least watch this movie, if not own it.
- Footsteps in the Dark - Errol Flynn in a murder mystery. Errol Flynn in a murder mystery!!!
- Too Hot to Handle - Myrna Loy pushed Clark Gable off her front porch in real life. I'm very curious as to how that relationship came out on screen!
- Lovely to Look At - I really, really want this movie. But then, I think you know all about that!

So, there you have it. My Warner Archives wishlist. What's on yours? Have you seen any of the ones on mine? What did you think?