Announcement!
Greetings everyone,
Before you attend that next hollywood movie premier, you're going to need a new designer handbag to match your dress. So check out this great giveaway at www.handbagplanet.com !!!
• 0 Comments • Post A Comment! • Permanent Link
New Reviews Coming Soon
Hi everyone,
I'm so sorry I haven't kept up this site lately! Please check back soon for many new reviews including:
"Strike Up the Band"
"Babes in Arms"
"Girl Crazy"
"The King and I"
"The Music Man"
"Pot of Gold"
and more!
• 0 Comments • Post A Comment! • Permanent Link
"Babes on Broadway"
1941
If had to name one movie I've watched lately, the upon watching it for the first time, I was most impressed, it would have to be "Babes on Broadway". I love this movie, I think it is simply wonderful. If you like old musicals, Judy Garland, and/or Mickey Rooney, you will love this movie! But even you don't, I would still encourage you to watch it. The only thing I can think of that some people may consider offensive, is the rather long "mistrel show" production they put on near the end. The only part of the movie I personally did not care for was the song when Tommy does an impersonation of 'Carmen Miranda', but that part is short and easy to skip. As a whole, I think this is a great movie, and I would definitely recommend it!
Starring: Judy Garland (Penny), Mickey Rooney (Tommy Williams), Donna Reed, Fay Bainter, Margaret O'Brien, Ray Macdonald, Richard Quine, Virginia Weidler
Memorable Songs: "How About You?" (see player on sidebar), "Anything Can Happen in New York", "Chin Up, Cheerio, Carry On!", and "Hoe Down"
Tommy Williams is a young man who is looking for his big break on Broadway while singing as one member of the "Three Balls of Fire" at a spaghetti restaurant. Things change for the trio when a renowned agent stops by for dinner one night. Later Mr. Williams meets up with Penny, an aspiring actress and singer herself. After finding the talent, "cause", and theatre at which to perform, it seems their dreams are all about to come true, when they suddenly fall apart at the last minute. However, they don't realize that even better things are headed their way.
Musical Score: Very Good!
Storyline: Very Good
Performance: Excellent!
I give this movie five stars!!!
• 3 Comments • Post A Comment! • Permanent Link
"State Fair"
In my opinion, this movie has many things in common with "Oklahoma" : They are both works of Rodger and Hammerstein; and as with "Oklahoma", "State Fair" is highly acclaimed, and no doubt has it's share of good characters and lasting musical numbers. However, like Oklahoma, I found this movie to be a disappointment in several areas. I would not necessarily recommend this movie.
Starring: Jeanne Crain (Margie), Dana Andrews and Dick Haymes (Wayne)
Memorable Songs: "It Might As Well Be Spring", "(All I Know) I Owe Iowa", and the opener, "Our State Fair is a Great State Fair (the best state fair in the state)"
The entire movie takes place in the few days around the Iowa State Fair and the many adventures that await the family before, during, and even after.
Musical Score: Good
Storyline: Mostly good
Performance: Good
Note: My mom does not recommend this movie for young children
• 0 Comments • Post A Comment! • Permanent Link
"Oklahoma!"
While there certainly are some charming points in this movie, I must say over all I am not fond of it. There were multiple scenes and songs that to me, felt quite pointless, and some that I thought less than appropriate. The movie may be well done, but one that I would certainly not watch again. And while I for one am a fan of Rodgers and Hammerstein, this movie was certainly a disappointment. I would not recommend this movie.
Starring: Gordan MacRae (Curly), Shirly Jones (Laurey Williams)
Memorable songs: "Oh What a Beautiful Mornin'", "People Will Say We're in Love", "Oklahoma!" and ""The Surrey With The Fringe On Top"
This movie takes place in the early 1900's in the frontier of the Oklahoma territory. The majority of the storyline revolves around Laurey and her rival admirers, the kind Curly, and the despicable Jud.
Music Score: While some of the songs are catchy and well done, there are several that are either lame and some I feel the movie would have been better without.
Story Line: Fair
Performance: Fair
Note: My mom does not approve of this movie for younger children.
• 0 Comments • Post A Comment! • Permanent Link
"Easter Parade"
This is a great Easter or anytime movie!
Starring: Fred Astair (Don Hewes); Judy Garland (Hannah Brown)
Memorable songs: "Easter Parade", "The Drum Song", and many others
When Don Hewes' dance partner leaves him to join another show, he promises he can find any other girl and train her to be his partner. That girl becomes Hannah Brown, an inexperienced dancer who can't tell her right leg from her left. Though they face many trials everything works out by the end which features the grand finale of the Easter parade.
Music Score: (By Irving Berlin) Good
Storyline: Excellent!
Performance: Very Good!
• 1 Comments • Post A Comment! • Permanent Link
"Meet Me in St. Louis"
1944
This is a really sweet film that feature on a family in St. Louis, and mainly on the adventures of their four daughters. This movie has tons of great songs and choreographed dancing as well.
Starring: Judy Garland (Esther), Margaret O'Brien, Tom Drake, Marjorie Main, Mary Astor, Lucille Bremer
Memorable songs: "The Trolley Song", 'Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas", "Meet Me in St. Louis"
The family is devasted when Father comes home one afternoon and announces that he has taken a position in New York, and that they will be moving soon. This causes a series of conflicts and problems until at last the father declares he has a surprising announcement to make.
Some of my favorite parts of this movie include the Christmas ball, and of course the trolley car scene. This is a beautiful movie and you'll love the old St. Louis. But the best is the evening, when sitting together in the window seat looking out a the snow, Judy ("Esther") sings the then original, now traditional, Christmas song: "Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas"
Musical score: Excellent!
Story Line: Excellent!
Peformance: Excellent!
• 1 Comments • Post A Comment! • Permanent Link
"In the Good Old Summertime"
1949
This is a very neat movie that follows a simliar story line and heritage with "Shop Around the Corner" and "You've Got Mail".
Despite the title and theme song, the majority of this movie actually takes place during the winter and ends with Christmas making it a lovely holiday movie.
Starring: Judy Garland and Van Johnson
Memorable songs: "Merry Christmas", "In the Good Old Summertime", "Meet Me in Dreamland"
Judy and her co-star play romantic penpals who are actually rivals in a music shop. The storyline grows until finally at the end when they find out that they are indeed their own friend they write to each night.
Music Score: Good
Story line: Very good!
Performance: Excellent!
• 0 Comments • Post A Comment! • Permanent Link
"White Christmas"
1954
How could you critique this family holiday classic? The script, score, and acting is superb! The scenery is beautiful, and it is sure to put you in a holiday mood.
Starring: Bing Crosby (Bob Wallace), Danny Kaye (Davis), Rosemary Clooney (Betty Haynes), and Vera Ellen (Judy Haynes).
Memorable songs: "White Christmas", "Count Your Blessings", "The Best Things Happen While Your Dancing", "Sisters"
This movie features lots of singing and dancing, yet it still follows a strong story line.
Bob Wallce and Mr. Davis, previous wartime buddies, now star in their own variety show. After meeting the lovely Haynes sisters they promptly follow them to Vermont where they are to perform over the holidays at a ski resort. With no snow , business is bad for the owner who happens to be the men's old army general. To help out and show their appreciation they bring in their entire show and perform a very special Christmas show in recognition of the general, while in the meantime they fall in love with the Haynes sisters.
Storyline: Very Good!
Musical Score: Excellent! ~Written by Irving Berlin
Performance: Excellent! 
• 1 Comments • Post A Comment! • Permanent Link
"Miracle on 34th Street"
1947
This is a neat black & white Thanksgiving/Christmas movie.
Natalie Wood (Susan); Maureen O'Hara (Doris, Susan's mother)
A young lawyer proves though court with clever and remarkable evidence that the man in question is indeed Santa Claus.
Even those who are not fans of Santa will enjoy this movie (I speak from experience! :)
I loved watching the Macy's Department Store operate back in that time! And the young girl and her mother are very classic of that era.
Storyline: Very Good!
