The Harvey Girls (1946)

“Yeah, they say they have hair on their chest, the only thing I've seen is just a fancy vest. Holy smackers, milk and crackers but it's wild in the wild, wild west.” 

            The Harvey Girls was not a film I had planned on watching in the near future. I like Judy Garland, but to a certain extent. I will not go out purposely looking for a Judy Garland film unless there is someone I really like in it. Well before I watched this I had no idea Virginia O’Brien or Cyd Charisse were in it so they were not the reason why. I actually sat through The Harvey Girls to see Ray Bolger. Besides The Wizard of Oz I have only ever seen him in The Great Ziegfeld but his role was very small. Even in this film his role is small but he is so good.  

            Susan Bradley (Garland) is on her way out west to get married to a man she had been communicating with by letters. She loves the way he writes so passionately and lovingly she is so excited to meet him. On the train with Susan are a group of young women who will be working for a chain of Harvey restaurants. They see that Susan does not have any food left and offer some to her.

            When Susan gets to the town she finds that Hartsy the man she has been writing to is nothing but a dumb hick. They both see they are not a match for each other and try to talk each other out of marriage by saying what they are terrible at doing. Hartsy tells Susan that he was not the one who wrote the letters he cannot write so he had the local saloon owner Ned Trent (John Hodiak. Susan is so upset she goes into the saloon without fear looking for Ned. She runs into Em (Angela Lansbury) who happens to be Ned’s girlfriend. Em and the other girls are not happy about the Harvey restaurant opening up across the street from them because it is a nice place and soon the saloon will be closed. Ned comes to the scene and Susan gives him a piece of her mind.

            Since Susan is no longer getting married she gets a job at the Harvey restaurant. That night Ned comes to the restaurant and Susan winds up being his waitress. He tells Susan he wants a sirloin. When she puts in the order the kitchen tells her all their steaks have been stolen. Susan knows immediately where it has disappeared. She sneaks into the dinning where she steals two guns and sneaks out the front door. She walks over the saloon nervously. Somehow Susan manages to stick up the entire saloon and bring back the stolen steaks.

            The reason the saloon manages to stay open in the town is due to Judge Sam Purvis (Preston Foster). By his order and the fact that the priest left the town church has been closed for a long time. Along with some of the bawdier men of the town Sam makes his mission to scare the Harvey Girls out of town. In the middle of the night he shoots out the lights in the girls’ room. This incident does scare off some of the girls but Susan along with Alma (O’Brien) and Deborah (Charisse) are determined to stay. Sam goes to the girls the next day and is the perfect gentleman. He knows that Susan has taken a liking to Ned. To make Susan mad at Ned he tells her that Ned does not want the church to reopen (Ned does want the church to reopen). Angry Susan goes looking for Ned in the saloon and is again confronted by Em. Susan has enough of Em’s bullying and puts the woman in her place.

            Deborah has come out the west to try her hand at dancing for a living. During the day she hears a man singing at the piano in the saloon. She goes over and there is instant chemistry between them. He sings her a song of his and she dances to it. Susan looking for Deborah storms into the bar. Em is of course there and this time has her girls surround Susan. Deborah runs across the street to get the other girls. All the sudden a big brawl breaks out!

            After this moment the film is a blur because stupid me did not pause it when my grandma called. All I remember is the restaurant being set on fire. And I do know that Susan and Ned get together but I cannot remember how.

            The cast was excellent. Judy Garland was good. The woman had so much talent that it is a shame to hear that she caused so much delay filming it. I was dying in the brawl scene she was hilarious. Virginia O’Brien from the moment I saw her face I was laughing so hard. I have been a fan of her since I saw her performance of “Salome” in Du Barry Was a Lady. Her character unfortunately disappears after a number because she was pregnant and Judy Garland delayed filming so much that her pregnancy was becoming a problem to hide. Alma was a wise cracking character and O’Brien was perfect she kept such a great straight face. Cyd Charisse was outrageously adorable and gorgeous. I loved it when she met the man in the saloon and during the brawl they hid under the table and I think they kissed. Charisse had a very good number with Garland and O’Brien it was beautifully done by all three women. Ray Bolger was barely in the film but he almost stole it. He was so funny. He had a pretty decent dance number. It was cute seeing Bolger dance with Garland. I am convinced Bolger was born dancing he was so limber and active with his dancing. He did not let me down with him being the reason I wanted to see The Harvey Girls. Angela Lansbury was perfect! She was only nineteen years old when she made this. Along with Bolger she almost stole the film. Lansbury had a very commanding presence in this, I am not sure if that was because of her acting, her character or costumes… maybe it was all three. I liked John Hodiak but I felt he was out of place in this light naive musical. He could fit into a western but not an MGM musical western. 

            The Harvey Girls was a cute musical. There were some very good numbers, some hilarious scenes, and every single cast member did a wonderful job in their roles. The Harvey Girls is one of MGM’s long list of great musicals that should not be missed.

Singin in the Rain: 60th Anniversary Showing

“Of course we talk. Don’t ev’rybody?”

            It was a treat to have seen my all time favorite drama Casablanca in theaters for its 70^th anniversary a few months ago and it was an even bigger treat seeing my all time favorite musical Singin’ in the Rain in theaters for the film’s 60^th anniversary. I have seen Singin’ in the Rain countless times at home either by myself or with friends and family. But there is no experience in the world like watching a classic film in theaters with other fans and to hear them laugh at all the funny scenes and applaud when a dance number ended.

            Singin’ in the Rain is a film I watched when I was younger and, according to my parents, loved to sit through. Apparently I also liked Brigadoon making me a Gene Kelly fan since I was little. The first time I ever took notice of who Gene Kelly was was in the God awful movie Xanadu. Yes, folks I have seen Xanadu and even own it because it is so bad that it is fabulous. When I first got the movie on VHS I asked my mom who Gene Kelly was. By that time he was an older man with white hair but could still dance like no one else. So she told me I used to watch him in Brigadoon and Singin’ in the Rain all the time when I was little. As the years went by and I got older and got into classic Hollywood I rediscovered Singin’ in the Rain.  I remember seeing a photograph of Gene Kelly from the film and thinking “hey that’s the old guy from Xanadu when he was younger. Wow does he look different with black hair!” I can also remember the day I first bought Singin’ in the Rain on DVD and watched for the first time in years. I thought it was a very good film but for the life of me could not figure out why Singin’ in the Rain was the title it was so silly and did not fit.

            I can proudly (and maturely) say that I understand why the film is titled what it is and that Gene Kelly is no longer just the old guy from Xanadu for me but Don Lockwood from Singin’ in the Rain as well as Jerry from An American in Paris and Serafin from The Pirate and several more characters from his great films.

            So much has been said for how brilliant Gene Kelly was and how great his dancing is. So much has also been said for the great performances by Donald O’Connor and Debbie Reynolds. All three of them are fantastic no one deserved the roles of Don Lockwood, Cosmo Brown, and Kathy Selden more than they did. To me no one deserves more credit and praise for making this film so funny and so enjoyable than Jean Hagen as Lina Lamont. I cannot remember my reaction when Lina first uttered a word but now when I sit through it with someone who has never seen the film I always look at them to see their reactions. I have seen this film so many times and I still die laughing when she first opens her mouth and this high pitched uneducated voice comes out. Lina Lamont is one of my all time favorite movie characters. I do not think of her as a bad guy I think of her as a hysterical antagonist. Kelly even said it himself that the film would not have been as good without Hagen playing the role. I read in a great book called Singin in the Rain: The Making of an American Masterpiece that Betty Comden and Adolph Green who wrote the screenplay were friends with Judy Holiday and wrote the character of Lina Lamont as Judy Holiday on speed. Hagen was not a blonde she was really a brunette. She auditioned for the role with a blonde wig from another part and the producers liked her hair and had her keep it. She was also a very good actress and did not have a squeaky high pitched voice. Hagen’s real voice can actually be heard in the film in the scene where Kathy is supposed to be dubbing Lina. Hagen was dubbing for Debbie Reynolds whose character was supposed to be dubbing for Lina! That is one of the best pieces of film trivia ever! (if you would like to see Hagen in other roles with her brown hair and real voice look for her in The Asphalt Jungle, Adam’s Rib, and Dead Ringer). I feel awful that Jean Hagen is never given much attention and consideration for what she brought to this film. I believe that is because she died before she could really give interviews about working on the film (she died in 1977 from throat cancer).

            My favorite musical numbers are “Good Mornin’” , “Singin’ in the Rain (of course), “All I Do is Dream of You”, “Make ‘em Laugh”, “Moses”, and “Beautiful Girl”. When “Good Mornin’” comes on I am like a little kid I love that song and number so much. That is the number that never fails to cheer me up when I feel down.

            Singin’ in the Rain is a musical I can watch over and over again and never tire of. Whenever I put this film on I always feel better and lighter and happier. I always know that I will laugh whenever Lina comes on the screen or the scene where Kathy is giving Don a lift in her car or Cosmo performs “Make ‘em Laugh”.  Singin’ in the Rain is such a perfect musical with a perfect story. I love seeing Don happily in love singing the title song; it makes me hope for the day where I will be happy in love with someone like he is with Kathy. It was such a great experience to see this musical masterpiece on screen and to enjoy with other fans. 

The Band Wagon (1953)



“That’s Entertainment”

            MGM has always been known for their incredible musicals. Arthur Freed’s production team made some of the most memorable musicals ever created such as Singin in the Rain and An American in Paris. Keeping up with the successful roll of musicals in the early ‘50s, Freed’s unit produced The Band Wagon. MGM got all their top entertainers in their arsenal and created one of their most catchy and fun musicals.

            Tony Hunter (Fred Astaire) is a fading musical star. He has not made a film in three years. We first see him sitting on a train; he is hiding behind a menu as he listens to two men talking about how Tony Hunter used to be someone. Then he pipes into the conversation and he agrees. When he gets off the train in NYC he feels lonely from the fact that no one is interested in him as an actor anymore.

            Tony has traveled to NYC to star in a play that his two friends Lily and Lester Marton (Nanette Fabray and Oscar Levant) have written. Tony has not been in the city for many years. Things and places have changed he hardly recognizes the place. Much has even changed on Broadway. Lily and Lester want the famed director, writer, producer, and actor Jeffery Cordova to direct the play. Tony has no idea who this guy is but he goes with the couple and meets the guy anyway. The meeting goes very well and Jeffery agrees to direct and even star in the play. He also wants to try to get the famed ballerina Gabrielle Gerard (Cyd Charisse) to be in the play as well.

            Lily and Lester bring Tony to see Gabrielle in a show. He is very pessimistic about working with the ballerina he thinks that she is too tall for him and that she will not be able to dance like him. From the moment the two dancers meet there are sparks and not good sparks. Gabrielle feels Tony thinks ballet is below him and Tony feels that Gabrielle is a snot. They argue and as they go to leave Jeffery’s apartment the board members agree to back the play and now the dancers are stuck working together.

            As rehearsals move ahead Tony is not happy. Many of his scenes and numbers have been cut. He finally has it and leaves. Gabrielle goes to talk to him. At first she apologizes but Tony sees right through that she is really not sorry for acting the way she did she is just coming to save face and ask him back to the play. She starts to cry and he feels bad. He wants to take her out so she goes with him. They go to the park and dance together. The two dancers are in perfect rhythm and step and they find they do dance well together. Tony comes back to the show and he and Gabrielle get along very well.

            When the play opens to the backers it is a flop. The backers back out leaving the company no money and all their hard work is wasted. During a small get together Tony lets Jeffery know that he can sell his paintings by some famous artists and they can rework the show and go on tour. The reworking is a big success

            Fred Astaire and Cyd Charisse were fantastic together. Of all the partners Astaire danced with I think Charisse was the best one. Watching her dance with him in “Dancing in the Dark” she never looked down at her feet and she was never a step ahead or behind she was flawless. I get so jealous watching Charisse dance she was so beautiful and her legs were incredible!! Also no matter what she wore she was gorgeous. Astaire was not too bad in this film. Usually he always plays the love sick little boy but he was not here and that was great.  Nanette Fabray was fabulous. I loved seeing her energy and how out going she was.

            My favorite numbers in the film are “Dancing in the Dark”, “I Love Louisa”, “Louisiana Hayride”, and “The Hunt Ballet.” “The Hun Ballet” is a twelve minute long number but it is so cool Astaire and Charisse literally just glide through the whole thing. Charisse looks gorgeous in one of the scenes in the ballet when she wears a red glittered dress and black gloves. The sex appeal that oozes out of her in the outfit and her dancing.  Nanette Fabray sings “Louisiana Hayride” and she is adorable you can see her energy and how great of a performer she was.

This is only part of the whole number but this is the best

            The Band Wagon is such a great musical. The story is not so much a romance it is more of a guy who has been down in his career for some years and now he is coming into a world he thought he knew and it is completely different. Now he is learning to work in a new theater world with new talent.  From the moment I first saw The Band Wagon I was in love with it. Everything about this musical is fantastic, beautiful, and special.

East Side, West Side (1949)



“If I were your wife, I'd cut your heart out!”

            East Side, West Side feels like a film that could be made today: fill a poorly written script with a poorly written story with a whole bunch of well known and talented cast of actors and no one will care what the plot or story is about. The only way this stands out from really feeling like a film that could be made today is the cast of classic actors and actresses that today’s stars cannot compare to. Even with a crappy story the acting is still fantastic (well I had issues with James Mason as the lead but I’ll get to that in a bit.)

            Brandon Bourne (James Mason) is a cheating husband. He cheated on his wife Jessie (Barbara Stanwyck) some time ago with a beautifully seductive woman named Isabel Lorrison (do I even have to tell you who plays this part?). Jessie has forgiven her husband who has promised not to be the playboy he once was- he did chose to stay with her after all instead of running away with Isabel. One night after work Brandon decides to go out for a drink. He goes to this club where he meets a girl Rosa Senta (Cyd Charisse) who happens to know his wife from the dress shop she works at. Then who comes walking in but Jezebel herself Isabel Lorrison. She walks in with a new wealthy man. As Brandon leaves Isabel’s new man punches him in the face outside of the club and Rosa helps him. Unfortunately the press was waiting outside and got a picture of the young woman helping out the injured married man. 

            The next day the picture is splashed all over the front pages of the paper. Brandon explains that the girl helped him out and took him to her apartment until he got up and left (which is true he really did). Jessie believes him but she goes to talk to Rosa anyway.

            Rosa’s friend (or boyfriend not really sure) Mark Dwyer (Van Heflin) comes back from writing about the war in Italy. Jessie holds a party for his homecoming. After this night Mark and Jessie start to see each other, each has strong feelings for the other. Mark feels bad that Brandon is cheating on Jessie.

            Brandon is once again (somewhat) seeing Isabel. He makes the mistake of writing down her address and leaving work one day with Isabel. Jessie finds Isabel’s address and pays a visit to the woman. Isabel is determined to get Brandon away from Jessie. After some words Jessie leaves with Mark who has been sitting outside in his car.

            A while later Isabel is found dead by Brandon in her apartment. Both Bournes are the prime suspects in the murder.

            Put it this way: Isabel was not well liked by many.

            The whole reason I bought this film was for Ava Gardner. If there was ever a film that closely resembled her real life at the time it was this one. Isabel is a character that right when you see her you know she is up to absolutely no good. She’s seductive and knows how wrangle any man she wants. Isabel gets Brandon to take her home and she sits so seductively on the couch that I do not know how men when they went to see this in theaters did not jump onto the screen! In the same scene you can see that she gets under Brandon’s skin. Gardner played that scene so well you can see on her face that she knows she is getting under the man’s skin just by looking at her teasing face. I am currently reading a biography on Ava Gardner (called “Love is Nothing” by Lee Server which is so good) and when she went out men needed to be hidden by their girlfriends/wives for fear they would go home with her (in a sense) . Isabel is a man eater and so was Gardner. Before and during the filming of this film Gardner was having an affair with Robert Taylor who was at the time married to Barbara Stanwyck. Well that did not go over so well and Stanwyck did not even want to meet Gardner. The scene where Jessie and Isabel meet feels intense; probably because the atmosphere on set when the two ladies came face to face to do the scene was super intense. The acting in the scene was done so well by both actresses; Isabel is getting frustrated at Jessie not letting Brandon go so he could be with her and Jessie just remains as calm as possible.

            This was my first time seeing Barbara Stanwyck in a film. Although the film was not great and the character of Jessie someone seen over and over again I really liked Stanwyck she was very good and most importantly did not over act. I like her husky voice it was beautiful. Now I cannot wait to see her in other films.

            This was also my first time seeing Cyd Charisse not dancing in a film. It seems like MGM did not know what to do with her and just threw her into the role of Rosa Senta. She did a good job as well with her character but her acting is nothing to go on about (I love her I have a couple of films with her but they are the ones where she is mostly dancing.) I will say Charisse was totally adorable.

            I had issues with James Mason being the leading man. There was something about him I did not like at all. To me he was not believable as the cheating husband going around with a beautiful younger girl. Maybe this is so because I do not think he is good looking enough to attract the attention and fighting over from Ava Gardner (especially) and Barbara Stanwyck.

            East Side, West Side is an alright film, definitely not one of the best ever made. Ava Gardner in her brief but powerful scenes stole the whole film. After Isabel dies there was not too much to look forward to. See it for the good performances from Ava Gardner and Barbara Stanwyck but other than that there is nothing that interesting about it.