It’s the 1920s and talking pictures are coming into fashion.
Stars of the silent films, Don (Gene Kelly) and Lina (Jean Hagen), have to move
with the times but Lina has a hilariously bad voice and their acting in silent
films isn’t coming across so well now. The only solution? Make it a musical!
That’s pretty much the solution to everything.
We need to have a talk because I do not understand. Why, in
older films, do people kiss so strangely? It’s not just me, right? You can all
see it too? It’s like they just press their faces against each other and… that’s
it. Or sometimes there’s some dramatic swivelling. I can’t describe it well but
it just looks so awkward. Kissing doesn’t look like that, I don’t understand
why they would do that. It’s not so bad when Don and Kathy (Debbie Reynolds)
kiss but the rest of the time it’s just so bad. And, while I’ve got you here, a
lot of the dresses are just so shapeless. It’s like they are wearing frilly
sacks. Fashion of the time, I guess, but how did anyone ever think they looked
good? Granted I don’t know a heck of a lot about dresses but surely a bit of
shape is key, no? Another thing I don’t understand.
Don jumps from a tram and lands in Kathy’s car. They bicker
and she tells him he’s not a real actor and he just seems to be half in love
with her already. It didn’t even seem odd that he was instantly
taken with her and then he doesn’t get to see her for a while but he can’t stop
thinking about her. Eventually they get to spend time together and he convinces
her to sing Lina’s lines for her. And because I mention it with every other
film, I can’t start missing it out now: the way he’s looking at her when she’s
singing is just the best. He looks absolutely smitten, I was so happy just
watching him watch her.
For some reason I was convinced I wasn’t going to like this
film but it turns out I absolutely loved it. Everybody is so cheeky and sweet.
What I wouldn’t give to be able to dance and sing, let me tell you.
8/10
I'm glad you enjoyed it! If you ever end up watching a more recent musical film, a huge bonus of these old musicals is that during dance scenes they actually stick to one camera angle instead of changing it every split second so you can't actually see what they're doing. The whole routine they do for Good Morning is just incredible and impeccably done. Big love.
ReplyDeleteI totally know what you mean about kissing in old films though. I watched Rear Window last night and I was thinking exactly what you wrote in this post.
Totally agree with the Good Morning routine being incredible. I could've just watched the three of them dancing and singing without any plot. They were so wonderful to watch.
ReplyDeleteRear Window is brilliant. It's a shame because I'm sure Grace Kelly and James Stewart are probably great kissers but they don't get to show it off. Boo to censorship!
Still waiting on my picks :P.
ReplyDeleteYou get one pick for February and the rest will be scattered through the rest of the year.
ReplyDeleteI should have picked 365 titles! I'll know for the 2014 film-a-day sessions ;).
DeleteStudied this film at uni so was entirely convinced it'd be ruined for me. I think it's a testament to how good it really is that I still love it so much, even after all the "in depth analysis"..
ReplyDelete