Released – October, 1951 

Directed By - Vincente Minnelli

Starring – Gene Kelly (Jerry Mulligan), Leslie Caron (Lise Bouvier), Oscar Levant (Adam Cook), Georges Guetary (Henri “Hank” Baurel), Nina Foch (Milo Roberts).

Description – Free-spirited American expatriate Jerry Mulligan is trying to make a name for himself painting in Paris. It looks as though good luck has finally come his way when he is “discovered” by society woman Milo Roberts.

However, looks can be deceiving as Milo is interested in more than Jerry’s paintings. Unaware, or possibly just ignoring her advances, Jerry meets and falls in love with Franch girl Lise whom he meets at a restaurant. While Lise would like to return those feelings she is already involved with Henri to whom she feels indebted for having saved her family during the war.

A wonderfully enjoyable musical ride to true love.

NOTABLE: In 1993 this film was selected for inclusion in the United States National Film Registry.

In 2006 the American Film Institute ranked this as #9 in their list of 100 Years of Musicals.

This motion picture won six Academy Awards that included Best Picture, Best Writing, Story and Screenplay, Best Music, Scoring of a Musical Picture, Best Costume Design, Color, Best Cinematography, Color, and Best Art Direction-Set Decoration, Color. There were two more nominations for Best Director (Vincente Minnelli), and Best Film Editing.

In addition, Gene Kelly received an honory Academy Award for “his versatility as an actor, singer, director and dancer, and specifically for his brilliant achievements in the art of choreography on film.”

Actress Cyd Charisse was originally cast in the role of Lise Bouvier but had to be replaced when she discovered she was pregnant.

This film was the first for Leslie Caron who was discovered performing in a ballet by Gene Kelly while vacationing in Paris.

The beautiful climatic 17-18 minute dance sequence cost $500,000. and took a whole month to film.

Personal Comment: Over the years I have gone back and forth in my personal opinion as to who was the better dancer – Fred Astaire or Gene Kelly. I finally realized I was comparing apples with oranges. Fred Astaire exuded sophistication and class, while Gene Kelly added the elements of athleticism and sensuality. They were both the best at what each did.

An American in Paris (Two-Disc Special Edition)

An American in Paris [Blu-ray]

Gene Kelly Collection (Singin’ in the Rain / An American in Paris / On the Town / Anatomy of a Dancer)

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Released - September, 1951 

Directed By - George Sidney

Starring – Kathryn Grayson (Magnolia Hawks), Ava Gardner (Julie LaVerne), Howard Keel (Gaylord Ravenal), Joe E. Brown (Captain Andy Hawks), Marge Champion (Ellie May Shipley), Gower Champion (Frank Shultz).

Description – Based on the novel by Edna Ferber this lavish Technicolor production is one of MGM’s most popular musicals. This is the story of life and love on a Mississippi show boat featuring many classic and timeless songs from Jerome Kern and Oscar Hammerstein II.

Julie LaVerne and her husband Steve Baker are forced to leave the show boat ‘Cotton Blossom’ when it is revealed that Julie is mixed race. Taking over their jobs as the show boat’s main attraction are Captain Andy Hawks daughter  Magnolia and gambler Gaylord Ravenal.

The two are immediately attracted to each other, marry and leave for a whirlwind honeymoon. It doesn’t take long for gambler Gaylord to lose Magnolia’s fortune and for her to realize that nothing is more important to Gaylord than his gambling. An added complication – Magnolia is pregnant.

NOTABLE: This motion picture received two Academy Award nominations: Best Cinematography, Color and Best Music, Scoring of a Musical Picture.

Ava Gardner’s singing voice was dubbed by Annette Warren.

While not all critics praised this film, they all agreed that the music was teriffic; especially, the performance of “Ol” Man River” by William Warfield.

Judy Garland was the original choice to play Julie LaVerne, but she had ended her relationship with MGM.

The water scenes depicting the Mississippi River were in fact, filmed at the lake used for the Johnny Weissmuller MGM Tarzan movies.

Personal Comment: While not faithful to previous versions of the film, or the 1927 stage version, this is never-the-less a treat for the eyes and ears. A beautiful and handsome production with one of the best movie scores ever.

Show Boat

TCM Greatest Classic Films Collection: Broadway Musicals (Show Boat / Annie Get Your Gun / Kiss Me Kate / Seven Brides for Seven Brothers)

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Released – July, 1951 

Directed By - Roy Del Ruth

Starring - Doris Day (Marjorie Winfield), Gordon MacRae (William Sherman), Billy Gray (Wesley Winfield), Jack Smith (Hubert Wakely), Leon Ames (George Winfield), Rosemary DeCamp (Alice Winfield).

Description – A charming romantic musical comedy about the Winfield family and their move to a small town in Indiana. Tomboy Marjorie Winfield is smitten with the neighborhood boy William Sherman who is a local college hero and may be going into military service.

For this romance to work two problems must be overcome. First, Marjorie must tame her tomboyish ways learning to be a little more ladylike and also learning to dance. The second problem may pose a little more of a problem.

Marjorie’s dad is not crazy about neighbor William who he feels has some crazy ideas about marriage and money.  True love never runs smooth, even in small town Indiana.

NOTABLE: This film proved to be so popular with audiences that Warner Brothers immediately began production on a sequel (By The Light of the Silvery Moon) with the same cast playing the same characters.

On Moonlight Bay

The Doris Day Collection, Vol. 2 (Romance on the High Seas / My Dream Is Yours / On Moonlight Bay / I’ll See You in My Dreams / By the Light of the Silvery Moon / Lucky Me)

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Released – May, 1950 

Directed By - George Sidney, Busby Berkeley, Charles Walters

Starring – Betty Hutton (Annie Oakley), Howard Keel (Frank Butler), Clinton Sundberg (Foster Wilson), J. Carrol Naish (Chief Sitting Bull), Louis Calhern (Buffalo Bill Cody).

Description – This film is based on the 1946 Broadway play about the life of sharpshooter Annie Oakley who falls for Frank Butler who is himself a sharpshooter and personal rival with Buffalo Bill’s Wild West Show.

While Annie is ‘doing what comes naturally,’ Frank says he has his own idea regarding just what ‘the girl I marry must be’.  Will some great musical romance lead to love? 

NOTABLE: This motion picture won an Oscar for Best Music, Scoring of a Musical Picture, and was also nominated for Best Art Directon-Set Decoration, Color, Best Cinematography, Color, and Best Film Editing.

Judy Garland was originally slated for the role of Annie, but had to leave the production due to illness.

During filming, Howard Keel had a horse fall on him resulting in a broken leg.

A record for its time, the film rights to the Broadway play sold for $650,000.

Betty Hutton received some cold and rude treatment from the crew of the film who stated they would rather have Garland in the role.  However, after watching a screening of a re-mastered version of the film the surviving members of the cast and crew gave high praise for Hutton’s work in the film.

In addition to the original casting of Judy Garland in the role of Annie, both Doris Day and Judy Canova were considered.

Actor Frank Morgan, who appeared with Garland in The Wizard of Oz, began in the role of Buffalo Bill, but unfortunatly died during filming and was replaced by Louis Calhern.

Personal Comment:  Sadly, not long after the production of this film, Judy Garland’s ill health and some additional personal problems would lead to the end of her career with MGM.

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