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men dancing and musicals
While out working today, I picked up a few second-hand videos. 'Easter Parade' was a must. It's worth it just for Fred Astaire's dance routine in the toy shop, not to mention him and Judy Garland doing 'We're a couple of swells'. It's a superb film for both music and dance.
Then, I came home to watch Gene Kelly in 'The Three Musketeers'. There isn't any actual dancing in it, but Gene Kelly's dance training shows in all the sword-fighting scenes. There's a wonderful grace to the way he moves and the way the fights are choreographed. I'm reminded of 'Singing in the Rain' whenever I watch him move.
Why don't modern films have these fantastic tap-dance routines? Where are the Fred Astaires and the Gene Kellys of today? We have hunky men and violent men and pretty men, but where are the dancers?
And where are the musicals? Another purchase was 'Gigi'. Worth the price just for Maurice Chevalier singing 'Thank heaven for little girls'.
There's nothing like a good musical when you're feeling blue. A good musical has an energy and a vivacity that carries you through it with joy. You forgive all the totally predictable plots and just sit back and enjoy! Musicals are to carry you away, to have you singing 'Black Hills of Dakota' in 'Calamity Jane' (and to set aside all you ever knew about the real history of the period and the character).
There was a time when I grew up and grew out of musicals, and I stopped thinking 'The Sound of Music' was fantastic. I decided they were unbelievable and predictable and cliched. I even thought carnivals were silly and pointless. Then, fortunately, I grew up a little more and realised that parades and musicals had no purpose other than to be enjoyed. So, I'm jolly well going to enjoy them. All I need now is a second-hand copy of Showboat. Ever since![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
dougs sang 'Old Man River' for the ceilidh workshop at Redemption, I've had a hankering to hear the song again.
Then, I came home to watch Gene Kelly in 'The Three Musketeers'. There isn't any actual dancing in it, but Gene Kelly's dance training shows in all the sword-fighting scenes. There's a wonderful grace to the way he moves and the way the fights are choreographed. I'm reminded of 'Singing in the Rain' whenever I watch him move.
Why don't modern films have these fantastic tap-dance routines? Where are the Fred Astaires and the Gene Kellys of today? We have hunky men and violent men and pretty men, but where are the dancers?
And where are the musicals? Another purchase was 'Gigi'. Worth the price just for Maurice Chevalier singing 'Thank heaven for little girls'.
There's nothing like a good musical when you're feeling blue. A good musical has an energy and a vivacity that carries you through it with joy. You forgive all the totally predictable plots and just sit back and enjoy! Musicals are to carry you away, to have you singing 'Black Hills of Dakota' in 'Calamity Jane' (and to set aside all you ever knew about the real history of the period and the character).
There was a time when I grew up and grew out of musicals, and I stopped thinking 'The Sound of Music' was fantastic. I decided they were unbelievable and predictable and cliched. I even thought carnivals were silly and pointless. Then, fortunately, I grew up a little more and realised that parades and musicals had no purpose other than to be enjoyed. So, I'm jolly well going to enjoy them. All I need now is a second-hand copy of Showboat. Ever since
dougs sang 'Old Man River' for the ceilidh workshop at Redemption, I've had a hankering to hear the song again.
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Ironically, this happened to puppetry in the UK when puppets were used by an enthusiasts for many early children's TV shows. There ceased being any puppet shows done for adults, though many countries have a tradition of puppetry for all ages.
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