It's pure Hollywood invention on film for today--no Broadway antecedent, unless you count On The Town which is sort of a pre-quel to It's Always Fair Weather.
The stories for both Town and Weather come from the pens of Comden and Green, who between their stage and screens credits are leading the race for the most mentions in my Year's entries. The two stories also each feature three WWII GIs; In Town it is sailors on 24-hour leave in Manhattan. In Weather, we have three soldiers who reunite 10 years after they are discharged.
I have only heard of Michael Kidd as a choreographer; I didn't know about his cinematic past. I had never heard of Dan Dailey at all, although his bio says he was a former vaudevillian who was also in the original cast of Babes in Arms on Broadway. Both have a likable screen and musical presence, although they pale a bit in comparison to Gene Kelly's wattage. I'm sure that was part of the point of their being cast.
The story of this film is very down, and the behind-the-scenes extras on the DVD rightly credits that aspect with the film's initial failure. There are some wonderful dance and musical moments, but they didn't add up to enough to draw me into this film.
One bright spot in the show is Dolores Gray who does an hysterical turn as a television talk show host and musical performer--imagine Dinah Shore meets Rachael Ray. No Rachael is too folksy, but I can't think of another female talk show host I find as cloying as Ms. Ray. Anyway, Ms. Gray is a versatile musical performer who portrayed Lalume in in the film version of Kismet, had starred as Annie Oakley in the London production of Annie Get Your Gun, and was nominated for a Tony award for Destry Rides Again on Broadway (directed and choreographed by Michael Kidd).
The late Cyd Charisse is the leading lady opposite Mr. Kelly, and while I find the dancing Ms. Charisse performs in the film to be wonderful, her character and performance left me dry. The music as provided by Andre Previn and the legendary Arthur Freed Unit--ditto.
It's Always Fair Weather
Music by Andre Previn
Book and lyrics by Betty Comden and Adolph Green
Released by MGM in 1955
Cast: Gene Kelly, Michael Kidd, Dan Dailey, Cyd Charisse, Dolores Grey,
Directed by Kelly and Stanley Donen
Music by Andre Previn
Book and lyrics by Betty Comden and Adolph Green
Released by MGM in 1955
Cast: Gene Kelly, Michael Kidd, Dan Dailey, Cyd Charisse, Dolores Grey,
Directed by Kelly and Stanley Donen
1 comment:
This is one of my favorite musicals despite it's weaknesses. The performances by Dailey, and Cyd are fantastic. Kelly is well above par as one would expect. It's a shame that Kidd's solo was cut from the original release because it highlights his considerable skills. The best number by far is Dolores Gray's. I love how she uses her erotic allure to induce the self sacrifice of the dancing dandies. The movie seems to be a bit of an experiment in that it's really the first pessimistic musical.
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