Words and Music film on DVD

This bio-pic of Richard Rodgers and Lorenz Hart, suffers the fate of many bio-pics of the era. It sugar-coats the significant problems of the lives of its subjects, while creating drama around things that didn't really happen. It doesn't really give a very good picture of either Rodgers and Hart's collaboration or their works. So I'll need to find some more authentic recordings of their shows, in the meantime I consider Words and Music from 1948.

There is a cavalcade of stars of the era in this film, making cameo appearances in songs from R & H's shows (that's the first R & H, not the second), and a lot of it seems miscast to me. "Johnny One Note" is a fantastic song, but not one for Judy Garland (sorry, friends of Dorothy). I've never cared for June Allyson and her plastered on smile wears thin with me in "Thou Swell". Betty Garrett sings a song that shows her Grand Canyon of a break. Perry Como and Mel Torme are wonderful singers, but crooning has no place in the songs of R & H. I didn't understand why the "Slaughter on 10th Avenue" was included; it's a great dance number, but doesn't show of Hart's creativity at all.

Perhaps, like was done with Cole Porter, there will be a modern-day film version of Rodgers and Harts lives to tell more of the real back-story and to show off more of their wonderful music.

Words & Music
Music by Richard Rodgers
Lyrics by Lorenz Hart
Film released in 1948
Cast: Mickey Rooney, Tom Drake, Janet Leigh, Vera Ellen, June Allyson, Judy Garland, Perry Como, Mel Torme, Betty Garrett

Judy Garland The Duets

I don't know much about how this compilation was put together, where or when the individual songs originally aired, or where or when the compilation was broadcast, but Judy Garland The Duets is a time-capsule of talent that was both new and old in the 1960s from the world of musical theater, musical film, and Big Band.

This is Judy in the later years, and while much of the music-making is exciting, it is sometimes hard to watch. You don't know if the mannerisms are due to something traumatic or are just mannerisms. Judy seems to need to hold on to everyone she sings with. Granted, given the frenetic pace of some of these medleys, she probably needed to hold on for dear life.

Some of the arrangements are wonderful, though, and I had not heard most of them. I particularly liked the version of the "Trolley Song" with Mel Torme. The medley of songs from West Side Story with Vic Damone was perhaps not the best selection.

Judy Duets
Music and lyrics by too many to name
Released on DVD in 2005
Cast: Judy Garland, Barbra Streisand, Tony Bennett, Ethel Merman, Bobby Darin, Count Bassie, Mickey Rooney, Lena Horne, Liza Minnelli, Peggy Lee, Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Mel Torme, Vic Damone

Ziegfeld Follies--film on DVD

Okay, it's time for me to get back to what I said I was going to listen to--Broadway cast albums. It's been so cold, I've been content to let the DVDs be delivered to my mailbox. And some of the Hollywood musicals have been interesting and worth seeing, but they are not really what gets my juices flowing. And in the dead of winter I need some juice.

Unfortunately, I didn't get much from the musical revue film Ziegfeld Follies. As this was a commercial success when released in 1946, I'm certain it attracted a good percentage of a generation being nostalgic about pre-War entertainment. But if this film is indicative of what a Follies show was like, then I'll give up ever being nostalgic. With a cast of thousands, as many stars as are in the heavens, and the entire set, costume, and music staffs of MGM studios, I could have hoped for better. I think this may be a case of too many cooks ruining the pot.

The comedy scenes (featuring Fanny Brice, Red Skelton and others) fall flat to me. They are probably classic vaudeville routines, but they didn't reach out to me across the footlights--well, really across the living room. The musical numbers--while often lavishly produced with a seemingly endless string of costumes, lighting effects and chorus girls--also did not arouse much interest in me.

There were three possible exceptions to my dim view which warrant mention. Lena Horne sings an interesting song "Love" that has a lovely melody, although needs a better B-section. Regardless, Ms. Horne is an incredibly watchable performer. The satire song that Judy Garland sings has potential, but doesn't get to its point quick enough. The routine of Gene Kelly and Fred Astaire has some very nice dancing.

I watched the extras to this DVD before watching the feature. Included is an interview with Kathryn Grayson who relates the story of her great dislike of the song by Roger Edens which she sings in the finale. While listening to this story, I thought "How bad can it be?" Well, stay tuned to the finale and listen to the cloying lyrics and go-nowhere melody of "Beauty."

Better yet, don't, and go to a real Broadway show instead.

Ziegfeld Follies of 1946
Music by who cares
Lyrics by many
Directed by Vincente Minnelli and others
Cast: Lucille Ball, Red Skelton, Fanny Brice, Fred Astaire, Kathryn Grayson, Gene Kelly, Lena Horne, Cyd Charrise, Judy Garland, Esther Williams

Cabin in the Sky film version

Apparently there is nothin' that the love of a good woman can't overcome--sickness, greed, sloth, wickedness, and early 20th Century African-American vaudeville stereotypes.

I had run across the title of the show for years, but didn't know anything about Cabin in the Sky, so I was actually surprised to learn it was an all-Black show. Well, this show has not lasted the test of time, due mostly to its very strong religious theme and its out-dated Black humor--with a capital B, meaning the people, not a lower-case b meaning dark. Oh, golly there is no way to be truly sensitive about this, so forgive me if I offend.

The plot is a sort of a "It's a Wonderful Life" story, with Little Joe (Eddie "Rochester" Anderson) not being truly wicked, but rather often straying from the path his wife Petunia (Ethel Waters, reprising her role from the stage version) and the Lord would wish him to take. When Little Joe is shot in a gambling ring, his immortal soul is fought over between Lucifer Jr. (Rex Ingram, also from the stage version) and the General of God's Army (Kenneth Spencer). Lena Horne is the vixen whose honey in the honeycomb is a temptation to Little Joe.

The music is a mish-mosh of styles, including some spiritual-like numbers, big band songs, and novelty acts. "Taking a chance on Love" is the song from the score that's continued to have a life outside the theater.

Cabin in the Sky
Music by Vernon Duke
Lyrics by John LaTouche
Book by Lynn Root
MGM film released in 1943 based on the Broadway musical of 1940

Directed by Vincente Minnelli

Cast: Ethel Waters, Lena Horne, Eddie "Rochester" Anderson, Louis Armstrong, Rex Ingram, Kenneth Spencer

The Wiz film on DVD

I had seen The Wiz on film a long time ago, possibly when it was released in 1978, but didn't remember how cleverly it used New York City icons and locations to tell its story. That was the most fun part of seeing the film again today.

Some of the music holds up to the test of time, but a lot of performances don't. Diana Ross's Dorothy is rather two-dimensional and doesn't even improve much when she's given some beautiful songs to sing. Michael Jackson seems to have the most fun as the Scarecrow relying on dance ability to keep his performance lively. And it's nice to know that Nipsey Russell should be remembered for something other than Match Game.

Poor Lena Horne is hampered by a very static camera position during her one number; it makes her look like she's been stapled to that starry backdrop with the baby/angels all around her. Ms. Ross suffers the same fate while singing "When I think of Home" at the end of the film.


The Wiz
Music and Lyrics by Charlie Smalls
Book by William F. Brown
Film directed by Sidney Lumet
Released by Universal in 1978
Cast: Diana Ross, Michael Jackson, Nipsey Russell, Ted Ross, Richard Pryor, Mabel King