Tag: 2017 Challenge

Movie Musical Challenge: The Band Wagon

Posted April 5, 2017 by Charlotte in Movie Musical Challenge! / 0 Comments
Movie Musical Challenge: The Band Wagon

For this Movie Musical Challenge I’m using the AFI’s 25 Best Musicals List to try and work my way through. The challenge is throughout the year and once watched I’ll put my thoughts up on the blog. So the  fourth  movie for the challenge is The Band Wagon (1953), starring Fred Astaire and Cyd Charisse. One of my favourite songs was ”That’s Entertainment!’ a song that is hugely and instantly recognisable.  And the creepy “Triplets” song which is performed on knees – this song is somehow entertaining but in a sinister way. Backstage shenanigans mix effortlessly with show tunes. And the dances seem to fit right in. For me this is a hidden gem. Despite being a classic it doesn’t seem to be on everyone’s to watch list. For this is was a good thing as I didn’t know what to expect so expectation were low. This is a great little musical to watch on a rainy weekend. This film show sometimes its not the best idea to jump on the Band Wagon and follow the crowd. Sometimes you have to be your own self […]

Movie Musical Challenge: Guys and Dolls

Posted March 29, 2017 by Charlotte in Movie Musical Challenge! / 0 Comments
Movie Musical Challenge: Guys and Dolls

For this Movie Musical Challenge I’m using the AFI’s 25 Best Musicals List to try and work my way through. The challenge is throughout the year and once watched I’ll put my thoughts up on the blog. The third movie for the challenge is Guys and Dolls (1955), starring Marlon Brando, Jean Simmons, Frank Sinatra and Vivian Blaine. Having watched this last year as  part of my 2016 Musical Challenge I wasn’t sure if I really wanted to watch this musical all over again. Yes I loved the music and the stylised dancing. All the songs in this show are pretty catchy, including ‘A Bushel and a Peck’, ‘ Luck Be a Lady’ and ‘Sit Down, You’re Rockin’ the Boat’. And I thought that the casting was pretty perfect,  Vivan Blain is perfect as Adelaide, and paired with Frank Sinatra as Nathan the duo are unstoppable. But it is  Marlon Brando and Jean Simmons, for me, as Sky and Sarah who steal the show. Theirs is a relationship I actually root for, and enjoyed more than Adelaide and Nathan, I wish there had been more of Sky and Sarah. I loved […]

Movie Musical Challenge: West Side Story

Posted March 22, 2017 by Charlotte in Movie Musical Challenge! / 0 Comments
Movie Musical Challenge: West Side Story

For this Movie Musical Challenge I’m using the AFI’s 25 Best Musicals List to try and work my way through. The challenge is throughout the year and once watched I’ll put my thoughts up on the blog. So the second movie for the challenge is West Side Story (1961), starring Natalie Wood, Richard Beymer, Russ Tamblyn, Rita Moreno, and George Chakiris. I reviewed this last year as part of my 2016 Movie Musical Challenge. And if I am being honest my opinion of this musical has not changed. It is a classic, moving and beautiful, a hypnotic musical that shows that the world is a stage. Again the gritty undertone of the musical hits home.  As this retelling of a musical west side Romeo and Juliet focuses on gang warfare, racial dispute and crime. Despite the mesmerising dancing and delicious songs. ‘Tonight’, ‘America’ and ‘I Feel Pretty’ are still my three favourite songs in this musical but each song shows off the talent and skills of the cast and story, while keeping the whimsical nature of a classic musical. This was an atmospheric […]

Movie Musical Challenge: 42nd Street

Posted February 27, 2017 by Charlotte in Movie Musical Challenge! / 0 Comments
Movie Musical Challenge: 42nd Street

For this Movie Musical Challenge I’m using the AFI’s 25 Best Musicals List to try and work my way through. The challenge is throughout the year and once watched I’ll put my thoughts up on the blog. So the second  movie for the challenge is the one and only 42nd Street (1933), starring Warner Baxter, Ruby Keeler, Dick Powell and Ginger Rogers. This is a brilliant movie, but I’m not sure that this can really be classed as a musical, if I am being totally honest. Yes there is songs and yes there is singing. But the songs all seem to come at the end with a couple thrown in the middle for good measure. 7 In fact there is only five songs in the entire production. So out of all of them my favourite has to be ‘You’re Getting To Be A Habit With Me’. But all five songs in the production are lively and fun to watch. 42nd Street is skillfully directed and is a fast-paced musical, and while it plays to some clichés , its light hearted manner means that this film will leave you with a smile […]

Movie Musical Challenge: Show Boat

Posted February 15, 2017 by Charlotte in Challenges, Movie Musical Challenge! / 0 Comments
Movie Musical Challenge: Show Boat

For this Movie Musical Challenge I’m using the AFI’s 25 Best Musicals List to try and work my way through. The challenge is throughout the year and once watched I’ll put my thoughts up on the blog.   So the first movie for the challenge is Showboat (1936), staring Irene Dunne and Allan Jones. Having watched the 1951 version starring Howard Keele and Kathryn Grayson I was a bit dubious to watch the 1936 version. Even if it is on the top 25 list.  What with is garish colours and choppy story-line. But seen the original I can see how much they changed the story and actually did a poor adaption. Sometimes a classic is better left alone. And this is on of those times. While these songs are not ones that I instantly recognise, or ones that I could sing straight away. But they instantly hit home. Some of my favourites include ‘Ol’ Man River’, ‘Can’t Help Lovin’ Dat Man’ and ‘Make Believe’. Paul Robeson with his booming deep voice makes his scenes a pleasure to watch. And makes the songs he sing sound unique and […]