The final entry... Judy and Jack, as a divorced couple, bump into one another with their respective dates at a nightclub and try to outdo one another on the dance floor. Their dueling mambo is both hilarious and sublime.
The film: “Phffft!” (1954)
The director: Mark Robson
The number: "Mambo!"
The composer: Frederick Hollander
The choreograher: Jack Cole
The dancers: Judy Holliday and Jack Lemmon
The cinematographer: Charles Lang
The editor: Charles Nelson
The production designer: William Flannery
a fan's notes by joe baltake devoted to movies neglected and mostly misunderstood
Sunday, April 29, 2012
Saturday, April 28, 2012
beyond fred, ginger & gene
Bogdanovich's elegant screwball-of-a-musical hit its first of many peaks with a loose-limbed rendition of a Cole Porter fave, sung "live," natch.
The film: “At Long Last Love” (1975)
The director: Peter Bogdanovich
The number: “Friendship”
The composer: Cole Porter
The singers: Burt Reynolds, Cybill Shepherd, Madeline Kahn and Duilio Del Prete
The choreograhers: Improvised by the cast, with coordination by Albert Lantieri and Rita Abrams
The dancers: Reynolds, Shepherd, Kahn and Del Prete
The cinematographer: László Kovács
The editor: Douglas Robertson
The production designer: Gene All
The film: “At Long Last Love” (1975)
The director: Peter Bogdanovich
The number: “Friendship”
The composer: Cole Porter
The singers: Burt Reynolds, Cybill Shepherd, Madeline Kahn and Duilio Del Prete
The choreograhers: Improvised by the cast, with coordination by Albert Lantieri and Rita Abrams
The dancers: Reynolds, Shepherd, Kahn and Del Prete
The cinematographer: László Kovács
The editor: Douglas Robertson
The production designer: Gene All
Friday, April 27, 2012
beyond fred, ginger & gene
An eruptive moment from John Landis' best film (hands-down, friends) brought James Brown, the king of soul, together with two game white-boy wannabes and a chorus line that wouldn't sit down, shut up or let up.
The film: “The Blues Brothers” (1980)
The director: John Landis
The number: “Old Landmark”
The composer: James Brown
The singers: Brown and chorus
The choreograher: Carlton Johnson
The dancers: The ensemble
The cinematographer: Stephen M. Katz
The editor: George Folsey Jr.
The production designer: John J. Lloyd
The film: “The Blues Brothers” (1980)
The director: John Landis
The number: “Old Landmark”
The composer: James Brown
The singers: Brown and chorus
The choreograher: Carlton Johnson
The dancers: The ensemble
The cinematographer: Stephen M. Katz
The editor: George Folsey Jr.
The production designer: John J. Lloyd
beyond fred, ginger & gene
"Again! Again! Again!," Paul Wallace shouts to Natalie in this arousing choreographed sex act designed by Jerome Robbins for the legendary Broadway original and, thanks to a very smart Mervyn LeRoy, recreated for the screen by Robbins' stage assistant, Robert Tucker.
The film: “Gypsy” (1962)
The director: Mervyn LeRoy
The number: “All I Need Is the Girl”
The composers: Jule Styne and Stephen Sondheim
The singer: Paul Wallace
The choreograher: Jerome Robbins, recreated by Robert Tucker
The dancers: Wallace and Natalie Wood
The cinematographer: Harry Stradling Sr.
The editor: Philip W. Anderson
The production designer: John Beckman
The film: “Gypsy” (1962)
The director: Mervyn LeRoy
The number: “All I Need Is the Girl”
The composers: Jule Styne and Stephen Sondheim
The singer: Paul Wallace
The choreograher: Jerome Robbins, recreated by Robert Tucker
The dancers: Wallace and Natalie Wood
The cinematographer: Harry Stradling Sr.
The editor: Philip W. Anderson
The production designer: John Beckman
Wednesday, April 25, 2012
beyond fred, ginger & gene
A number that was merely sung in the Broadway original is reconceived and redefined in an outlandishly stylish way for the screen by the ever-inventive Hermès Pan, who came up with a veritable choreographic reverie.
The film: "Flower Drum Song" (1961)
The director: Henry Koster
The number: "Sunday"
The composers: Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II
The singers: B.J. Baker (for Nancy Kwan) and Jack Soo
The choreograher: Hermès Pan
The dancers: Kwan, Soo and company
The cinematographer: Russell Metty
The editor: Milton Carruth
The production designers: Alexander Golitzen and Joseph C. Wright
The film: "Flower Drum Song" (1961)
The director: Henry Koster
The number: "Sunday"
The composers: Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II
The singers: B.J. Baker (for Nancy Kwan) and Jack Soo
The choreograher: Hermès Pan
The dancers: Kwan, Soo and company
The cinematographer: Russell Metty
The editor: Milton Carruth
The production designers: Alexander Golitzen and Joseph C. Wright
Tuesday, April 24, 2012
beyond fred, ginger & gene
Yes, Astaire and Kelly were brilliant, as they kept reminding us (especially the latter, Hollywood's most endearing egomaniac), but for my money, the athletic, hyper-masculine and criminally overlooked Gene Nelson could keep up with them - and then some. Just take a look and become a believer.
The film: "She’s Working Her Way Through College”(1952)
The director: Bruce Humberstone
The number: “Am I In Love?”
The composers: Harry Warren and Al Dubin
The choreographer: LeRoy Prinz
The singer-dancer: Gene Nelson
The cinematographer: Wilfred M. Cline
The editor: Clarence Kolster
The production designer: Charles H. Clarke
The film: "She’s Working Her Way Through College”(1952)
The director: Bruce Humberstone
The number: “Am I In Love?”
The composers: Harry Warren and Al Dubin
The choreographer: LeRoy Prinz
The singer-dancer: Gene Nelson
The cinematographer: Wilfred M. Cline
The editor: Clarence Kolster
The production designer: Charles H. Clarke
beyond fred, ginger & gene
A curiously neglected film musical, Frank's "Li'l Abner" was successfully stylized in ways that Mankiewicz's "Guys and Dolls" wasn't, as personified by the vivid "Sadie Hawkins Day Ballet," wisely lifted directly from Michael Kidd's Broadway original by Dee Dee Wood.
The film: “Li’l Abner” (1959)
The director: Melvin Frank
The number: "Sadie Hawkins Day Ballet"
The composer: Gene De Paul
The choreograher: Michael Kidd, recreated by Dee Dee Wood
The dancers: The ensemble
The cinematographer: Daniel L. Fapp
The editor: Arthur P. Schmidt
The production designers: J. McMillan Johnson and Hal Pereira
The film: “Li’l Abner” (1959)
The director: Melvin Frank
The number: "Sadie Hawkins Day Ballet"
The composer: Gene De Paul
The choreograher: Michael Kidd, recreated by Dee Dee Wood
The dancers: The ensemble
The cinematographer: Daniel L. Fapp
The editor: Arthur P. Schmidt
The production designers: J. McMillan Johnson and Hal Pereira
beyond fred, ginger & gene
It's way too short, lasting perhaps less than a minute, and for some reason, director Bridges opted to film it in shadows, but is any dance on film more endearing than Debra Winger and John Travolta's wedding waltz to Anne Murray's achingly beautiful rendition of “Could I Have This Dance (for the Rest of My Life)?”? I think not.
The film: "Urban Cowboy" (1980)
The director: James Bridges (1987)
The number: “Could I Have This Dance (for the Rest of My Life)?”
The composers: Wayland Holyfield and Bob House
The singer: Anne Murray
The choreograhers: Lisa Niemi and Patsy Swayze
The dancers: John Travolta and Debra Winger
The cinematographer: Reynaldo Villalobos
The editor: David Rawlins
The production designer: Stephen Grimes
The film: "Urban Cowboy" (1980)
The director: James Bridges (1987)
The number: “Could I Have This Dance (for the Rest of My Life)?”
The composers: Wayland Holyfield and Bob House
The singer: Anne Murray
The choreograhers: Lisa Niemi and Patsy Swayze
The dancers: John Travolta and Debra Winger
The cinematographer: Reynaldo Villalobos
The editor: David Rawlins
The production designer: Stephen Grimes
Monday, April 23, 2012
beyond fred, ginger & gene
For reasons sadly transparent, more than 50 years later, Rita Moreno continues to downgrade Natalie Wood, commenting in an AFI interview that WSS "had no major stars. Natalie Wood was not a major star! The movie was the star!" Sorry, Moreno, you're wrong. Natalie's delicate rooftop dance, created especially for her by Jerome Robbins, is more classic than all your ligament-spraining kicks in the racist "America!" number.
The film: “West Side Story” (1961)
The directors: Robert Wise & Jerome Robbins
The number: “Maria’s Rooftop Dance” (“Maria”)
The composer: Leonard Bernstein
The choreographer: Robbins
The dancer: Natalie Wood
The cinematographer: Daniel L. Fapp
The editor: Thomas Stanford
The production designer: Boris Leven
The film: “West Side Story” (1961)
The directors: Robert Wise & Jerome Robbins
The number: “Maria’s Rooftop Dance” (“Maria”)
The composer: Leonard Bernstein
The choreographer: Robbins
The dancer: Natalie Wood
The cinematographer: Daniel L. Fapp
The editor: Thomas Stanford
The production designer: Boris Leven
Sunday, April 22, 2012
beyond fred, ginger & gene
Yes, Fosse again. Working under Abbott and Donen and Adler and Ross for the first time (later joining them all for "Damn Yankees" a year later), with the two very smart directors apparently giving him free reign.
The film: Warner Bros.' 1957 movie adaptation of “The Pajama Game"
The directors: George Abbott and Stanley Donen
The number: “Once-a-Year Day”
The composers: Jerry Ross and Richard Adler
The singers: John Raitt and Doris Day
The choreographer: Bob Fosse
The dancers: Carol Haney, Buzz Miller, Kenneth LeRoy and company
The cinematographer: Harry Stradling Sr.
The editor: William H. Ziegler
The production designer: Malcolm C. Bert
The film: Warner Bros.' 1957 movie adaptation of “The Pajama Game"
The directors: George Abbott and Stanley Donen
The number: “Once-a-Year Day”
The composers: Jerry Ross and Richard Adler
The singers: John Raitt and Doris Day
The choreographer: Bob Fosse
The dancers: Carol Haney, Buzz Miller, Kenneth LeRoy and company
The cinematographer: Harry Stradling Sr.
The editor: William H. Ziegler
The production designer: Malcolm C. Bert
beyond fred, ginger & gene
A film that has special meaning - the first one that I saw in Sacramento when I went to work for McClatchy. I saw it at the Capitol Theater (long gone) and I lost myself at Kellerman's Lodge (also long gone), where Jack Weston and Lonny Price kept their employees truly subordinate - except for Johnny Castle. Nobody put him in a corner; ditto for Baby Houseman.
The film: "Dirty Dancing" (1987)
The director: Emil Ardolino
The number: “(I Had) The Time of My Life”
The composers-singers: Bill Medley and Jennifer Warren
The choreographer: Kenny Ortega
The dancers: Patrick Swayze, Jennifer Grey and company
The cinematographer: Jeff Jur
The editor: Peter C. Frank
The production designer: David Chapman
The film: "Dirty Dancing" (1987)
The director: Emil Ardolino
The number: “(I Had) The Time of My Life”
The composers-singers: Bill Medley and Jennifer Warren
The choreographer: Kenny Ortega
The dancers: Patrick Swayze, Jennifer Grey and company
The cinematographer: Jeff Jur
The editor: Peter C. Frank
The production designer: David Chapman
Wednesday, April 18, 2012
beyond fred, ginger & gene
Nearly a decade before "Glee," this was Todd Graff's “Camp,” a disarming 2003 film about a musical-theater camp for kids. The movie includes bits from a couple dozen songs by the likes of Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Stephen Sondheim and Winnie Holzman, but the highlight is the full staging of a number from the Hal David-Burt Bacharach musical-comedy, "Promises, Promises," with choreographer Jerry Mitchell recreating Michael Bennett's dance moves from the Broadway original. This is about as close as "Promises, Promises" will ever get to the big screen.
The number: “Turkey Lurkey Time”
The composer: Hal David and Burt Bacharach
The singers: Alana Allen, Dequina Moore, Tracee Beazer and company
The choreographer: Jerry Mitchell, based on Michael Bennett’s original staging
The dancers: Allen, Moore, Beazer and company
The cinematographer: Kip Bogdahn
The editor: Myron I. Kerstein
The production designer: Dina Goldman
The number: “Turkey Lurkey Time”
The composer: Hal David and Burt Bacharach
The singers: Alana Allen, Dequina Moore, Tracee Beazer and company
The choreographer: Jerry Mitchell, based on Michael Bennett’s original staging
The dancers: Allen, Moore, Beazer and company
The cinematographer: Kip Bogdahn
The editor: Myron I. Kerstein
The production designer: Dina Goldman
Tuesday, April 17, 2012
beyond fred, ginger & gene
Perhaps the most unlikely dance team - Debra Winger and Nick Nolte - hoot it up in this charming scene from David S. Ward's 1982 film of "Cannery Row."
The number: “Take Five”
The composer: Paul Desmond
The choreographer: Lou Wills
The dancers: Nick Nolte and Debra Winger
The cinematographer: Sven Nykvist
The editor: David Bretherton
The production designer: Richard Macdonald
The number: “Take Five”
The composer: Paul Desmond
The choreographer: Lou Wills
The dancers: Nick Nolte and Debra Winger
The cinematographer: Sven Nykvist
The editor: David Bretherton
The production designer: Richard Macdonald
Monday, April 16, 2012
beyond fred, ginger & gene
Fosse. Again. Yes. His 1969 film adaptation of "Sweet Charity" was written off in its day. Hastily so. And so was Fosse as a filmmaker. For some bizarre reason, the overrated "Cabaret" changed all that. But "Charity" is the better film. As this sequence demonstrates.
The number: “There’s Got to be Someplace Better Than This”
The composers: Cy Coleman and lyric by Dorothy Fields
The singers: Shirley MacLaine, Chita Rivera and Paula Kelly
The choreographer: Bob Fosse
The dancers: MacLaine, Rivera and Kelly
The cinematographer: Robert Surtees
The editor: Stuart Gilmore
The production designers: Alexander Golitzen and George C. Webb
The number: “There’s Got to be Someplace Better Than This”
The composers: Cy Coleman and lyric by Dorothy Fields
The singers: Shirley MacLaine, Chita Rivera and Paula Kelly
The choreographer: Bob Fosse
The dancers: MacLaine, Rivera and Kelly
The cinematographer: Robert Surtees
The editor: Stuart Gilmore
The production designers: Alexander Golitzen and George C. Webb
Sunday, April 15, 2012
beyond fred, ginger & gene
“Footloose.” 1984. Directed by Herbert Ross. This is for Chris Penn.
The number: “Let’s Hear It for the Boy”
The composer-singer: Deniece Williams
The choreographer: Lynn Taylor-Corbett
The dancers: Kevin Bacon and Chris Penn
The cinematographer: Ric Waite
The editor: Paul Hirsch
The production designer: Ron Hobbs
The number: “Let’s Hear It for the Boy”
The composer-singer: Deniece Williams
The choreographer: Lynn Taylor-Corbett
The dancers: Kevin Bacon and Chris Penn
The cinematographer: Ric Waite
The editor: Paul Hirsch
The production designer: Ron Hobbs
Saturday, April 14, 2012
beyond fred, ginger & gene
Peter H. Hunt's 1972 film of "1776" becomes more impressive with each viewing - a most accomplished musical film. Sherman Edwards' score is at once literate and catchy, lending itself to two particularly wonderful choreographic triumphs by Onna White.
The number: “The Lees of Old Virginia”
The composer: Sherman Edwards
The choreographer: Onna White
The singers-dancers: Ron Holgate, William Daniels and Howard DaSilva
The cinematographer: Harry Stradling Jr.
The editors: Florence Williamson and William H. Ziegler
The production designer: George Jenkins
The number: “The Lees of Old Virginia”
The composer: Sherman Edwards
The choreographer: Onna White
The singers-dancers: Ron Holgate, William Daniels and Howard DaSilva
The cinematographer: Harry Stradling Jr.
The editors: Florence Williamson and William H. Ziegler
The production designer: George Jenkins
Also...
Friday, April 13, 2012
beyond fred, ginger & gene
Few television remakes of musicals already made for the big screen are worthwhile. The rare exception is Gene Saks' 1995 TV version of
“Bye Bye Birdie,” which is superior to the dismal '63 film because it goes back to its source - Michael Stewart's libretto for the 1960 stage musical.
In fact, it uses Stewart's script; there was no adaptation.
Best of all, there is no Ann-Margret in it.
Instead, the spotlight is back on the lead female character, Rosie, played tartily by the perfectly cast Vanessa Williams.
Every number in this "Birdie" is memorable - the score is intact! plus a few added numbers! no deleted songs! - but the showstopper remains Williams' "Shriner's Ballet," choreographed by Ann Reinking who makes it fresh and new while occasionally paying tribute to Gower Champion's staging of the number for the Broadway original.
The number: “Shriner’s Ballet”
The Composer: Charles Strouse
The choreographer: Ann Reinking
The dancer: Vanessa Williams
The cinematographer: Glen MacPherson
The editor: Eric Albertson
The production designer: Charles C. Bennett
“Bye Bye Birdie,” which is superior to the dismal '63 film because it goes back to its source - Michael Stewart's libretto for the 1960 stage musical.
In fact, it uses Stewart's script; there was no adaptation.
Best of all, there is no Ann-Margret in it.
Instead, the spotlight is back on the lead female character, Rosie, played tartily by the perfectly cast Vanessa Williams.
Every number in this "Birdie" is memorable - the score is intact! plus a few added numbers! no deleted songs! - but the showstopper remains Williams' "Shriner's Ballet," choreographed by Ann Reinking who makes it fresh and new while occasionally paying tribute to Gower Champion's staging of the number for the Broadway original.
The number: “Shriner’s Ballet”
The Composer: Charles Strouse
The choreographer: Ann Reinking
The dancer: Vanessa Williams
The cinematographer: Glen MacPherson
The editor: Eric Albertson
The production designer: Charles C. Bennett
Thursday, April 12, 2012
beyond fred, ginger & gene
George Sidney, a hit-or-miss filmmaker, outdid himself with his sterling 1953 adaptation of Cole Porter's "Kiss Me, Kate.” A film of many musical highlights, "Kate" offered up one in particular that deserves to be called classic - the twirling, spinning "From This Moment On" number.
Sublime.
The number: “From This Moment On”
The composer: Cole Porter
The singers: Tommy Rall, Bobby Van and Bob Fosse
The choreographers: Hermès Pan, with Bob Fosse (uncredited)
The dancers: Ann Miller, Carol Haney, Jeanne Coyne, Fosse, Rall and Van
The cinematographer: Charles Rosher
The film editor: Ralph E. Winters
The production designers: Cedric Gibbons and Urie McCleary
Sublime.
The number: “From This Moment On”
The composer: Cole Porter
The singers: Tommy Rall, Bobby Van and Bob Fosse
The choreographers: Hermès Pan, with Bob Fosse (uncredited)
The dancers: Ann Miller, Carol Haney, Jeanne Coyne, Fosse, Rall and Van
The cinematographer: Charles Rosher
The film editor: Ralph E. Winters
The production designers: Cedric Gibbons and Urie McCleary
Wednesday, April 11, 2012
beyond fred, ginger & gene
Granted, this is an eclectic pick. I'm talking about the school-dance number in James Foley's 1984 answer to "Rebel with a Cause."
Namely, "Reckless."
Shot in shadows, stars Aidan Quinn and Daryl Hannah move in a blur, but we get the point. These brooding kids are using dance to express the hot, push/pull tensions of their sexual arousal. Like "Pulp Fiction," the film lists no choreographer among its credits and my search for the person responsible came up empty. My hunch is that it was improvised by Quinn and Hannah - or, as Quentin Tarantino did, Foley staged it himself.
We'll never know.
The number: “Never Say Never”
The composer: Romeo Void
The singer: Void
The choreographer: None credited
The dancers: Aidan Quinn and Daryl Hannah
The cinematographer: Michael Ballhaus
The film editor: Albert Magnoli
The production designer: Jeffrey Townsend
Namely, "Reckless."
Shot in shadows, stars Aidan Quinn and Daryl Hannah move in a blur, but we get the point. These brooding kids are using dance to express the hot, push/pull tensions of their sexual arousal. Like "Pulp Fiction," the film lists no choreographer among its credits and my search for the person responsible came up empty. My hunch is that it was improvised by Quinn and Hannah - or, as Quentin Tarantino did, Foley staged it himself.
We'll never know.
The number: “Never Say Never”
The composer: Romeo Void
The singer: Void
The choreographer: None credited
The dancers: Aidan Quinn and Daryl Hannah
The cinematographer: Michael Ballhaus
The film editor: Albert Magnoli
The production designer: Jeffrey Townsend
Tuesday, April 10, 2012
beyond fred, ginger & gene
John Huston's 1982 film version of "Annie" is as wildly underrated - by critics - as Rob Marshall's dull 1999 TV version is overrated.
Largely by the same critics.
Huston did some clever maneuvering in bringing "Annie" to the screen, ably abetted by scenarist Carol Sobieski: He brought Punjab (played by Geoffrey Holder) back into the story; he directed star Albert Finney (as Daddy Warbucks) to affect Huston's own vocal intonations (it's a terrific voice impersonation); he famously told Carol Burnett to play Miss Hannigan "soused"; he hired the perfect kid - Aileen Quinn - to play Little Orphan Annie, and he had the composers Charles Strouse and Martin Charnin write a fluid new number for Ann Reinking's Grace Farrell.
It's called "We Got Annie" and it's gorgeous.
The number: “We Got Annie!”
The composers: Charles Strouse and Martin Charnin
The singers: Ann Reinking, Lu Leonard and company
The choreographer: Arlene Phillips
The dancers: Reinking, Geoffrey Holder, Roger Minami and company
The cinematographer: Richard Moore
The editor: Michael A. Stevenson
The production designer: Dale Hennesy
Largely by the same critics.
Huston did some clever maneuvering in bringing "Annie" to the screen, ably abetted by scenarist Carol Sobieski: He brought Punjab (played by Geoffrey Holder) back into the story; he directed star Albert Finney (as Daddy Warbucks) to affect Huston's own vocal intonations (it's a terrific voice impersonation); he famously told Carol Burnett to play Miss Hannigan "soused"; he hired the perfect kid - Aileen Quinn - to play Little Orphan Annie, and he had the composers Charles Strouse and Martin Charnin write a fluid new number for Ann Reinking's Grace Farrell.
It's called "We Got Annie" and it's gorgeous.
The number: “We Got Annie!”
The composers: Charles Strouse and Martin Charnin
The singers: Ann Reinking, Lu Leonard and company
The choreographer: Arlene Phillips
The dancers: Reinking, Geoffrey Holder, Roger Minami and company
The cinematographer: Richard Moore
The editor: Michael A. Stevenson
The production designer: Dale Hennesy
Monday, April 09, 2012
beyond fred, ginger & gene
Ever creative, Danny Boyle elected to end his 2008 wonder, "Slumdog Millionaire," a raw, unstintinly realistic slice of life, with a rousing and quite unexpected production number danced by what seems like hundreds of performers, led by the film's two attractive young stars.
The result: One exited the theater thoroughly exhilarated. (One negative: Boyle received well-deserved criticism when he omitted the film's choreographer, Longinus Fernandes, from the end credits.)
The number: "Jai Ho"
The composers: A. R. Rahman and Gulzar
The singers: Gulzar, Sukhwinder Singh, Mahalakshmi Iyer, Vijay Prakash and Tanvi Shah
The choreographer: Longinus Fernandes
The dancers: Dev Patel, Frieda Pinto and company.
The cinematographer: Anthony Dod Mantle
The film editors: Chris Dickens
The production designer: Mark Digby
The result: One exited the theater thoroughly exhilarated. (One negative: Boyle received well-deserved criticism when he omitted the film's choreographer, Longinus Fernandes, from the end credits.)
The number: "Jai Ho"
The composers: A. R. Rahman and Gulzar
The singers: Gulzar, Sukhwinder Singh, Mahalakshmi Iyer, Vijay Prakash and Tanvi Shah
The choreographer: Longinus Fernandes
The dancers: Dev Patel, Frieda Pinto and company.
The cinematographer: Anthony Dod Mantle
The film editors: Chris Dickens
The production designer: Mark Digby