This film was Peter Bogdanovich's homage to musical comedies of the 1930s. A millionaire named Michael Oliver Pritchard III and a singer named Kitty O'Kelly meet and fall in love. Meanwhile...
Writer/Director: Peter Bogdanovich
Stars: Burt Reynolds, Cybill Shepherd, Madeline Kahn, Duilio Del Prete, Eileen Brennan, John Hillerman, Mildred Natwick.
Rita Abrams ... dance coordinator
Albert Lantieri ... dance coordinator
Costume Design by Bobbie Mannix
(wow, I stopped looking for "dance" job titles long ago. I would have missed these today.)
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0072665/
This bd version is 2h 3min.
19 songs in the Soundtracks, all Words and Music by Cole Porter (1891–1964). The lyrics make it worthwhile to watch with subtitles.
Prior notes from 12Sep18: At Long Last Love (1975), 6+ for very distorted online version.
I've had the product page at Amazon open in a browser tab for 6 months, and an active eBay search sending new listings as they occurred. The price has gone up 50% over what was already outrageous in Sept. So when a Sept-level price came across my email, and I was at the end of Round 1, I just mulled it over and clicked Buy. Frankly, it was a no-risk decision; I can probably resell it for more. But I'm thrilled to have it (unless a cheap version comes out soonish. But I emailed Fox back then, and got a "no plans" reply.)
In theory it doesn't make sense that La La Land ('16) aggravates me, yet I love this film. Here we have amateurs doing the singing/dancing. And the dancing is not great, nor are they backed by an ensemble of pros. But the singing is passable, and the dancing evokes enough Fred & Ginger to be enchanting.
The booklet has a short essay effusing about the film, while acknowledging its troubled reception. I got the impression while watching the film that PB wrote it from a collection of CP lyrics, and the booklet describes CS giving PB just such a book (they were an item at the time, and she had recorded an album of CP songs; opening credits include a card "Suggested by the Songs of Cole Porter"). So in a way, this is a foundation for a film like Mamma Mia! ('08). The CP songs give us the musings of these shallow wealthy characters (although 2 of them are without funds at the moment.)
Interesting to learn from the booklet that the singing was done "in camera", not pre-recorded and lip synced, and the takes are fairly long. The songs have lots and lots of verses, rarely repeating, and PB stages them to keep it interesting, changing the performers and/or the venue/circumstance to break up the length.
BR was always good at self-mocking while doing comedy, and this is no exception. The whole tone of the film is a self-mocking, loving pastiche of 30s glamour musicals. The booklet cites Lubitsch musicals specifically, but I was having a non-musical connection with Kay Francis films of the era (she starred in 1 for Lubitsch). That might have been a costume thing more than a comedy thing.
I can't believe this film didn't get nominated for costumes and set design. I wish Criterion would take this on, and wrap it in a coffee table book of costume and set stills. The booklet said PB wanted to film this in b/w, but I love how much effort was needed to keep the costumes in the b/w range (with some straying into cream and brown). If you film in b/w, the dress might be pink or blue and look white or gray. This took a lot more effort to evoke b/w while watching color.
I need to nod at our supporting players here. PB got another thing right by having strong supporters, which was common in 30s films of any genre.
This is going up on an easel on my binder bookcase. It's not quite in mint condition, but I think I'll put it in a baggie to prevent dust and fingerprints, because I'll probably pat it once in a while.
Note: the bd has an option to watch the film with soundtrack only. This EXCLUDES the singing, so don't bother with it.
The songs are actually not listed in the credits, so someone did a great job getting these into IMDb (chapter menu has no words; 13 ch):
- ch1. Down In The Depths On The 90th Floor, Performed by Madeline Kahn
- ch1. Tomorrow, Performed by Duilio Del Prete
- ch2. Which, Performed by Cybill Shepherd
- ch2. Poor Young Millionaire, Performed by Burt Reynolds
- ch3. You're The Top, Performed by Burt Reynolds and Madeline Kahn, then by Cybill Shepherd and Duilio Del Prete
- ch4. Find Me a Primitive Man, Performed by Madeline Kahn
- ch4. Friendship, Performed by Cybill Shepherd, Madeline Kahn, Eileen Brennan, Burt Reynolds, John Hillerman and Duilio Del Prete
- ch6. But In The Morning No, Performed by John Hillerman and Eileen Brennan
- ch6. At Long Last Love, Performed by Madeline Kahn, Burt Reynolds, Cybill Shepherd and Duilio Del Prete each separately
- ch7. Well Did You Evah!, Performed by Burt Reynolds, Cybill Shepherd, Madeline Kahn, Duilio Del Prete, Mildred Natwick and Loutz Gage
- ch7. From Alpha To Omega, Performed by Duilio Del Prete and Madeline Kahn
- ch8. Let's Misbehave, Performed by Cybill Shepherd and Burt Reynolds
- ch8. It's De-Lovely, Performed by Cybill Shepherd and Burt Reynolds
- ch8. (partial reprise) From Alpha To Omega, Performed by Duilio Del Prete and Madeline Kahn
- ch8. (partial reprise) But In The Morning No, Performed by John Hillerman and Eileen Brennan
- ch9. Just One Of Those Things, Performed by Burt Reynolds, Cybill Shepherd and Duilio Del Prete
- ch9. I Get A Kick Of You, Performed by Cybill Shepherd
- ch10. Most Gentleman Don't Like Love, Sung/danced by Eileen Brennan, Madeline Kahn and Cybill Shepherd
- ch10. I Loved Him (But He Didn't Love Me), Performed by Madeline Kahn and Cybill Shepherd
- ch11. A Picture Of Me Without You, Performed by Burt Reynolds, Cybill Shepherd, Duilio Del Prete and Madeline Kahn
ch?. Etiquette, Performed by Eileen Brennan and Cybill Shepherd
Per tcm.com:
The director's re-edited television version of the movie includes, among other things, an extra musical number for actress Eileen Brennan. Immediately following the scene between Brennan and Cybill Shepherd outside of the racetrack, Brennan sings "It Ain't Etiquette" (from Dubarry Was a Lady) to Shepherd. Clues to this excised number can be found in a rather abrupt and obvious edit in the theatrical version.I emailed Criterion at their Suggestions address, and made a case for this film.
Rated 5.0 (973)
Fox & more, dir. Bogdanovich; 8
