1h 41min | Comedy, Drama, Musical | 2 September 1955 | Color, WS
Directors: Stanley Donen, Gene Kelly
Stars: Gene Kelly, Dan Dailey, Cyd Charisse, Dolores Gray, Michael Kidd.
Stanley Donen ... dances by
Gene Kelly ... dances by
In the Tap! Appendix for Dan Dailey, Gene Kelly, Michael Kidd.
3rd of 6 film credits for DG; she played a singer in 2 non-musicals before this film.
After this, GK releases a dance film ('56) that's not really a musical, a musical that's not a great dance film ('57, at least, I don't remember much of his dancing there), 4 films in which he does some dancing ('60, '64, '67, '80) and 6 non-musicals in between.
Songs performed (30 chapters with menu); MK singing dubbed by Jud Conlon:
- ch2. March, March, Performed by Gene Kelly, Michael Kidd (dubbed) and Dan Dailey
- ch4. Binge dance, by GK, DD, MK, with trash can lids
- ch5. The Time for Parting, Performed by Gene Kelly, Dan Dailey and Michael Kidd (dubbed)
- ch8. I Shouldn't Have Come, Performed by Gene Kelly, Dan Dailey and Michael Kidd (dubbed)
- ch11. Music Is Better Than Words, Performed by Dolores Gray
- ch14. Stillman's Gym, Performed by Lou Lubin, Harry Wilson and chorus
- ch15. Baby, You Knock Me Out, Sung by Cyd Charisse (dubbed by Carol Richards) and chorus, Danced by all in Stillman's Gym; that green skirt with all the fabric gathered in the back!
- ch17. Saturation-Wise, Performed briefly by Paul Maxey and guests, Reprised by Dan Dailey
- ch18. Once Upon a Time, Performed by Gene Kelly, Dan Dailey and Michael Kidd (dubbed), the split-screen trio dancing in unison
- ch20. Saturation-Wise, Performed briefly by Paul Maxey and guests, Reprised by Dan Dailey
- ch23. I Like Myself, Performed by Gene Kelly, tapping on roller skates, and the wheels are not frozen
- ch25. Thanks a Lot, but No Thanks, Performed by Dolores Gray with chorus boys; lyrics are worth turning on captions to make sure you get them all
- ch29. The Time for Parting, Reprised by David Burns and offscreen chorus at the end
Outtakes:
The 4 dance numbers bolded above are very satisfying. I like DG a lot, and the song in ch25 is a good use of her talents.
TV is featured in this film, since DG's show is on TV. The actual TV show MGM Parade featured this film in its first 2 episodes (excerpts included on the dvd).
The cynicism of this film is an interesting reflection of 50's culture, a prelude to the drop-out culture of the 60's. The ending isn't necessarily a transformation of these lives, but the hope thereof.
- Jack and the Space Giants, sung/danced by MK & children (should not have been cut!)
- Love is Nothing But a Racket, sung/danced by GK, CC at the costume shop; CC taps! Reminds me of Cover Girl ('44) scene with mannequins.
- The Binge, danced by GK, DD, MK, just little slivers
- I Thought They'd Never Leave (audio only), sung by DG
The 4 dance numbers bolded above are very satisfying. I like DG a lot, and the song in ch25 is a good use of her talents.
TV is featured in this film, since DG's show is on TV. The actual TV show MGM Parade featured this film in its first 2 episodes (excerpts included on the dvd).
The cynicism of this film is an interesting reflection of 50's culture, a prelude to the drop-out culture of the 60's. The ending isn't necessarily a transformation of these lives, but the hope thereof.
MGM, dir. Donen & Kelly; 8
