1h 32min | Musical, Romance | 10 April 1953
Director: László Kardos (as Leslie Kardos)
Stars: Jane Powell, Farley Granger, Ann Miller, S.Z. Sakall, Robert Keith, Bobby Van, Billie Burke, Chill Wills.
Busby Berkeley ... choreographer
Alex Romero ... assistant choreographer (uncredited)
In the Tap! Appendix for Ann Miller, Bobby Van+.
Bobby Van (b. '28) here looks and dances a lot like Ray Bolger. His hopping dance (ch8) lasts over 3 min and has only 3 cuts (4 segments). I remember Elaine Joyce telling the story that he was hospitalized after the number, but I don't find that anywhere. Here's Hugh Jackman's homage on the 2014 Tony's (I can't believe he sang at the end!)
Songs performed (10 chapters, no menu):
MGM, dir. Kardos; 7+
Bobby Van (b. '28) here looks and dances a lot like Ray Bolger. His hopping dance (ch8) lasts over 3 min and has only 3 cuts (4 segments). I remember Elaine Joyce telling the story that he was hospitalized after the number, but I don't find that anywhere. Here's Hugh Jackman's homage on the 2014 Tony's (I can't believe he sang at the end!)
Songs performed (10 chapters, no menu):
- ch1. The Lullaby of the Lord, Performed by Jane Powell & chorus [Cindy leads the church choir and congregation in song at the regular church service]
- ch2. Fine, Fine, Fine, Performed by Jane Powell, Bobby Van & female chorus [Ludwig and Cindy sing and dance to the song at the box social]
- ch3. Small Towns Are Smile Towns, Performed by Jane Powell [Cindy sings the song to Rick in jail]
- ch4. Take Me to Broadway, Performed by Bobby Van [Ludwig sings and dances to the song when he is alone in Papa's store after hours trying on the tuxedo]
- ch5. The Fellow I'd Follow, Performed by Jane Powell [Cindy sings the song at the party at the Livingston mansion]
- ch6. I've Gotta Hear that Beat, Performed by Ann Miller [Lisa sings and dances to the song when Rick arrives at the theater the first time] (Hands through the floor "playing" instruments)
- ch7. My Flaming Heart, Performed by Nat 'King' Cole [Nat King Cole sings the song at the Club Del Rio when Rick shows Cindy a night on the town in New York City, and Cindy later listens to the song on the phonograph in her bedroom]
- ch8. Take Me to Broadway (reprise), Performed by Bobby Van [Ludwig hops through the streets of Duck City to a largely instrumental version of the song after leaving the Kimbell house]
- ch9. My Gaucho, Performed by Ann Miller & male chorus [Lisa dances to the song when Rick arrives at the theater the second time]
- ch10. Hallelujah Chorus from "The Messiah", Performed by chorus with Jane Powell [The church choir is singing the song when Rick and his mother arrive at the church]
It's '53; they're probably still excising Nat King Cole's number in some regions.
Between BV & AM, this is very good dancing film. CW, BB, CZ add spice, and Handel's Messiah was a very nice musical addition. FG was well-cast in the role, and well-paired with AM & JP.
MGM, dir. Kardos; 7+
