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Post by I Love Melvin on Feb 26, 2023 17:32:51 GMT
I enjoyed those clips including Mitzi's number. Guess I'm focused less on interpretation and more on the quality of the singing and dancing. Don't remember ever having seen them before, so looked at my library & there it was, captured in 2011 but still unviewed. π Don't know how I've skipped this since I've seen the stage version a couple of years ago with the national touring company and the PBS filmed version of the production. Yeah, I probably went too far into a rant. I like the dancing too and, now that you've mentioned the PBS broadcast, I'm realizing that it's done as a big dance number there as well, with not so much emphasis on the lyrics. I guess my disappointment is rooted in having heard so many audio recordings by brilliant interpretive vocalists like Ella Fitzgerald who really give the lyrics their due. It seems Porter's own vision for his show was that the song would anchor an elaborate number, so I guess I need to concede that Mitzi's version wasn't breaking any rules. My copy is from that same 2011 broadcast on TCM.
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Post by Lucky Dan on Feb 26, 2023 17:53:32 GMT
Guess I'm focused less on interpretation and more on the quality of the singing and dancing. Yeah, I probably went too far into a rant. Not too far. You make a fair point. It is generic staging, and staging in theater is kind of important. I don't know what I would have done differently but I'm sure I would have made some calls. "Buzz? LD here. Listen I'm staging Anything Goes and I really need a memorable look that ties everything in. Any ideas?"
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Post by I Love Melvin on Feb 26, 2023 18:34:20 GMT
Yeah, I probably went too far into a rant. Not too far. You make a fair point. It is generic staging, and staging in theater is kind of important. I don't know what I would have done differently but I'm sure I would have made some calls. "Buzz? LD here. Listen I'm staging Anything Goes and I really need a memorable look that ties everything in. Any ideas?"
I think you're right. The appropriate calls weren't made. It lacks Buzz's input. I've since realized that Ethel Merman originated the role of Reno Sweeney and that Porter may have even written it with her in mind. Love me some Merman but you're not going to get subtlety, so all the associations I have of perfectly articulated lyrics must come from recordings by others. Diane's reminder about the 2011 showing prompted me to get out the recording, in which guest host Rita Wilson (It was right when Robert was out sick. R.I.P.) said that the script from the 1936 version with Crosby and Merman was completely rewritten, so that further unmoors it from expectations about how the song should be done. I came across the big duet from 1936, so here it is. LATER EDIT, 5/7/23: I recently watched a short documentary about Merman and one interviewee noted her particular ability to fully articulate lyrics, even at high volume, so I'm now regretting the above facile dismissal of her talent in that area. Credit where credit is due.
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Post by dianedebuda on Feb 26, 2023 19:43:59 GMT
It is generic staging, and staging in theater is kind of important. I don't know what I would have done differently but I'm sure I would have made some calls. "Buzz? LD here. Listen I'm staging Anything Goes and I really need a memorable look that ties everything in. Any ideas?"
Don't know if anyone thought that way back in 1936. One of the highlights of the 1943 Oklahoma Broadway production was that the songs & dances were integrated into the story, an innovation.
We do seem to be on a Cole Porter kick this morning. π
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Post by I Love Melvin on Feb 26, 2023 21:31:05 GMT
OK. Why not? "From This Moment On" from Kiss Me, Kate (1953), with Ann Miller, Bob Fosse, Bobby Van and Tommy Rall. (It looks like Carol Haney is one of the other dancers; not sure about the second female.)
P.S. I checked IMDb and Carol Haney and Jeanne Coyne are listed as Specialty Dancers, so credit where credit is due.
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Post by dianedebuda on Feb 27, 2023 1:17:12 GMT
From This Moment On is a GREAT number from a GREAT show.
Keeping with the Cole Porter theme:
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Post by Fading Fast on Feb 27, 2023 8:20:35 GMT
On the subject of Ms. Powell, this number of hers from "Ship Ahoy" is one of my favorites. I'm always amazed when they bounce the drumsticks off the floor.
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Post by I Love Melvin on Feb 27, 2023 13:19:04 GMT
Eleanor the Great. I love this stunning, seemingly impossible number which was sort of tucked away in the Red Skelton movie I Dood It (1943). Seriously, she was as much circus performer as dancer, her skills were so great.
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Post by Fading Fast on Feb 27, 2023 13:36:29 GMT
Eleanor the Great. I love this stunning, seemingly impossible number which was sort of tucked away in the Red Skelton movie I Dood It (1943). Seriously, she was as much circus performer as dancer, her skills were so great. I never saw this one before, it's fantastic. She's just amazing. Thank you for posting it.
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Post by I Love Melvin on Feb 27, 2023 13:40:54 GMT
Speaking of circus acts, I couldn't help adding another, from Lady Be Good (1941). Hope that Buttons got lots of treats for this one.
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Post by dianedebuda on Feb 27, 2023 13:58:34 GMT
So how about Cole Porter, Eleanor AND Astaire?
Astaire said βI love Eleanor Powell, but she dances like a man. She's a remarkable dancer, but she has a very mannish style, and she's a little big for me.β
But then again, he also said βShe put βem down like a man, no ricky-ticky-sissy stuff with Ellie. She really knocked out a tap dance in a class by herself.β
I really think the "like a man" was meant as a compliment.
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Post by I Love Melvin on Feb 27, 2023 14:16:02 GMT
Astaire said βI love Eleanor Powell, but she dances like a man. She's a remarkable dancer, but she has a very mannish style, and she's a little big for me.β
But then again, he also said βShe put βem down like a man, no ricky-ticky-sissy stuff with Ellie. She really knocked out a tap dance in a class by herself.β
I really think the "like a man" was meant as a compliment.
I think the "mannish" comment shows that Astaire knew he had to recognize her as equal in some respects. In another respect, he was right that she didn't have the same fluid grace that some of his partners did. But I don't think she ever aspired to go the "doing everything backwards and in heels" route and, if she had, I wouldn't be surprised if she could have done it. But she put her energy elsewhere and, boy, aren't we glad?
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Post by dianedebuda on Feb 27, 2023 15:22:49 GMT
Eleanor started ballet at 6 and didn't try tap until she was about 16! According to wikipedia:
I can appreciate the tap teaching technique. I took ballet for 10 years. Was good enough to be invited to try out for a company but never did. Might have made it, but figured I'd never make it out of the corps and didn't want that lifesyle. Anyhow, as an adult many years later, decided to try tap. After a couple of years at the local school, had the opportunity to have private lessons with a national tap pro (Acia Gray). One of my big problems was being light on my feet probably from all of the years of ballet.
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Post by I Love Melvin on Feb 27, 2023 15:56:03 GMT
Thanks for including the Wiki page. Whoever wrote it explained a lot. I love the advice her teachers gave her to "play" the floor like an instrument and the way they got her to do it with the extra weight. I can see that you're particularly attuned to Eleanor because of your personal experience and I'd say you've picked the right dance idol because I've never ever seen her disappoint.
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Post by dianedebuda on Feb 27, 2023 16:43:02 GMT
Thanks for including the Wiki page. Whoever wrote it explained a lot. I love the advice her teachers gave her to "play" the floor like an instrument and the way they got her to do it with the extra weight. I can see that you're particularly attuned to Eleanor because of your personal experience and I'd say you've picked the right dance idol because I've never ever seen her disappoint. Actually, I don't think I have a dance idol any more than I have a favorite film - just a collection of favorites.
And one of those was Ann Miller while we're on the tapping trail. The reference "play the floor like an instrument" made me think of:
Saw her in a play locally at a small, in-the-round dinner theater many years ago, but it was shortly after her recovery from the near fatal stage accident in Anything Goes (St Louis). Although she tried to add a few dance moves, that didn't work well. I do applaud her for trying to give the public what she thought they wanted.
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