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Post by topbilled on Nov 6, 2022 22:05:47 GMT
Action starts with character actor Ed Wynn. He was unable to translate his success in vaudeville and radio to films, until near the end of his career.
So he comments on a sofa being in the elevator of this Manhattan high rise apartment. Do elevators still have sofas in them? LOL
Love this scene where he comes into his rich relatives' apartment and overhears Claire Trevor arguing with Everett Sloane. Claire Trevor is not Jewish but seems to be doing okay as a Jewish matriarch.
Clearly Uncle Samson, Wynn's character, is a poor relative who reminds the family of their humble beginnings.
Claire Trevor in a dark hairstyle, a bit different for her.
Story begins with the nephew, whose bar mitzvah is today. Oh finally, Marjorie is mentioned. "Where's Marjorie?" Uncle Samson asks.
Natalie's a brunette here, obviously meant to resemble Liz Taylor.
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Post by topbilled on Nov 6, 2022 22:16:06 GMT
Conflict is set up...Marjorie is supposed to be thinking of marrying a respectable young Jewish man. But she is interested in acting...
Natalie is so sincere in this film. Her first scene with Ed Wynn is very charming.
Love this incredible looking apartment. Great set design by Warner Brothers.
Did they film the bar mitzvah in an actual temple? Or is this a studio set?
Now on to Marjorie playing Juliet in a college Shakespeare production. Carolyn Jones as the best friend, Marsha.
"Sometimes I feel I can act. Other times I feel I haven't any talent at all."
A chance for Marjorie to join Marsha at a girls' summer camp, teaching drama to teen girls.
Later that evening...Marjorie gets a marriage proposal from a handsome Jewish guy she's not interested in, though they've been going out for six months. What a life!
Mother wants to see the ring. Natalie is beautiful in this light blue dress she's wearing. She seems so mature here.
Claire Trevor cracks me up...blaming her daughter's desire to spread her wings and teach at the camp on 'that Marsha Zelenko!' as if Marsha Zelenko is a repulsive thing.
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Post by ando on Nov 6, 2022 22:20:22 GMT
Good to see Carolyn Jones in a pre-Addams Family spot.
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Post by ando on Nov 6, 2022 22:24:27 GMT
To be honest, the Kelly number seems to belong to another movie. Feels like an insert, but Wood is clearly smitten with him.
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Post by topbilled on Nov 6, 2022 22:25:18 GMT
Camp Tamarack. Marsha wants to sneak across the lake to a resort where there are handsome men. At South Wind there are a thousand guys, per Marsha.
'O Tamarack, O Tamarack, we never will forget you.' Camp song sung to the tune of 'O Christmas Tree.'
Bad process shot/rear projection with Marjorie and Marsha rowing across the lake in a canoe.
When they arrive on the other side, it looks like broad daylight...but it's supposed to be night.
Noel Airman (Gene Kelly) in a theater...giving a dancer some pointers on stage. So Gene is 46, but he looks ten years younger. "He's terribly handsome," Marjorie exclaims. Gene gets to dance a bit, though this is not a musical film.
After Marsha goes off with a man, Marjorie knocks over some chairs which gets Noel's attention. Meet cute occurs. Natalie is excellent here, playing the embarrassment and lovestruck qualities perfectly.
Meet cute two occurs. Marty Milner's character, the playwright, sees her...She's the most beautiful girl he's ever seen.
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Post by topbilled on Nov 6, 2022 22:25:57 GMT
Good to see Carolyn Jones in a pre-Addams Family spot. I think she won an award for this film...a Golden Globe or something like that.
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Post by topbilled on Nov 6, 2022 22:27:23 GMT
To be honest, the Kelly number seems to belong to another movie. Feels like an insert. Now we've got him at the piano, singing to the others.
So who will she end up with...Noel or Wally?
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Post by ando on Nov 6, 2022 22:29:03 GMT
I heard Kelly was highly self conscious about his singing voice. Didn't like it. Manages to pull off a tune ok.
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Post by ando on Nov 6, 2022 22:31:18 GMT
Just heard him singing on "Zanadu", a musical he made opposite Olivia Newton-John (some 30 years later), with whom he sang a throwback WWII-era throwback duet.
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Post by topbilled on Nov 6, 2022 22:31:36 GMT
Where were these resort scenes filmed? The scenery is gorgeous.
I always think about how the sun shines and the wind blows, and these people are experiencing something in nature at a time before I was born. And now these people are all dead. But we still have this evidence of a time and place that existed with these people. Sounds corny and morbid, I know!
Why did Natalie Wood have to die so tragically? What a wonderful spirit she was. She deserved to live a long life.
So Marjorie takes Morningstar as her stage name, per Noel's suggestion. The character's last name is Morgenstern, which is German for morning star.
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Post by ando on Nov 6, 2022 22:33:54 GMT
Feeling shades of Summer Stock, the musical Kelly did with Judy Garland earlier in the decade.
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Post by ando on Nov 6, 2022 22:34:56 GMT
lol No way Wood is painting that sign without a stencil! No hand is that steady. lol
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Post by Fading Fast on Nov 6, 2022 22:35:55 GMT
Many old Manhattan building elevators do still have seats in them and a few - I kid you not - still have elevator operators.
Kelly, IMO, looks too old for the role (good for his age, but still too old for the role). Yes, he's supposed to be what ten or so years older, but he looks twenty-plus years older.
Kelly, IRL, must have liked the club-collar/collar-pin/knit-tie combo as it shows up on him in several of his movies.
The night-day thing, as you point out, hurts the reality of it.
Love the uncle - what a nice character.
(Full disclosure, I watched it earlier today as I only have some of this window free.)
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Post by ando on Nov 6, 2022 22:36:38 GMT
Jesse White was in countless bit parts. Did he ever have a starring role - aside from latrine commercials?
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Post by ando on Nov 6, 2022 22:40:02 GMT
Kelly, IMO, looks too old for the role (good for his age, but still too old for the role). Yes, he's supposed to be what ten or so years older, but he looks twenty-plus years older.
Good point. Notice how he's in shadow in close ups opposite Wood? It is a classic student falling in love with the teacher scenario, tho.
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