For this weeks IF topic "Mail" here is what came out. I just watched White Christmas so WWII was on the brain, my guess is the idea came from that some how.
Have you ever thought about how different movies are now compared to then? I love White Christmas but at the same time can't help but get a little annoyed at how much dancing they do. During those scenes I always think "Pretty cool dancing, but what does it have to do with anything?" I have the same problem with Singin' In the Rain when Gene Kelly is dancing in that one scene that really has nothing to do with the plot of the Movie. You know the one. I can't describe it really because let's be honest, the last couple of times I watched the movie I fast forwarded it. It seems like he knocks on some doors or something.
I love Singin' In the Rain and White Christmas but, yeah, movies are different now.
Manelle
P.S. If you haven't checked out my Blog A Story book called Accidentally The Greatest Wizard in the World you can catch the first page here. Merry Christmas!
Very Cute!
ReplyDeleteThat dancing scene in Singin' in the Rain Gene Kelly had a crush on his dancing partner during that scene. So he had it put in because he really wanted to dance with her to impress her....well hopping to impress her.
ReplyDeleteThanks Ray!
ReplyDeleteHollie, really, that is very interesting. It still doesn't have anything to do with the plot but it's an interesting fact. :)
Yes this dose have a nice vintage feel like its been found in a time capsual, charming. I like old films also but I avoid musicals for the reasons you mention, its always like a Monty Python 'Meaning of Life moment' where the Kings Son says 'I feel like I want to sing'...
ReplyDeleteJames-
ReplyDeleteIt's true. I love movies etc. that make fun of musicals. Enchanted does a good job too.
very sweet :)
ReplyDeleteThanks k.h.!
ReplyDeleteHaving watched both the movie and the Pioneer Theatre Compay production of White Christmas, and being a die-hard Gene Kelly fan, (Who was considered, after Fred Astaire, for the role played by Danny Kaye in the film, who was the third choice) you wound me to the heart! (Not really...)
ReplyDeleteThe general idea behind the dancing scenes is to express the character's emotions visually and kinestetically in the same way that the singing does audibly. You are not alone in not "getting" it.
The number "The Best Things Happen While You're Dancing" is the most abstract of the dance numbers, so I'm guessing that is where you lost the thread. In this number, on stage at least, the idea is that Phil and, is it Betty? are falling in love and the whole world, except for each other, just disappears for them.
It's been a day or two since I watched "Singin' in the Rain," I can't remember what the motivation for "Broadway Melody Ballet" was in the story.
Actually "The Best Things Happen While You're Dancing" I like. It totally progresses the plot and has cool dancing. And so many of the other numbers were great for that too.
ReplyDeleteThe ones that bother me the most are the random pieces of the Davis and Wallace "show" they would perform. There was more than one "dress rehearsal" in the movie that was, I think, only a cool dance and didn't move the plot at all. They even had to put up a little sign before the scene so you knew what was going on. They are fun dances, I like the line "the theatre, the theatre, what happened to the theatre?" But what did the dace have to do with the plot of the movie? Even then one or so of those if fun and good but why so many?
I'm sure progressing the plot wasn't on the minds of the writers directors or who ever and the dancing was considered just as entertaining as the rest of the story. The story is just what entertains me more. If I want to see dancing just for dancing sake I go see it. (or I watch an old movie ;)
Thanks for the comment random anonymous person. I'm kinda glad I got you so worked up. Maybe I'll write more blog posts like this in future.
Just a sign of the times (in regards to the movies) I like how your characters are posed in this piece. Great composition :) Hope you have an awesome Christmas and enjoy watching the Christmas movies that are out!
ReplyDeleteexcellent illo - great style and use of line
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