Thursday Thirteen - #17

I LOVE classic movies, especially musicals! My favorites are from the late 30's to early 60's...when Bing Crosby, Fred Astaire, Danny Kaye, Judy Garland, Ginger Rogers and other 'greats' were popular.

With that said...here are 13 classics that I love...

1. Mr. Blandings Builds His Dream House: * "Sophisticated New Yorkers Jim and Muriel Blandings (Cary Grant and Myrna Loy) pack up their two girls and leave their jaded city life for a dreamy getaway in rural Connecticut. Trouble is, they don't know what they're in for. … As local tradesmen increase their work rates and try to cash in on the recent transplants, Grant's job as an advertising executive may be on the line if he can't think of a slogan to sell ham!"

This movie is so much fun to watch. It's a great funny movie for the whole family. We've watched it a few times and never tire of it. I personally love watching them fix up the house...especially since I've always wanted to be an architect!





2. You Were Never Lovlier: *"The incomparable Fred Astaire pairs up with the alluring Rita Hayworth for this delightful musical featuring the compositions of Jerome Kern and Johnny Mercer. While in Buenos Aires, Robert (Astaire), a dancer, meets Maria (Hayworth), the daughter of a rich Argentinian entrepreneur, who won't let her sisters get married until she herself is betrothed. Features performances by Xavier Cugat and Miguelito Valdes."

There's nothing more fun than watching Fred Astaire on his feet!







3. Bells are Ringing: *"Judy Holliday reprises her Tony Award-winning role as a scatterbrained switchboard operator in Vincente Minnelli's musical comedy. The story centers on eavesdropping phone operator Ella (Holliday), who goes incognito to help her problem-plagued customers and eventually wins the heart of a handsome playwright (Dean Martin). Jean Stapleton and Eddie Foy Jr. also star. Extras include a featurette, musical number outtakes and the theatrical trailer."










4. Singin' in the Rain: *"Gene Kelly, Debbie Reynolds and Donald O'Connor combine their talents in one of the best musicals ever made. When Hollywood attempts the transition from silent movies to talkies, matinee idol Kelly hopes to make the cut. Jean Hagen stands out as a silent-movie queen with a fingernails-on-a-blackboard voice. Musical fare includes "Good Morning," "Make 'Em Laugh" and the title tune."

Great classic...of course the scene where he's singing on the street while dancing is the best!







5. An Affair to Remember: *"Each already engaged to another, Nikkie Ferrante (Cary Grant) and Terry McKay (Deborah Kerr) meet on an ocean liner and fall deeply in love. Tempting fate, they agree to meet at the Empire State Building in six months if they still feel the same way, but a tragic accident prevents their rendezvous, and the lovers' future takes an uncertain turn. This poignant and humorous love story was nominated for four Academy Awards, including Best Music."

Tearjerker!








6. Top Hat: *"This joyous Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers musical features an Irving Berlin score and the classic duet "Cheek to Cheek." Astaire stars as Jerry Travers, a singer-dancer who auditions some new moves for producer Horace Hardwick at his hotel. The beautiful Dale Tremont (Rogers) is staying downstairs and the wackiness begins when she mistakes Jerry for Horace in this romantic comedy that received an Academy Award nomination for Best Picture."

Yet another classic Astaire movie you've got to see!








7. Forever Darling: *"After five years of marriage, Susan (Lucille Ball) and Lorenzo (Desi Arnaz) are drifting apart. So when he plans a camping trip to test a new insecticide he's developing, she vows to come along and keep him company. Little does Lorenzo know that Susan's guardian angel (James Mason) is tagging along, too. This offbeat romantic comedy hit theaters during the fifth season of "I Love Lucy," capitalizing on America's love affair with its stars."

I don't know what it is about this movie, but it's so much fun to watch. We bought the box set with this movie, "The Long Long Trailer" and "Too Many Girls". This is my favorite of the 3, but they're all very good, especially if you love Lucy!!





8.Daddy Long Legs: *"While visiting France as a goodwill ambassador, a third-generation American millionaire (Fred Astaire) meets a striking young woman (Leslie Caron) who was orphaned during World War II. Vowing to take care of her for the rest of her life, he anonymously funds her travel to the United States, where she attends a prestigious women's college. But all she knows of her mysterious benefactor is that he signs his checks "Daddy Long Legs."

Sweet movie...but kind of weird how a 50 yr. old man would fall in love with an 18 year old. That's the movies for ya!







9. An American in Paris: *"Opportunistic American artist Jerry Mulligan (Gene Kelly) -- once a struggling painter -- lives in the City of Light enjoying the patronage of a well-heeled, amorous American gallery owner. Until, that is, he meets and falls desperately in love with a willowy French street urchin (Leslie Caron, in her big-screen debut) who happens to be engaged to Mulligan's best friend. Seven Academy Awards went to this tour-de-force movie musical."

My favorite part of this musical is the music itself...very upbeat and lively!! It's also fun to play. I've played it in a couple orchestras I've been in - on my flute.






10. White Christmas: *"Bing Crosby and Danny Kaye play war buddies turned entertainers who fall for a pair of sisters (Rosemary Clooney and Vera-Ellen). The boys follow the girls to a resort, which is owned by their former commanding officer, and he's in danger of losing the place. What better reason to stage a show than to keep the resort out of hock?"

LOVE LOVE LOVE this movie!!!!! It's one I never miss watching each year. My 2 favorite songs..."Sisters" (especially when the men sing it - too funny!) and "Snow"...when they sing it on the train on the way to Vermont.




11. Shall We Dance: *"Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers kick up their heels on an ocean liner in this musical. Ballet star Pete Peters (Astaire) is in love with celebrity Linda Keene (Rogers), and his infatuation leads him to set sail across the Atlantic. Unfortunately, he hardly knows her, but a little white lie results in everyone thinking the two stars are married. George and Ira Gershwin provide the musical score that includes "They Can't Take That Away from Me."

Their dance number on the rocking ship is great. Overall a fun movie for a cold lazy winter afternoon!







12. Royal Wedding: *"Brother-sister dance duo Tom and Ellen Bowen (Fred Astaire and Jane Powell) get the chance of a lifetime when they're booked for a London performance on the eve of Elizabeth II's nuptials. In the course of their journey, Ellen meets her match in Lord Brindale, and Tom finds romance with a British hoofer. Will love break up the act? Peter Lawford and Sarah Churchill also star in this classic 1950s musical comedy."

I've seen this movie a dozen times...it's a classic for sure. This is the movie Astaire did his famous ceiling dance in...where they rotated the set. Pretty impressive for the 50's!





13. Holiday Inn: *"Bing Crosby croons to the tune of the Oscar-winning "White Christmas" in Irving Berlin's love triangle romantic comedy. Tired of the bright lights of showbiz, Jim Hardy (Crosby) retires to the countryside to become a farmer. He converts the farm into the Holiday Inn, open only on holidays, then competes against his pal (Fred Astaire) for a singer-dancer's (Marjorie Reynolds) affection."

My favorite of ALL time!!!!! This movie is such a great movie since it covers every holiday, but Christmas time is the best time to watch it. I love the Inn and would LOVE to own and run something like that...I know, dream on! The new colorized version just came out and it's INCREDIBLE...very clear and crisp!!! My husband surprised me with it yesterday and I already watched it. They have extras on the DVD as well which show you how they colorized it. It's fascinating to see. I will be watching this movie over and over again, that's for sure!

The next time it's a cold rainy day and you don't feel like going anywhere, grab a hot cup of cocoa, and put on one of these classic movies. It'll warm your heart and let you escape from reality for just a little while!

A side note: There's a classic movie that I watched once and cannot for the life of me remember what it was or who was in it. All I remember is that the main characters worked in a music store selling instruments etc. It was probably in black/white. The new salesman fell in love with a woman who worked there and I believe he played the violin, but I'm not positive. The details are foggy to me but I would LOVE to see it again if I could figure out what the movie was called. If you have any ideas, let me know. Thanks!!


*All the summaries are from Netflix...any added comments are mine.