Monday, September 19, 2011

Get Thee A Wife

I will admit, Seven Brides for Seven Brothers may not be the most dazzling musical out there. However, that is not the film's fault; apparently, MGM would not give the director a large enough budget, deciding to focus their finances on Brigadoon (I find Brides to be much more appealing than Brigadoon. So much for budgets).
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/f/f9/Seven_brides_seven_brothers.jpg
Stanley Donen, the director, managed to stretch every possible dollar and fashioned a film that got an Oscar nomination for Best Picture. He assembled a highly-talented cast of acrobats and dancers; one of the "brothers" is a ballet dancer. 

The songs are not the catchiest, especially the ones sung by the women (I still fast-forward through those) but the premise is entertaining, along with my fan-tendencies for Howard Keel. 
http://www.nndb.com/people/688/000052532/keel4-fix.jpg
The Barn Raising is one of the most captivating dance sequences in musical history. 


Even if MGM had coughed up more budget, I don't think it could have been any more show-stopping.

11 comments:

aminspiration said...

I didnt know anyone else saw that!
I still sing the songs with my fam.

Princess Lea said...

"Bless your beautiful hide, wherever you may be. We ain't met yet but I'm willin' to bet, you're the gal for me."

Oh yeah, I've seen it. Over and over and over . . .

aminspiration said...

it makes u appreciate the shidduch system--better than being kidnapped in the middle of the night.

the best is at the end when the father says " on the way up i heard a wee baby cry..whose is it?" and they all respond.."MINE"

Princess Lea said...

Although, I think it would be nice if men had a little more . . . gumption when it comes to dating. These guys kept on competing with the boyfriends the way male animals do in the wild to impress the girls. Guys nowadays are a little too laid back when it comes to wooing.

That part was the best! Although these old movies always make it so easy for the men to make up to the women, who forgive them way too quickly.

aminspiration said...

true..those guys would never rely on the girl to plan the date

Yedid Nefesh said...

another movie recommendation? maybe after i watch star wars ;)

iTripped said...

Not a big fan of Howard Keel, but I've seen this movie too many times to count. How cute is Russ Tamblyn pre-West Side Story?

Princess Lea said...

How could you not love Howard Keel? (Swoon).

Riff was so adorable here, before he became a gang-banger.

iTripped said...

Princess Leah: Probably because Howard Keel always played the same macho arrogant man in all of his musicals- or maybe it's his voice that I don't love... or is it the mustache? I don't hate him exactly, but he is not my favorite leading man. Oh, and this costume makes me cringe: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e_ui18maOq0

Princess Lea said...

I'm reviewing "Kiss Me Kate" eventually.

He was terribly arrogant and macho in "Annie Get Your Gun," which I found to be a travesty of progressiveness and historical accuracy.

But, I gosh darn like him. (Girly sigh)

%Shocked% said...

What. A. Dance!