On the Town. M-G-M, 1949. This musical has in its cast Gene Kelly, Frank Sinatra, Vera-Ellen, Ann Miller, and Betty Garrett. With names like these, and its status as a "classic", I was expecting a better movie.
It was modestly enjoyable. But, looking back at it, the music is forgettable, the dancing is not very interesting, the acting is weak, and the storyline is not compelling.
Most of the numbers are group pieces, so Sinatra's singing and Kelly's dancing are watered down by the weaker singers and dancers in the ensemble. And Ann Miller should have had the lead female role. She is far more charismatic than Vera-Ellen and deserved more screen time.
Some aspects of the film I particularly enjoyed were the color location shots of New York City in 1949, Ann Miller's tap dancing, seeing Betty Garrett in her younger days (after originally knowing her as a recurring character on All in the Family), the characterization of the women as the aggressive, wise ones while the men were naive, the gender-stereotype-reversed
It seems to be a repeatable pattern that I am disappointed at the legendary Freed unit MGM musicals from the late '40s and early '50s. Many love them and sing their praises loudly, but these movies don't seem to suit my musical film tastes well. Of course Easter Parade is an exception!
It was modestly enjoyable. But, looking back at it, the music is forgettable, the dancing is not very interesting, the acting is weak, and the storyline is not compelling.
Most of the numbers are group pieces, so Sinatra's singing and Kelly's dancing are watered down by the weaker singers and dancers in the ensemble. And Ann Miller should have had the lead female role. She is far more charismatic than Vera-Ellen and deserved more screen time.
Some aspects of the film I particularly enjoyed were the color location shots of New York City in 1949, Ann Miller's tap dancing, seeing Betty Garrett in her younger days (after originally knowing her as a recurring character on All in the Family), the characterization of the women as the aggressive, wise ones while the men were naive, the gender-stereotype-reversed
It seems to be a repeatable pattern that I am disappointed at the legendary Freed unit MGM musicals from the late '40s and early '50s. Many love them and sing their praises loudly, but these movies don't seem to suit my musical film tastes well. Of course Easter Parade is an exception!
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