Everyone raves over MGM being the "musical" studio. My fave musical came from Warner Bros.: Footlight Parade. It had great songs and unlike the MGM crap, it had a GREAT STORY. Follies was only slightly better than An American in Paris which was TOTAL crap.
There is no "off" position on the genius switch.
You are a MORON. While the Berkley directed musicals of the '30s at
Warner's rivaled Metro's McDonald/Eddy musicals, Warner's came nowhere
NEAR Metro in the 1940's and 50's. No studio did. Even with the
arrival of the great Doris Day (who, not so coincidentally, did her
best musical while on loan-out to MGM - 1955's "Love me or Leave Me"
with James Cagney).
Metro gave us "Meet Me in St. Louis", "On the Town" "Easter Parade",
"Singin' in the Rain", "Gigi", "Seven Brides For Seven Brothers" and
many, many others.
Lastly, dingbat, "Follies" isn't SUPPOSED to have a story. It's
strictly a musical/comedy revue and, while some of the comedy doesn't
work (namely, Keenan Wynn's terrible phone skit), Edward Arnold is
hilarious in "Pay the Two Dollars" and Fanny Brice is wonderful in "The
Sweeptakes Ticket." Ataire shines greatly, particularly in "Limehouse
Blues" and "The Heart of Mine", and Kelly and Astaire also enjoy their
one and only movie. Lena Horne is also superb.
Say, pal, I love Singin' in the Rain as well as the next guy, but let's face it. Most MGM musicals blow. I rented An American in Paris recently and literally could not get through it. It was that bad. And what the hell ever happened to Jules Munshin?
There is no "off" position on the genius switch.
Your signature is dishonest. Your "genius switch" obviously hasn't been in the the "on" position for a while. Have you ever thought that quite possibly different people have different tastes, and you have no right to impose yours on everyone else as absolute? So YOU don't like most MGM musicals. Fine. Watch something you do like, and get over yourself.
shareOne great MGM musical you didn't mention was The Wizard Oz Oz which was Arthur Freed's 1st film as a producer although he went uncredited.
Miley Virus is the devil!
Warners did amazing things early in the musicals competition. Busby Berkeley had a lot to do with that. But, there was always much competition among studios for supremacy in a given film concept.
Metro was king of musicals in the late 30s, 1940s and 1950s. No-one else even came close. Story-line was often put secondary to the aural/visual/emotional hook successfully sunk deep into each theatre-goer! Amazingly, the movie-goer often wasn't even aware of that happening! Although, tears did flow in the dark.
MGM's recording of lush orchestral music, and sweeping looping Technicolor images had their effect. But, Louis Mayer's dictatorial orders, coupled with creative directors and producers (e.g., Arthur Freed) put the icing on the cake.
Stupid!?! I never called you stupid! To call you stupid would be an insult to stupid people!
Visually it was stunning.
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