This film's claim to fame has always been the "Get Happy" number near the end of the film, but I was wondering what other musical numbers people enjoyed in this film...my vote would be a number that Judy sang called "Friendly Star". That song gets to me every time I watch this movie.
shareI've always loved the solo dance Gene Kelly does with the instrumental 'You Wonderful You'. It's simple, but it still has his recognizable stamp on it. It's one of my favorite Gene Kelly numbers of all time, too. And I think it gets overlooked too often.
~You know, James....I was always better.
That newspaper dance/squeaky floorboard dance is just incredible. That man was so unbelievably talented. And so kind in this film.
This number and the "Singin' in the Rain" number are two that really showcased what he did best.
And that, as someone once said is that "He took the ordinary and made it extraordinary. . .and he made you think you could do it."
The newspaper scene is so simplistic. But it becomes an incredible routine. It walks that perfectly fine line. . .where we think to ourselves "I can do that!" and "How the hell does he do that?"
That's talent. That's what he gave us. What a gift.
This was also said to be Gene's favorite dance routine. (though I heard the only one he didn't criticize was the ballet in "An American in Paris". Too hard on himself, I'd say.)
They say that they spent many weeks searching for just the right noises, and then it was more complicated than one would think to get the newspaper to cooperate as it should. I believe they had to get paper from 1935 or something like that in order to get it to rip properly.
What a number. . .the way it crescendos!
Kelly
We'll find each other... we always find each other.
Hmmm. I'd would have to go with "Friendly Star" and then it would be the Gene Kelly solo. He was absolutely amazing!!! I love that number soo much. But, you can't forget about "The Portland Fancy," when Gene and Judy have their dance!! Amazing!
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I love Get Happy of course, just had to get that out there.
First Runner up: The Portland Fancy-i love the tapping duel, and then when the dance is done and the turn around and everyone is gone except Orville and Mr. Wingait.
Second Runner up: Heavenly Music...hilarious.
"Nobody likes a blonde in a hamster ball."-Veronica (veronica mars)
Friendly Star
shareJust saw the movie on TCM. After Phil Silvers talked Gene into letting him do the "Island" number, I was hoping to see Phil and Judy do that bit together. I was wondering how Judy would deal with Phil's inevitable clowning.
I loved the dogs in Heavenly Music! Too funny! Where do you get that many trained dogs in a rural area?
I recorded it the other day on tcm and am watching it now...I will watch the whole movie once...then i will go back and watch 2 things several more times before i delete it...Get Happy and the Newspaper dance....without those numbers its a pleaseant musical, with them its a masterpiece....
It is not our abilities that show who we truly are...it is our choices
Great posts everyone. thanks.
I love this movie!
And all the numbers mentioned here. each is powerful in its own way
Judy's delivery of "Friendly Star" floors me.
Gene's solo dance with the newspaper -- so well described in a previous post == I could do that / how does he do that
Gene singing You wonderful you to Judy
Oh, heaven.
http://www.amazon.com/Save-Send-Delete-Danusha-Goska/dp/1846949866
"Friendly Star" is always a good number. But my favorite is "You Wonderful You" with Gene singing to Judy on the stage and then his solo dance. The emotion is show strong in both numbers and you really feel it. To me the latter is stronger than the song Gene sings to Debbie Reynolds in "Singin in the Rain." There's more poignancy to it. It's more intimate.
Sometimes I get bored with slower songs but these two performers always deliver stunning, must-watch performances.
I also like the dancing in Dig Brother Dig.
There's something here that doesn't make sense. Let's go and poke it with a stick.-The Doctor