MovieChat Forums > Three Little Words (1950) Discussion > Astaire's Worst MGM Musical

Astaire's Worst MGM Musical

posted 17 years ago by gbennett5
21 replies | jump to latest

I am a devout Astaire/MGM musical fan and have to say that this is the
most boring musical he ever made. At any studio. First, let's
point out how irriating Red Skelton is. He may have been a TV legend,
great painter and overall comic genius, but here, in scene after
tedious scene, he just grates on the nerves. No, Skelton isn't helped
by the bone-dry screenplay, but his dry-as-paste character/performance
don't help matters either. To say the plot is flat is an understatement.

Vera Ellen is charming and the productin values A-plus, as is Astaire's
numbers. But the silly dialogue, corny humor, forgettable songs (the
songsmiths portrayed weren't the Gershwins) and bland-as-milk Arlene
Dahl spoil any chance of this even being a mid-level musical. Seriously,
this is so bad, it makes "Royal Wedding" and "The Belle of New York"
look like CLASSICS!

When lovely Gloria Dehaven steals the movie (gorgeous rendition of
"Who's Sorry Now" - the film's ONLY memorable song!) in a guest appearance,
you know you're watching a stinker.

NOT recommended.

[–] AcademyRatio 16 years ago

You're a dope!

[–] oldsenior 15 years ago

I guessing that you've never seen "Second Chorus". Allright that's Paramount..........but still.

[–] ungerreese 15 years ago

Worst? I think it's one of Fred's Best. He even won a golden globe. As for a poor Astaire vehicle, I would put "The Belle of New York" as my least favorite (Also Starring Vera-Ellen ironically). The Fantasy Elements worked much better I thought in "Yolanda and The Thief", Though I do prefer Vera-Ellen to Lucille Bremer.

[–] dcamonkeys 15 years ago

My 14-year-old daughter and I love this movie, and frequently quote from it. Okay, we quote the "You're a dope!" line. It makes us laugh every time.

[–] gbennett5 14 years ago

Well, it's nearly three years later, and I've watched this film several
more times, hoping I'd grow to like it. I haven't. Just finished
watching it. It's scene after scene after SCENE of Skelton and Astaire
arguing while Vera Ellen does needlpoint. Awful.

[–] FredAndGingerMad 14 years ago

I've just seen Three Little Words for the first time and i'm not sure what you were seeing as i think it was one of fred's better mgm musicals, i hadnt seen skelton, vera ellen or alene dahl in anything and i really enjoyed it

i've danced with you, i'm never gonna dance again - Lucky to Penny in Swingtime 1936

[–] gbennett5 14 years ago

If you think THIS is one of Astaire's "better musicals", I assume then that
you haven't seen "Easter Parade", "Ziegfeld Follies", "The Barkleys of
Broadway", "Royal Wedding" "The Band Wagon" and "Silk Stockings."

Watching someone like Skelton interact with Astaire is akin to putting
ketchup on a fine steak.

[–] FredAndGingerMad 14 years ago

i've seen all of them and enjoyed all of them

i've danced with you, i'm never gonna dance again - Lucky to Penny in Swingtime 1936

[–] dmnemaine 13 years ago

The only purpose that this film was made for was to present the Kalmar/Ruby song catalogue, which it does very admirably. IMO, Skelton's performance in this film is a very refreshing change from the typical over-the-top burlesque performances that he typical gave in his films. And I don't think this is Astaire's worst MGM film. That would be a toss-up between "Belle Of New York" and "Yolanda And The Thief". Plot and screenplay were secondary in films of this nature. It was all about the songs and the lavish productions given them. "Three Little Words" does it very well. Enjoy it for the music. That's what was intended.

[–] stagebandman 13 years ago

I think you approach the movie with the wrong expectations. It is not a "musical", but rather, a drama with music. It is a biography, and, as these types of things go, much better than most. Check out "Till The Clouds Roll By" (Jerome Kern), "NIght And Day" (Cole Porter), "Rhapsody In Blue" (George Gershwin), "Words And Music" (Rodgers & Hart), and the list goes on and on of "Hollywood-ized" biographies. They are NEVER the real story, but this one ain't bad.

As for the songs, as a musician who has played in big bands for the last 30 years, I've played great arrangements of every one of those tunes, and they stand the test of time.

If we all liked the same movie, there'd only be one movie!

[–] gbennett5 12 years ago

I think both "Yolanda" and "Belle" are superior to this dud. As
for the comment that this is a "drama with music", puh-lease. That
would be "A Star is Born" or "West Side Story." As for Lucille Bremer,
she was a beautiful dancer and a better actress than the flat Vera
Ellen. Astaire's work with Bremer in "Ziegfeld Follies" and the
"Coffee Time" finale in "Yolanda" trump anything Astaire did with
Ellen, who was more suitable to Gene Kelly.

[–] stagebandman 12 years ago

The "drama with music" line infers that songs are not part of the dialog. True with "A Star Is Born", but NOT with "West Side Story". And if you think this movie is such a dud, then why are you wasting your time reading comments and posting your own?

If we all liked the same movie, there'd only be one movie!

[–] gbennett5 12 years ago

Because I'm entitled to my opinion, having just published an article on
Astaire. I'm very well-versed on his career, and if my opinion doens't
jive with yours, that's too bad, isn't it?

Oh, and "West Side Story" IS a dramtic film with music, as is "A Star is
Born."

[–] stagebandman 12 years ago

You really don't get this "musical dialog" thing, do you? THink of Showboat, think of Rodgers & Hammerstein, think of Lerner & Loewe, the Sherman Brothers, etc. All these musicals had songs that advanced the plot, and the lyrics were PART OF THE DIALOG. The others, like A Star Is Born, the bios like this one, or even Elvis movies, were different. Take the songs out, you still have an understandable movie. The traditional musicals didn't work that way. Take the songs out of Music Man and all you have is a movie about a criminal. I don't know why you find this so hard to comprehend, or why you feel the need to argue this so vehemently.

And you seem to think that YOUR opinion is the only one that counts, Mr. Fred Astaire Aficionado.

If we all liked the same movie, there'd only be one movie!

[–] gbennett5 12 years ago

The revamped script for '54's "A Star is Born" IS moved "forward" by
song. After "Gotta Have me Go with You", Norman can't sleep because
he keeps thinking not only of Esther's saving him from total embarrassment,
but by her VOICE. Because she SANG. Later that night, after he hears
her sing "The Man That Got Away", he realizes he's listening to one of
the greatest voices of all time. And HE can discover her. True, "Born
in a Trunk", while showing Vicki's success is hardly moving the plot
forward, but it enriches the believability and logic that they would be
this gung-ho for her. It also shows why Norman transitions from mentor
to jealous actor. The same can be said for "West Side Story" - the story
IS advanced by the songs, as is the character development. I agree that
that "Show Boat" incorporates spoken dialogue which leads to, say, "Make
Believe", but these other films mentioned are brilliant ("Star" and "West"
frequently make the list for the ten greatest musicals ever produced.
And for good reason).

As for my opinion, YOU'RE the one who has gotten so upset because I
don't enjoy "Words" (I wish I did, as I love Astaire and Ellen, and the
resotred print on the DVD is gorgeous). But it's one of those movies
where I'm enjoying the numbers WHILE I'm watching them, then forget them
ten minutes after. As I wrote, I love DeHaven singing "Who's Sorry Now?"

This film to me, is like "Till the Clouds Roll By" - an unbearbly boring
story saved only by the guest stars. At least "Words and Music" had
a story of a tortured charcter, phony though it is.

"Words" plays like sitcom to me. Two clashing men, whose wives are
trying to get "the boys" back together. Think "I Love Lucy."

Astaire deseved better. And Skelton is annoying as always.

[–] stagebandman 12 years ago

Your last line just explained your entire tirade at this film. You don't like Red Skelton.
Well, with that little tidbit, there is no use continuing this line of discussion. Your behavior here has not only become boorish, but this prejudice against Mr. Skelton just shows that you have an incredibly closed mind.

There's no evidence that Fred Astaire disliked the film, nor his costar. As far as I'm concerned, your arguments are garbage. First, you don't know the first thing about the differences of types of musicals, and you completely refuse to acknowledge that there even IS a difference, and next, your insolence toward anyone with a different opinion shows you to be a typical IMDb troll.

This will be my last post regarding you. Go away.

If we all liked the same movie, there'd only be one movie!

[–] gbennett5 12 years ago

So, there's something wrong with me because I don't like Skelton???

No, I don't.

Furthermore, if you READ MY POST CAREFULLY, you'd note that I mentioned
how boring I thought the STORY was. So, even if John Smith played
opposite Astaire, I still wouldn't like the film! And I never SAID
Astaire and Ellen disliked this film; I said I DID.

You're the one who's a boor. AND a bore.

As for "last lines", moron, your claim about our "liking the same movie"
is what's rubbish. You are personally offended because I don't care
for "Three Little Words."

To quopte the tepid screenplay...You're a dope.

[–] george-695-323782 11 years ago

The word is JIBE, not jive.

[–] directorscut 12 years ago

It has six damn good numbers in 100 minutes. That's a pretty good hit rate.

So sezeth I, so sezeth the world.

[–] gbennett5 12 years ago

Astaire does not dance enough. He and Ellen have an all-too-short
opening number, followed by a knockout routine as the couple at
home. But Astaire's way too short solo in the barren theatre is really
his only other highlight. His number on the boat with Ellen is his
last, with tons of tedious scenes that follow. The movie ends flatly
about 30 to 40 minutes later. Richard Thorpe was to blame for much
of this yawnfest. Minnelli and Donen would've never gone near a script
like this. Walters might've livened some of it up. As it stands it's
pure tedium. No wonder none of it wound up in the That's Entertainment
films.

[–] nycruise-1 10 years ago

People are arguing with you and defending this movie - how could so many be wrong???

Well, I'd have to say that the movie is a "poor excuse" for a "Fred Astaire musical."

The problem with this film - despite its "great numbers" as some have cited - is that the historical character Astaire is portraying - Bert Kalmar - was NEVER known for his dancing but, rather, his songwriting. For that same character to have some spectacular dance numbers doesn't fit into this plot at all.

SO WHY CAST FRED ASTAIRE????

Red Skelton carries his part off because you can believe a songwriter could be something of a comedian - but WHY CAST FRED ASTAIRE in a part that lets him *some* dancing but NOTHING really show-stopping.

Other posters are saying they like the numbers - and "yes" - the numbers are enjoyable, but THEY DON'T SHOWCASE FRED ASTAIRE AND HIS DANCING. Fred has no rhyme nor reason to indulge in the kind of "spotlight" numbers where he simply cuts loose.

There's your answer! :-D
"Don't call me 'honey', mac."
"Don't call me 'mac'... HONEY!"