And in WIDESCREEN, for heaven's sake. It took me a while to track down a copy of this on VHS-- luckily it was only a rental because when it came up in fullscreen, I started yelling & throwing things at the TV. I ph:.:cken hate pan & scan.
shareYou know, I really like this picture, and it deserves to be presented in letterbox.
I enjoy the tunes and the performances are terrific. It is a "sunset" picture...meaning it was produced in the sunset days of the motion picture musical at MGM.
Charisse was perhaps the most censored dancer in pictures. The Hays Office routinely complained about the suggestiveness of her movements and costumes.
Tough, she was titanic! What legs and what a dancer.
I think that Michael Kidd was horribly miscast, but Dan Daily is terrific, and so is Dolores Gray.
In a way, it's a sad picture, yet truthful to the time in which it was made. After the war, everything was riotous partying, and then people got down to raising their families and getting on with it. All the promises to never forget buddies and keep in touch went by the wayside because their lives took front and center...children, work, homes etc.
That's where they pick up after 10 years...totally separate from each other, and the last shot of the picture shows them going their own ways...and taking the American motion picture musical with them.
I hope other people enjoy this picture as much as I do.
I agree with the majority of your post about this great, all-but-forgotten MGM confection. Even though it came during the end of MGM's reign as musical king, it still ranks as one of the best. I do agree with what you said about Michael Kidd...he's a dancer/choreographer not an actor. IAFW was originally intended to reunite the stars of ON THE TOWN but Jules Munshin had practically retired and Frank Sinatra considered himself too big a star to take a smaller role in this film...he had already won his Oscar for FROM HERE TO ENTERNITY. This is why Kidd played the Sinatra role and Dan Dailey became Jules Munshin; however, the musical is still superb: the ash can dance, Charisse's "Baby You Knock Me Out" in the gym and Kelly's roller skate number were definite highlights for me.
shareI don't agree that Michael Kidd was "horribly miscast". What's so horrible? He certainly is believable as the Italian-American character he portrays and dances way better than Sinatra would have.
I don't think I want to go to the pictures. Oh?Why not? I've seen everything worth seeing.
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Oh I agree. I just finished seeing it on TCM and I went online to order the DVD - just to find out it does not excist :/. Luckily I taped it on VCR
I would rank this title among the top 100 of all times. It is a good story with some top dancing and action sequences. A lot of the famous musicals are too sweet and boring for my taste. I find that so far I prefer the Kelly/Donen musicals. They are funnier, faster, has better pace and more humor than the rest - that often has dull sequences
DVD is scheduled to be released April 25. In wide screen, thank you very much, and I hope they repair the wonky sound synchronization I see sometimes in the trash can lid dance.
shareThis is cause for celebration: "It's Always Fair Weather" FINALLY on DVD, in widescreen, the only way it should be seen!
shareI enjoyed the film but it's a shame that Frank and Jules did not reunite with Gene for this movie - that would have been interesting to watch. Also I love their films together.
shareI was a bit disappointed that the outtakes on the DVD were missing post in some places, but WOW at those two numbers. I can't believe they were cut, they were both showstoppers, easily two of the best choreographed in any musical (and rather obviously choreographed by Kelly alone). I literally spit up my drink when Cyd did tarzan haha.
shareThis movie is basically about 3 obnoxious macho guys who wouldn't be caught dead watching a musical movie much less appear in one. The whole concept seems phony from the get go. Of course it has some decent enough musical numbers, but I would never include it on a "best of" list.
shareThe three leading male characters are neither macho nor obnoxious. There is no reason at all to assume they would dislike musicals which are very popular among very masculine men.
shareYou say "phony," I say "creative storytelling." I mean, would you rather see three drunk sailors run gracelessly around a city street, yell and break stuff in a totally realistic, true-to-life way, or would you rather see that enacted as a beautifully coreographed dance number? It was weird and kind of fascinating.
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