Tag Archives: Musical

Musical Interests

I am very pleased that my son is already interested in music. My entire family plays musical instruments and sings and I am happy that my son has shown an interest as well. It doesn’t seem to matter what genre of music is playing, my son is singing, dancing or humming along with any music that he hears. He sings the theme song to television shows and listens to the radio in the car. He loves dancing to the music on different cartoons and movies. Over the weekend, we went to hear some of my family play music. It was … Continue reading →

Yentl (1983)

“Yentl” is one of the most deeply touching films I’ve ever seen. I saw it for the first time when I was about ten, and the memory of it stayed with me until I saw it again, years later. Barbra Streisand truly shines in this role. Her name is Yentl, and she’s the daughter of a rabbi. Women are forbidden to study the Talmud, but she badly yearns to have the religious education of her father and his students. At night, she draws the blinds and her father (Nehemiah Persoff) teaches her the sacred words of the book, knowing that … Continue reading →

Anchors Aweigh (1945)

“Anchors Aweigh” is a charming film. When Clarence Doolittle (Frank Sinatra) and Joseph Brady (Gene Kelly), members of the gun crew on a Navy submarine, take heroic action in the face of danger, they are awarded the Silver Cross and given three days of leave on shore in California. They immediately head to Hollywood, where Lola, one of Joe’s many girlfriends, is waiting for him. However, he’s not fated to meet up with Lola—he keeps getting sidetracked. First, there’s Clarence, who has never had a girlfriend and badly wants Joe to teach him how to get one. Clarence is a … Continue reading →

Hairspray (2007)

I didn’t have the faintest idea what to expect going into “Hairspray.” I knew it was a comedy and I had heard rumors that John Travolta was in it and wore a dress, but I wasn’t expecting what I got. He wasn’t just in a dress – he was in a dress, fat suit, wig, and full makeup, portraying Edna Turnblad, mother of the main character. Her name is Tracy Turnblad (Nikki Blonksi) and she’s a little on the portly side. That doesn’t keep her from bustin’ a move at every chance – she loves to dance and is pretty … Continue reading →

“Little House on the Prairie–The Musical”

I don’t know if a more dedicated “Little House on the Prairie” fan exists… If my friend Kristine’s husband had consented, my pal would have changed her name to Laura Ingalls Wilder long ago. This is a woman who would rearrange her daily schedule (mind you she has two kids) to watch “Little House” reruns when they aired on local TV up until about a year ago. She has all the books, the books on tape, walls lined with videos she recorded when the show used to air on TBS… no doubt about it; Kristine is a die-hard “Little House” … Continue reading →

Daddy-Long-Legs (1955)

When I reviewed the young adult novel “Daddy-Long-Legs” by Jean Webster last week, I recalled that a movie by the same name had been made, and I headed over to Amazon to find it. It arrived in yesterday’s mail, and I had a wonderful time last night watching it. As I expected, the movie was quite different from the book, so I don’t worry about repeating myself as I review the film. Jervis Pendleton (Fred Astaire) is a happy-go-lucky and slightly immature bachelor millionaire. He’s never been married, has never taken business very seriously, and is only kept on track … Continue reading →

The Happiest Millionaire (1967)

Starring Disney movie staple Fred MacMurray, “The Happiest Millionaire” is the movie in which Lesley Ann Warren made her big screen debut. Playing Cordie Drexel-Biddle, the oldest child and only daughter of an eccentric millionaire, she brings to life the real Cordie, who wrote a book about her childhood memories upon which this movie is based. Mr. Biddle (MacMurray) is an unusual man to say the least. He teaches a Bible school/boxing class in a converted stable in the back yard, and a whole room of his house is dedicated to his pet alligators. Mrs. Biddle (Greer Garson) is a … Continue reading →

Finian’s Rainbow (1968)

I’m a huge Fred Astaire fan. I’m sure you’ve figured that out. But you know, I still haven’t quite decided what I think about “Finian’s Rainbow,” the last movie in which Fred Astaire had a dancing role. Finian McLonergan (Astaire) has emigrated from Ireland with his beautiful daughter Sharon (Petula Clark, who was nominated for Best Actress for this role). They are starting a whole new life for themselves in Rainbow Valley, Missitucky (of course, this is a made-up location, and a downright clever one, too!) Finian has a secret – he has a pot of gold, stolen from a … Continue reading →

Brigadoon (1954)

Gene Kelly and Van Johnson star as best buddies Tommy Albright and Jeff Douglas in this mystical, romantic tale set in Scotland. Tommy is engaged to marry Jane, and yet feels hesitant about tying the knot. Tired of hectic city life in America, Tommy and Jeff decide to go hunting in Scotland for a week and stumble upon a quaint old village called Brigadoon, which is not on the map. To the men’s surprise, the village seems to be functioning about two hundred years behind the times, complete with a fair being held in the town square. Tommy (Kelly) is … Continue reading →

The Harvey Girls (1946)

Way back when the west was young and the Santa Fe Railroad was being built, entrepreneur Fred Harvey set up a chain of restaurants along the railway for the hungry, weary passengers to get a good meal and rest up. Each location boasted good food, efficient waitresses, and thick, juicy steaks. In this 1946 Judy Garland film, we see her as Susan Bradley, a mail order bride, come to New Mexico to marry a man she’s only met through letters. When she arrives in town, she finds that the man she’s supposed to marry is not the man who wrote … Continue reading →