Sight and Sound (2002) Greatest Films Club - Page 39

Brook K · 11-07-2003, 02:35 PM

In other writings and doc's I have heard Meet Me called the first musical where the music is fully integrated into the story and comments on the action, etc., rather than the usual American practice at the time of "showstopping numbers" or of having a stage show, play or similar showcase within the movie. Now I disagree with this since IMO the Wizard of Oz and Rene Clair's early 30's French films were already doing this, but I've heard/read this said in regards to Meet Me on more than one occasion.

That said Lew, I would disagree with many of your harsh slams to the film. Are there better musicals that aren't on the S&S list? Certainly. But Meet Me is a warmly romantic film with some excellent classics like "Meet Me In St. Louis" and "The Trolley Song". It is also a finely crafted period film with gorgeous costumes and detailed props that capture this "bygone" era that shows the dawning 20th century when America would move from wagon drawn ice carts and trolleys to automobiles and buses. When gaslights would be replaced with electricity and girls would be able to spend countless hours talking to their beau's on the telephone. The hope and desire for a better world certainly felt by American's in 1940 is symbolized in the hope and optimism for the future showcased at the 1904 World's Fair.

Also as a kid watching this film, I absolutely loved the Halloween scenes. I got a charge out of watching a time when "trick or treat" really had a meaning, and woe to those who didn't hand out the treats

. And though its been a number of years since I've had a chance to see the movie, I still love those scenes and have very warm memories of them. I can understand how spraying flour in someone's face or the notion of dancing "the hootchy-kootchy" would be seen as silly or may not even register at all with modern viewers, but I love this sort of nostalgia and think its very fun to think about and imagine.

"Turgid direction by Minnelli"?! Did you see the sweeping crane shots that would become one of his signatures? His dolly and moving crane during the trolley scene? The exquisite lighting of the Halloween sequence and the lights and shadows of the romantic "turning down the gaslights" scene? And similar to Robin Hood, Meet Me is a glowing Technicolor extravaganza where the colors of costume, set, and backgrounds become a virtual character all their own.

And of course you have Judy Garland, who I know Lew and George are not particular fans of because of some flaw in her singing that doesn't exist for me. For me, she is THE female icon of musicals and I love the sound of her voice and her singing style.

But of course part of my affection for the film is growing up in a small town 30m south of St. Louis, unlike NY, Chicago, LA, etc, there are only a small handful of films set in STL, so there's that romantic connection for me to a film showcasing my city. Also unlike Atlanta, where almost nothing is left from an Olympic games that occurred just 7 years ago, in St. Louis you can walk Forrest Park and see the Art Museum, the zoo, the Jewel Box, etc that still have structures that were built for the 1904 World's Fair and you can feel the history and connection to the era portryed in the film.

Meet me in St. Lou-ee, Lou-ee
Meet me at the Fair
Don't tell me the lights are shining
Any place but there
We will dance the hootchy-kootchy
I will be your tootsie-wootsie
If you meet me in St. Lou-ee, Lou-ee
Meet me at the Fair

Clang, clang, clang went the trolley
Ring, ring, ring, went the bell
Zing, zing, zing went my heartstrings
As we pulled into Huntington Dell (You can still pull into Huntington Dell btw)

george kaplan · 11-07-2003, 05:36 PM

I'm going to have to side with Brook on this one. Sorry Lew.

I don't have much to add to what Brook said, except that it's amazing how different people's taste in music (in musicals) can be. I think this movie is filled with some great songs (e.g., Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas), but there are other well respected musicals which I just don't get (musically speaking) such as Yankee Doodle Dandy, Fiddler on the Roof, Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, etc.

george kaplan · 11-07-2003, 05:39 PM

And of course you have Judy Garland, who I know Lew and George are not particular fans of because of some flaw in her singing that doesn't exist for me.

Did I say that? I don't recall doing so, since I enjoy a number of her films and songs, and don't have any problem with her singing (I do have problems with Cagney's singing in Yankee Doodle Dandy).

Brook K · 11-08-2003, 03:29 AM

I thought you talked about her always singing off-key and not liking it, but maybe I have you confused with someone else. If so, sorry George.

I agree with you on Seven Brides, except for the very first song "Bless your beautiful hide, whereever you may be..." or however it goes which I love, I think the rest of the songs are average at best. But Seven Brides has a fun story and really-well staged dance numbers. Plus there's the Seven Brides...

But I'm a big fan of Yankee Doodle Dandy, yeah, Cagney can't really sing and doesn't exactly dance but I just love his exuberance and energy. I pretty much agree with everything in Ebert's review on his "Great Movies" list. And while much of the story is Movie Biopic 101, it has a great ending with George coming out with the soldiers marching off to WWII and they ask him if he knows the words to "Over There".

#222 is Kind Hearts And Coronets a fun and funny British comedy about a man cast out from his landed, titled family because his mother married beneath her station. Due to a quirk in history though, their family title can be passed through male or female so he sets out to shorten his path of succession. Alec Guinness provides the bulk of the high comedy by portraying 8 separate roles.

A witty script poking fun at British royalty and class and of course Guinness's justly famous performances are the highlights of this movie. For me it didn't have a bunch of laugh out loud moments, but rather a steady stream of chuckles. I also rather enjoyed the smart turns of the story as the film spins toward its conclusion.

george kaplan · 11-08-2003, 09:39 AM

Vampyr

I'm not sure if I'm more impressed with the photography in this film or more confused by the story. I thought there was some truly amazing cinematography especially for 1932, and the film had the perfect atmosphere for a horror film. As a matter of fact, my only problem with the photography (and this may be due in part to the transfer - I saw this on TCM so it's probably as good a transfer as available, but it wasn't very good at all

) was that I really could never tell if it was supposed to be day or night, which is something of a problem in a vampire movie.

Unfortunately, the story was very disjointed and unclear. Almost like a series of very interesting vignettes, that didn't go together very well. I was particularly confused by the recap of the 'out of body' experience for lack of a better description. At some point he sits down on a bench and leaves his body (this was amongst the most impressive aspects of the photography). Perhaps he's dreaming, perhaps it's something else. But whatever it is, the story continues after he gets back into his body. But then, at the very end, we see him once again, out of the blue, in that state, rescuing the girl (who is also in this dream state or whatever it is). I don't know if it's supposed to be purely symbolic or what, but it just left me confused.

Now, I know that I differ strongly from others, about whether or not such confusion or vagueness is a good or bad thing. For myself, I think it's a bad thing. I much prefer a clear storyline (which doesn't mean pedestrian). Therefore, as much as I enjoyed this on a purely visual level, I won't be adding this to my collection.

I was also less than impressed with the use of sound on this film. I know it was only 1932, but both Frankenstein and M predate this film and used sound better in my opinion.

Nevertheless, I'm impressed enough by the visuals, to not have a problem with this being on the S&S list. I put it below the first two Frankenstein flicks, but above the 31 Dracula, and a step above the vast majority of horror films prior to Psycho.

SteveGon · 11-08-2003, 09:56 AM

George, for once I'm in complete agreement with you.

Vampyre is visually striking, but far too obtuse for its own good.

Adam_S · 11-08-2003, 02:23 PM

Quote:

and incredibly turgid direction by Vincente Minnelli is at best just another musical.

Are you sure you were watching "Meet me in St. Louis" Lew? Minelli, is one of--if not the--greatest musical directors of all time... Lew's already beat me to it, but remind me in a 6 weeks and I'll pull out an old course reader and post an essay detailing the objective reasons Meet me in St. Louis is a great film, and a great musical.

I like just about every musical mentioned by George (I'm just a sucker for classic Hollywood genres

). Especially Seven Brides for SEven Brothers, possibly my all time favorite musical. Most of Bless Yore Beautiful Hide is a single tracking shot that follows Adam back and forth across the town. Lonesome Polecat has exquisite minimalist cinematography that perfectly matches the tone and feeling of the song. Then there's "Sabin Women"--I'm not sure if there's ever been a funnier song in a musical, the satire in this piece never fails to get me rolling. Need I exclaim on the brilliance of the barn raising sequence? Or the milder satire of "Goin' Cou'tin'" Ya hem and haw a little while/She gives kinda half a smile/Ya cuddle up, she moves away/Then the strategy comes into play... Roll your eyes and heave a little sigh/Grunt and groan like you're about to die/That is what's known as a emotin'/Goin' Cou'tin'.

Adam

Dome Vongvises · 11-08-2003, 03:48 PM

Maybe he's thinking of Liza Minelli.....

Lew Crippen · 11-08-2003, 05:16 PM

Where would the living room be?

In there—but they keep the liquor locked up

That’s OK—I always carry my own keys

The maid has properly sized up Walter Neff (Fred MacMurray) as having a fatal weakness and he responds with the appropriate film noir wisecrack in Double Indemnity a fine example of the genre, directed by Billy Wilder. Great cinmatrography, great screenplay, with spot-on dialogue, fine acting all the way around and direction by a master who is just hitting his stride. A must-see, even for those who are not necessarily fans of this type of film.

Lew Crippen · 11-08-2003, 05:44 PM

Well, Brook, George, Adam and Dome—what can I say? This one does not do it for me—perhaps Minnelli does not do it for me (Vincente not Lisa, Dome

), as I looked up his films in IMDB and realize overall I’m not a big fan and to the current point, I’m not a big fan of his musicals.

I liked Gigi OK, but I don’t put it in the top rank. I loved the music in An American in Paris (it is Gershwin after all), but I’m pretty sure that George and I have had some discussion as to the merits of this film already. Brigadoon I would dislike altogether, expect