I think has Mark Sandrich not passed away he would have directed Blue Skies? It might have been a bit better under his direction. https://33.media.tumblr.com/988613804864f15ee6df300051be4233/tumblr_mx1iw9JW8h1sno1suo4_250.gif
Here is his answer in an interview when asked about White Christmas too - -
George Chakiris
You mentioned GENTLEMAN PREFER BLONDES and WHITE CHRISTMAS. Those two are my favorites for different reasons. In WHITE CHRISTMAS, Rosemary Clooney does a number called “Love, You Didn’t Do Right by Me”...
And hearing Rosemary Clooney rave about him and how his appearcance in White Christmas helped his career, she stated I think, people started asking who was that dancer etc
Amazing how Stars are discovered and made look at White Christmas - George Chakaris danced in the musical numbers with Rosemary Clooney and Vera Ellen and because of this film he went on to West Side Story!
Sadly Belle Of New York might belong as one of his worst, Blue Skies has some outstanding moments but is a stop below Holiday Inn for sure. Who was he a last minute rep;acement for?
Yes Blue Skies looked better on laser than dvd. I hold the same for Easter Parade that looked great on Laser on dvd and blu some scenes look not so good I have Easter Parade on Super 8mm full length and even that prints looks better than the dvd and blu
Just for fun
Top Grossing Movies of 1946
Rank
Movie
Release
Date
Distributor
Genre
1946 Gross
Tickets Sold
1
Song of the South
Nov 12, 1946
Walt Disney
Adventure
$49,504,170
123,760,425
2
Notorious
Aug 15, 1946
Thriller/Suspense
$24,464,742
61,161,855
3
The Best Years of Our Lives...
Spot on the dvd is decent - still have the laser it was a double with Holiday Inn and the laser looked like Technicolor much more than the dvd. Even though the film was a bit of a let down compared to Holiday Inn the film was a box office champ, audiences paid to hear Der Bingle croon and...
I know you really cannot say for certain w/o seeing the negs but interesting that such a major film would not have a full redo restoration yet when watching The Emperor Waltz one is literally in risk of getting suntan from the Glorious Technicolor!
Hugh Fordin's book tells the story where he felt something was off while they were filming Barkley's and he went over to Hermes Pan and discussed it and they realized Ginger was wearing heels making her taller than him something she had never done in their earlier films.
Fred was always respectful of Ginger - sad though Astaire's wife stopped allowing film clips of Fred and Ginger to be aired honoring Ginger while Ginger was still with us.