A Couple of Swells

One of my favorite musical numbers from the movies is performed by Judy Garland and Fred Astaire in Easter Parade (1948). If you haven’t seen that wonderful flick, just imagine the sophisticated Astaire and lovely Garland dressed in ultra-shabby tuxedoes and top hats singing Irving Berlin lyrics that go something like this:

We’re a couple of swells.
We stop at the best hotels.
But we prefer the country
Far away from the city smells.

Wall Street bankers are we
with plenty of currency.
We’d open up the vault,
but we forgot where we left the key.

And so forth.

Both talented performers look like they are having so much fun doing this amusing routine! And I never tire of watching them. In fact the entire movie is worth seeing over and over again. Happily, it’s available on DVD – and “A Couple of Swells” can also be viewed on YouTube.

Lighten Up, Oscar®!

Once again, members of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences have demonstrated their preference for drama over comedy and musicals. Even though the number of Best Picture nominees has been increased to ten instead of the usual five this year, the list announced yesterday does not include such high quality lighter fare as THE PROPOSAL, (500 DAYS OF SUMMER), It’S COMPLICATED and FANTASTIC MR. FOX or entertaining musicals like the terrific FAME remake, the impressive EVERY LITTLE STEP documentary and NINE, Rob Marshall’s stylistic adaptation of the award-winning Broadway show.

I, for one, am not amused.

For the complete list of Oscar® nominees, please go to www.oscar.com.

There Is Nothing Like a Dame

Who knew Dame Judi Dench could belt out a tune with the best of them? If you don’t believe me, catch her in NINE, the movie version of Broadway’s hit musical. When Judi comes on camera to sing about the Folies Bergere, her performance almost stops the show. Judi’s voice is so loud and clear and fascinating, it makes you think she’s spent her entire life in musical theater productions.

NINE also features fine solos by Marion Cotillard, Penelope Cruz, Kate Hudson, Nicole Kidman, Sophia Loren and Fergie, but it’s Dame Judi Dench who delivers the most memorable turn here.

Leading man Daniel Day-Lewis rounds out the cast as a famous Italian film director who’s lost his inspiration. As always, he simply becomes the character he plays. But in the vocal department, he’s no match for the ladies.

Johnny Depp as Sweeney Todd?

Much as I love both Johnny Depp AND movie musicals, I worry about the upcoming film version of “Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street.”

Yes, Johnny can do almost any character on film, and fans like me will flock to see him. However, is his singing voice up to the quality required in this dark, disturbing production? I certainly hope so, but the previews are of little help in determining the answer to that burning question.

Too bad we have to wait until Christmas to find out. The suspense is excruciating for me!