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| Sammy shoots and taps his way through the speakeasy |
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| Sinatra belts "My Kind of Town" |
How to hide a speakeasy
Link to Christmas:
Showing posts with label Bing Crosby. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Bing Crosby. Show all posts
Tuesday, December 04, 2018
favorite movie #99 - holiday edition: robin and the 7 hoods
Favorite movies that have had an impact on me - #99 - Robin and the 7 Hoods (1964) - Frank Sinatra and his Rat Pack buddies Dean Martin, Sammy Davis, Jr. have fun with this Robin Hood-inspired musical. There are fun musical numbers, lots of mobster-inflected dialogue, and a general devil-may-care attitude that makes the good guy gangster romp fun. Sinatra introduces the hit song "My Kind of Town,' but my favorite numbers are Sammy Davis, Jr. shooting up a speakeasy with "Bang! Bang!" and Bing Crosby presiding over "Mr. Booze." Crosby, Sinatra, and Martin also do a great rendition of "Style". All of the songs are by Sammy Cahn and Jimmy Van Heusen.
Monday, December 03, 2018
favorite movie #98 - holiday edition: white christmas
Favorite movies that have had an impact on me - #96 - White Christmas! (1954) - There's so much I love about this film. The banter between Bing Crosby and Danny Kaye (I much prefer them as a duo to Bing and Bob Hope), the bright, splashy Irving Berlin musical numbers (except for the problematic minstrel number, but at least they left out the blackface that was in Holiday Inn), the amazing dance done by Danny Kaye and Vera-Ellen, Bing's bluer-than-blue eyes, and his romancing Rosemary Clooney over a liverwurst sandwich. I could go on and on and watch it every year (probably more than once during December).
The best things, happen when you're dancing ...
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| Sisters, sisters ... |
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... There were never such devoted sisters ...
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Tuesday, December 15, 2015
white christmas
I love the film White Christmas and Bing Crosby still has the definitive version of the song, but The Drifters' rendition is my favorite.
Wednesday, December 09, 2015
when bowie met der bingle
Another of my favorite holiday songs is "Peace on Earth/Little Drummer Boy," by David Bowie and Bing Crosby. I remember watching this Christmas special, "Bing Crosby's Merrie Olde Christmas," on TV when it first aired in 1977. I can still see myself, sitting with my dad in the living room, our worlds colliding, as this odd couple sang this duet. It's sad and strange that the holiday season is the only time we get to hear these two guys on the radio these days ...
Sunday, January 20, 2013
happy (100th) birthday danny kaye
He could dance at times like Fred Astaire, trip and fall like the clumsiest clown, play a hero, a dope, or just be funny. His patter songs became a trademark. Danny Kaye was frequently silly, but also smart and always entertaining. The kid adores him in White Christmas with Bing Crosby. TCM is showing his movies all day today, so I am recording some more for her to see, and for myself, too.
As familiar as I am with the brilliant Court Jester and his signature film, The Secret Life of Walter Mitty, there are many, like Merry Andrew, that sound fun but I have never heard of. Should be fun for us both to catch up with the wonderfully talented Danny Kaye.
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| Kaye with frequent costar Virginia Mayo, in stills for A Song is Born |
Sunday, November 18, 2012
holiday movies — white christmas
The kid has been super-excited about Christmas lately. We put some holiday-themed decals on our windows yesterday afternoon and in the evening she pulled out two holiday movies to watch. Her first choice was White Christmas with Bing Crosby, Danny Kaye, Vera Ellen and Rosemary Clooney. The apple doesn't fall very far from the tree. This is one of my favorites, and last year I bought it on Blu-ray. It was like seeing a completely different movie. Of course the huge HD television screen helps, but I was once again amazed at how great the movie looks. The bright colors and details of the sets just pop. And who knew that Bing Crosby's eyes were so blue? But what I love best about White Christmas is Danny Kaye. The man could do anything, as he so elegantly proves in this dance number with Vera Ellen, "The Best Things Happen While You're Dancing."
Kaye was actually second choice to play the role of Crosby's sidekick. The movie was originally written as a vehicle for Crosby and Fred Astaire, who turned down the role. Kaye signed on after Astaire's replacement, Donald O'Connor, dropped out. Although I love Fred Astaire, he is not missed in this film. Kaye is perfect. Check out the dance clip when he spins around a pole around the 2:11 mark. Gorgeous. That's the same guy who could be goofy (and funny) as hell in The Court Jester?
The kid got tired out before the movie finished, and feel asleep before the big Technicolor finale, so I have a feeling we will be screening this one again before Christmas actually hits. I'm O.K. with that. I may have to look up The Court Jester, too.
Kaye was actually second choice to play the role of Crosby's sidekick. The movie was originally written as a vehicle for Crosby and Fred Astaire, who turned down the role. Kaye signed on after Astaire's replacement, Donald O'Connor, dropped out. Although I love Fred Astaire, he is not missed in this film. Kaye is perfect. Check out the dance clip when he spins around a pole around the 2:11 mark. Gorgeous. That's the same guy who could be goofy (and funny) as hell in The Court Jester?
The kid got tired out before the movie finished, and feel asleep before the big Technicolor finale, so I have a feeling we will be screening this one again before Christmas actually hits. I'm O.K. with that. I may have to look up The Court Jester, too.
Monday, October 24, 2011
you've either got or you haven't got style
We watched the movie Robin and the Seven Hoods
last night and it was, as always, a lot of fun. What really struck me as I watched Frankie, Dino, and Der Bingle was the absolute joy and ease they had in performing, which was translated directly to the audience. It's impossible to watch them do this number and not smile.
I don't think that their style should or could really be copied (no matter how many try), or that it would even sound right in today's world as anything contemporary. But it seems that so many entertainers today are so labored, so overdone. So many cheerleader-style synchronized dancing and microphone headsets. It's all such a production. There's lots of pyrotechnics, but little joy.
I really enjoy Lady Gaga, but was exhausted after watching her recent special on HBO with all of the elaborate stage sets and back-up dancers. I realize that's what a concert is these days, but the most powerful moments of the program were the a capella version Gaga and her company did of "Born This Way" over the closing credits. She has been doing some more soulful renditions of her songs lately, without all of the sturm und drang, so she must realize too, that sometimes simple and easy is best.
And if any of today's performers would like to see how a relaxed performance can yield high results, all they have to do us take a look at these three guys:
last night and it was, as always, a lot of fun. What really struck me as I watched Frankie, Dino, and Der Bingle was the absolute joy and ease they had in performing, which was translated directly to the audience. It's impossible to watch them do this number and not smile.I don't think that their style should or could really be copied (no matter how many try), or that it would even sound right in today's world as anything contemporary. But it seems that so many entertainers today are so labored, so overdone. So many cheerleader-style synchronized dancing and microphone headsets. It's all such a production. There's lots of pyrotechnics, but little joy.
I really enjoy Lady Gaga, but was exhausted after watching her recent special on HBO with all of the elaborate stage sets and back-up dancers. I realize that's what a concert is these days, but the most powerful moments of the program were the a capella version Gaga and her company did of "Born This Way" over the closing credits. She has been doing some more soulful renditions of her songs lately, without all of the sturm und drang, so she must realize too, that sometimes simple and easy is best.
And if any of today's performers would like to see how a relaxed performance can yield high results, all they have to do us take a look at these three guys:
Sunday, January 09, 2011
(b)ratpack
The kid loves Der Bingle. She's almost seven, but I think she's seen White Christmas
that many times already. Over the holidays we watched that movie a few times as well as a special on PBS on Bing, featuring his many television specials and guests.
next ...
Der Bingle quotes from imdb
that many times already. Over the holidays we watched that movie a few times as well as a special on PBS on Bing, featuring his many television specials and guests.[on Frank Sinatra] Frank is a singer who comes along once in a lifetime, but why did he have to come in mine?I actually remember seeing Bing's duet with David Bowie on television with my parents in Crosby's Christmas special first run, although I didn't realize at the time that Bing was recently no more. I guess my parents didn't tell me.
[about Elvis Presley] He helped to kill off the influence of me and my contemporaries, but I respect him for that. Because music always has to progress, and no-one could have opened the door to the future like he did.I just downloaded some pix from the iPhone and lo and behold my budding iPhonographer had documented one of the best numbers on the special, Bing with Frankie and Dino. My little (b)ratpacker. Maybe I can rent Robin and the Seven Hoods
next ...[on Judy Garland] The most talented woman I ever knew was Judy Garland. She was a great, great comedienne and she could do more things than any girl I ever knew. Act, sing, dance, make you laugh. She was everything. I had a great affection for her. Such a tragedy. Too much work, too much pressure, the wrong kind of people as husbands.
Der Bingle quotes from imdb
Sunday, December 20, 2009
snow, snow, snow, snow . . .snow!
Seems perfect for the blizzard of 2009.
White Christmas is one of my favorite holiday movies. It's corny in parts, And has the classic girl misunderstands boy plot that drives me nuts. But it has some wonderful numbers, courtesy of Bing Crosby, Rosemary Clooney, Danny Kaye and Vera-Ellen. My favorite is "Snow." I love how they make the winter scene out of two napkins as they wait for their "snow" cocktails.
White Christmas is one of my favorite holiday movies. It's corny in parts, And has the classic girl misunderstands boy plot that drives me nuts. But it has some wonderful numbers, courtesy of Bing Crosby, Rosemary Clooney, Danny Kaye and Vera-Ellen. My favorite is "Snow." I love how they make the winter scene out of two napkins as they wait for their "snow" cocktails.
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