Musicals Week: Singin' in the Rain (1952)

Singin’ in the Rain

Call No: PN1997 .S523 1997

Musicals week just wouldn’t be fitting without reviewing Singin’ in the Rain, the film many consider to be not only the greatest musical of all time, but one of the best films ever made. The film captured the hearts of many with its incredible music, entertaining characters and simplistic storyline. I have to admit that the first time I watched it, I had no idea what I was in for. I knew nothing about it and had no idea what the premise was. It wasn’t long before I was swept up in the magic of the film.

Here’s the story: It’s the golden age of silent film, and Don Lockwood (Gene Kelly) and Lena Lamont (Jean Hagen) are stars of their studio, Monumental Pictures. Don is on top of the world with his best friend Cosmo (Donald O’Connor) and newfound love Kathy (Debbie Reynolds) by his side. Unfortunately, talking pictures are becoming popular. Unless the studio and the duo can come up with a successful talking picture, their careers are finished. There’s just one problem: Lena, though beautiful, doesn’t exactly have the voice to match.

Musicals Week: My Fair Lady (1964)

My Fair Lady

Call No: PN1997.2 .M9 2004

Last week I reviewed a film called Pygmalion, based on George Bernard Shaw’s play of the same name. This week I thought it would be fair and look at the other popular musical adaptation, My Fair Lady. Incidentally, My Fair Lady and my previous reviewed film Mary Poppins both came out in 1964, and competed against each other for many of the top awards. They went on to win thirteen awards between them, with Mary Poppins getting five (including Best Actress and Best Song) while My Fair Lady received eight (including Best Picture).

The premise is the same as last time. Linguist Professor Henry Higgins makes a wager that, in six months, he can present cockney flower girl Eliza Doolittle as a duchess an embassy ball. But Henry may get more than he bargained for in this musical and entertaining battle of the sexes wages. Problems arise. Potential love interests interfere. And so begins the music, laughter, hijinks and love as the two work and fight together to try and win his bet.

Musicals Week: Mary Poppins (1964)

Mary Poppins

Call No: PN1997 .M364 1964

When Julie Andrews presented David Tennant with his BAFTA award for playing the title character on Doctor Who, he opened his acceptance by saying “If nothing else ever happens to me in my life, I just met Julie Andrews!” Fans across the world could relate to his excitement. The multi-talented Julie Andrews has been a darling of film and theatre for years, and for good reason. The woman brings an open honesty and charm to her roles that has not often been duplicated, and never as successfully. Her role of the title character in Mary Poppins is an excellent example of this.

Almost everyone recognizes the umbrella-flying nanny (or even her counterpart from The Simpsons, Sherry Bobbins), but here’s a refresher for the story: Jane and Michael Banks, two loveable kids who have a knack for losing their nannies in the park and causing mischief typical of children, have recently driven their last nanny to leave. This upsets their strict and workaholic father, who insists on hiring the new nanny rather than his suffragette wife. Enter (with some hilarity) Mary Poppins, “practically perfect in every way” and able to effortlessly conjure magic wherever she goes. With a little help, magic and showtunes from Mary Poppins, the four Banks members might find a way to be a family again.