scottoro

I've been hoping to see this movie for forty years. My high school chemistry teacher, Mildred Pile, used to regale us with tales of appearing somewhere in the film with a singing group known as The Hendry Sisters. Clearly she had a great fondness for the era -- even in the early 70s she was still having 1940s clothes styled for her and wore her hair like an Andrews Sister, convinced hers was the very peak of high fashion. As the years went on, the legend grew to the point she began to claim the title actually referred to them. "My sisters were the blonds and I was the redhead," she would sigh. Even at the time, I suspected that was a wild exaggeration but I hope she wasn't completely delusional and they really do appear somewhere in the film, even in the background. If anyone knows where I might locate a copy, please let me know.

Despite the fact that the popular notion is that everyone hates musicals and wouldn't be caught dead going to see one, somehow this little gem got made, and Michael Richie deserves enormous credit for bringing what most would have considered unfilmable to the screen with great imagination. In addition, the score, which previously has mostly been heard on piano, has been beautifully translated to orchestra and sung quite well by all.

After sitting on the shelf for five years, it's at last in the theaters, and I urge anyone who enjoys this nearly extinct format to rush out and see it as soon as it arrives, because seeing it in Panavision on a big screen is well worth it. I was thoroughly enchanted and am going to see it again. I would love to have the CD as well, though of course United Artists does not seem to want to make any money off this film. That it was released at all apparently is something of a miracle.