SPIFFYKITCHEN

Not a well known MGM Musical, Always Fair Weather came through the somewhat traumatic diatribes between the creative minds of Gene Kelly and Stanley Donen to be a wonderful bit of watching. Just don't let the players get you down too much with their petty fights, bickering and other assorted nonsense. I first saw the film at a special screening in Chicago around 1989 or 1990, I don't think I even had a VCR back then. The host of the program, a film society as I recall, had even managed to have Dolores Gray show up in person and meet the attendees! So I met Dolores and she was very kind and outgoing as I recall. I remember her relating the fact (after I mentioned her album credit) that she appeared on the soundtrack of 'There's No Business Like Show Business' because Marilyn Monroe was under contract to RCA and thus couldn't sing on a Decca record. Dolores had put on some pounds in the intervening years, but was still her bouncing self- She even signed my program - the only genuine MGM star I ever met. Bless her! sadly she passed away in 2002. (She was in 4 major films at MGM in the 1950's- but be sure to see the movie 'Mr. Skeffington' with Bette Davis from the early 1940's - She had a bit part as a cabaret singer and does a good turn). As for Weather - If you haven't seen the DVD version make sure you do, not only are all dance moves in Cinemascope preserved you also get to see two deleted musical numbers - Let's just say It's great to see new scenes when you've thought you saw all there was to see from MGM. Gene must have been boiling over Michael Kidds fun number from the film because it made it to the cutting room floor pronto! The Girl Can't Help It with Jayne Mansfield was also a movie with a gangster-bad guys storyline - however it's lighter touch spared the viewers of all the negative vibes you might experience with Weather - if you pay any attention to the clouds.

I'm in awe of Mary Poppins, it's a magical movie. I did see it as a young boy, and then saw it when I was older, and then saw it again. It still weaves a magic spell on me! Ms Travers is said to have wanted many changes from Walt, as well she might because whose printed stories could compete with this extravaganza anyway? Julie is making a great film debut. I've tried to find something that could be improved with her performance. But can't. She nailed this one. Other areas of the film are nearly as good. It's hard to imagine any modern day special effects surplanting the ones in the film, however hokey or contrived they may seem. The songs echo through time and still are great. It would be nice to hear more of Chim Chim Cheree in the film however. Dick Van Dyke, the original Disney DVD, is fun to watch, even if a bit over the top at times. Karen Dotrice and Matthew Garber give on the money portrayals as do nearly every body else in the cast. Unfortunately I can't recall when I first saw this film anymore, my memory is blurred, however I did see Karen's other wonderful film in 1964 The Three Lives of Thomasina and I recall a fond memory of seeing this film with my grandmother when visiting her. Bring the kids! Fun Fun Fun. Buy this movie and save the rental charges for future screenings.

This movie is also outlandish, swingish, avant garde, and surreal. I wish I had never seen it, then I could see it for the first time and it would be all new, and I could be bowled over! Numerous screenings have numbed my impressions, The Lady in the Tutti Fruitty hat doen't seem that outrageous, the banana ballet doesn't seem so strange, the Polka Dot Polka is kinda neat, Even Benny Goodman singing Padukah, (Probably in response to the success of Glen Miller's Chatanooga Choo Choo) seems not to out of the ordinary, however Alice Faye singing 'No Love - No Nothing' does seem stale, especially when she picks up her off to war husbands slippers and fondles them. But this is the early forties and if your not a hep cat, a few things will be astray. One has to wonder - Technicolor was very expensive and not too common in 1943 - The head of 20th Century Fox must have said to Busbee Burkeley - Here buzz take this color - and make the most colorful movie ever - and I think he succeeded - Hook me up Soldier!