My Most Memorable Magic Movie Moment.

ROBERT M. · Post by **ROBERT M.** » Mon Aug 07, 2006 5:47 pm

Hello all. Thank you Mariana44 for you list of our MMMMM. I counted at least 10 musical films in the list. My favourites are mainly the MUSICALS.

Going back to "South Pacific" -- Mitzi Gaynor DID sing her own songs in the movie. She beat off competition from Doris Day ( who wouldn't perform a screen test ), Elizabeth Taylor ( who did perform a screen test, but was so nervous her voice sounded terrible ) and Mary Martin ( who played the role on Broadway, but by 1958 was considered too old for the role of Nelly Forbush in the film version ).

Lena & Harry Smith · Post by **Lena & Harry Smith** » Mon Aug 07, 2006 6:09 pm

Hi dick, welcome to the forum. We have discussed Ellie's films and her skillful tap dancing routines, and yes as Marian has said, Robert will have plenty more to add. Not sure if he knows about shuffles, buffalo, time steps or pullbacks though.

We adore Stan Kenton's music and vocalists Anita O'Day, June Christie and Chris Connor.

Lena & Harry Smith · Post by **Lena & Harry Smith** » Mon Aug 07, 2006 6:35 pm

That's an amazing list of movies that we've discussed Marian, but here is another unforgettable MMM episode from the film, "Butch Cassidy And The Sundance Kid" when the two outlaws played by Paul Newman and Robert Redford were trapped and cornered on the steep cliff edge of the canyon, their bantering is the highlight of the film, discussing the options of a shoot out and being captured by the waiting posse, and then there was the suicide leap. The final decision as Sundance shakes his head still pondering at the insanity. He grabs a gun belt that Butch holds out and they jump together wailing, OH ooooooo S-H-H H H-

Just Brilliant.!!!

mariana44 · Post by **mariana44** » Tue Aug 08, 2006 10:53 pm

Hi Robert, and all, knowing that you are like me and love the musicals--especially the "Rodgers and Hammerstein" musicals, so I wonder if you have ever seen the video/dvd called "The Sound of Movies". I just love this dvd so much.

This is how they describe it

"Join Host Shirley Jones and Leading Ladies Julie Andrews,Rita Moreno,Nancy Kwan,and Charmian Carr in this Emmy nominated-behind-the scenes tour,of their motion picture Masterpieces.
With Spectacular film footage,and never seen before outtakes,screen tests and Home Movies.

Did you know for instance that Mia farrow tested for "The Sound of Music"--And "Andy Williams for State Fair. And Frank Sinatra was all set to be Billy Bigelow in Carousel?

I have had this dvd over 10 years, and I think I imported it from USA, so you would need a multiregion player for it.. I just do not know anyone else who has this on video or dvd---which is such a shame as it is just wonderful.

Whether there are still copies about , I do not know---I guess one may turn up time to time on ebay----but if you ever see one, just grab it. You will love it as much as I do!!

Marian

Lena & Harry Smith · Post by **Lena & Harry Smith** » Wed Aug 09, 2006 12:03 am

Hi Marian, there is a video on the web-site with the Title " The Sound Of Movies." This has Julie Andrews on the front. ?? is this is the one ??
We haven't got this one but we have a video that we taped one day on all Rogers and Hammersteins music. We will have to check it out, it all sounds familiar. We have practically all the musicals. Some we haven't watched again for a while.

ROBERT M. · Post by **ROBERT M.** » Wed Aug 09, 2006 1:51 am

Hello Mariana44, Lena and Harry and all. No Mariana44, I haven't got that DVD, but it sounds great. I have 5 of those 6 Rogers and Hammerstein musicals. Guess which one I haven't got?? OK i'll tell you............................................The Sound of Music!!!!.......................I like OLDER musicals best, and the other five, which I prefer are from 1945-1958. My mum took us to see the Sound of Music when it was released in the cimema. Maybe that's why I don't like it as much

I love any extras that come with DVDs, especially the musicals, as they are so interesting to me. I am currently watching the 2 disc "South Pacific" DVDs, even listening to the all the very very interesting commentaries, which give out a lot of information regarding the making of the films.

I assume Andy Williams tested for the 1958 version of "State Fair" which starred Pat Boone, and not the 1945 version

mariana44 · Post by **mariana44** » Wed Aug 09, 2006 11:05 pm

Hi Lena and Harry---yes it is the one with Julie Andrews on the front.It os brilliant.

To my knowledge there have been 2 on tv, about Rodgers and Hammersteins music---the first was from USA, a good few years back, and celebrating Oscar Hammerstein's 100th Anniversary [since his birth I guess], and I have to say that this is my favourite one, which I often watch. I do not think it was ever on a dvd to buy-I never saw it, although I looked many times. My favourite part is the Bench scene from "Carousel" with Sally Murphy and Michael Hayden.

The other one was called "Some Enchanted Evening" from Drury Lane in 2003, and was to celebrate Richard Rodgers centenary of his birth. A lot of British artists--Ruthie Henshall, Dave Willetts,Claire Sweeney, Joanne Riding,Claire Moore. I think my favourite has to be Ruthie Henshall singing "My funny Valentine". I also bought this from Amazon, or somewhere.

Does this sound like the ones that you have, Lena and Harry?? Or Robert?

And yes Andy Williams tested for the later version of "State Fair"., on the "Sound of the Movies". I also like the fact that it features "Flower Drum Song", that is not as well known as the others, even though some of the music is lovely. I do not remember seeing it on TV---maybe it was, but ages ago, and I have searched and searched and searched for a video or DVD of this.

"The Sound of Music" was the first film I saw with my husband [or as he was then, boy friend], so for that reason alone it has special memories for me, and years later when it was released on video, we watched it many many times. It is a lovely film, not neccessarily my favourite musical.

Marian

Terrajel · Post by **Terrajel** » Thu Aug 10, 2006 5:11 pm

Hi All,

I have been thinking about favourite movie moments, and I have a lot !! Several from The Godfather as has already been discussed.

For an all time weepie scene how about The Railway Children - when Jenny Agutter is standing on the platform, and the steam from the engine gradually clears to reveal...her father. Yikes, where's me hanky....

Terra

Lena & Harry Smith · Post by **Lena & Harry Smith** » Sun Aug 13, 2006 11:45 pm

Marian, going back to the Rodgers and Hammerstein movie that we discussed, this is the one that we have hosted by Shirley Jones with Julie Andrews Rita Moreno,etc . We have just finally got around to watching it again. The uncertainty about it was that i didn't recall it being fronted by Julie Andrews but the reason for this was because we taped it from the TV. Great to watch it again though.

mariana44 · Post by **mariana44** » Mon Aug 14, 2006 11:01 am

Hi Lena and Harry---I never know that had been on TV.

Do you remember seeing the other 2 I mentioned---the centenary concert of Oscar Hammerstein, and Richard Rodgers.??

Marian

Lena & Harry Smith · Post by **Lena & Harry Smith** » Mon Aug 14, 2006 11:42 am

Marian, no we don't appear to have the other two mentioned which is unusual for us to miss anything like this, but we do have the "Oklahoma one with Maureen Lipman and Hugh Jackman. This was the screen adaptation of the stage production Trevor Nunn. Brilliant !!

mariana44 · Post by **mariana44** » Mon Aug 14, 2006 12:53 pm

Hi Lena and Harry--I actually saw this one live at the National Theatre---absolutely great--very different to the film, of course.

The video is very similar to how it was portrayed on the screen---the back grounds and everthing.

Marian

Lena & Harry Smith · Post by **Lena & Harry Smith** » Tue Aug 15, 2006 8:55 pm

Marian, we thought that Maureen Lipman played her part so well.
We did see this production when it was shown on TV from the National Theatre and yes, the film was practically identical.
There is a new production of Porgy and Bess coming to the Savoy Theatre in October. Another Trevor Nunn production.
I saw this show at the Stoll Theatre in 1953.

Gray · Post by **Gray** » Tue Sep 12, 2006 7:00 am

Hi Lena & Harry

The Long Good Friday is on telly tonight (if you haven't already got a copy on video or dvd)!

It's on the digital channel Film Four at 9pm (I think)!

Bye!

Gray

Lena & Harry Smith · Post by **Lena & Harry Smith** » Tue Sep 12, 2006 9:03 am

Hi Gray, yes we have got this film on video, but thank you for that reminder of it
Bob Hoskins is a great actor, we mentioned this before but we loved the part in this film where the Americans were calling the deal off and were about to leave for home.
He played a great part as Vivian Van Damm in (Mrs Henderson ) too with Judi Dench.