Tantalizing Trivia: Oklahoma!

Gloria Grahame, the actress who played the flighty, boy-crazy nitwit Ado Annie in Oklahoma! (1955) was completely tone-deaf. Like totally. Couldn't sing a note.

Her songs were put together with extensive editing. Really extensive. Apparently every individual note had to be pieced together from her stanky singing.

Here is her solo number from the film, "I Cain't Say No." She's carrying the tune, but you can tell - this broad ain't no singer. Why they didn't choose a seasoned songstress, I'll never know, but Ado Annie just happens to be my fave character in the entire film.

Exquisite Extra: Mamma Mia!

Oh lordy. There are no words to describe how happy this gem made us. We never had the pleasure of experiencing this hit on Broadway BUT we don't think it would have swayed our opinion of the movie. Fun, light musical numbers set in beautiful Greece. It doesn't get much better than that.

We loved Meryl, loooved the soundtrack and loved the fact that there were no major conflicts. One big happy cheesefest that we have rewatched over and over and over. Here's a behind-the-scenes featurette for all of you who enjoyed this flick as much as we did!

Sublime Soundtracks: Sister Act 1 & 2

If you wanna be somebody... if you wanna go somewhere... you better wake up and see Sister Act 1 and 2.

Sister Mary Clarence: LA LA LA LA LA LA LA!

Choir: LA LA LA LA LA!

Sister Mary Clarence: LA!

Choir: LA!

Ok, so if you haven't seen it, you won't get that... but all the more reason to freaking see it. What are you waiting for? What's wrong with you?

Sorry, sorry... we get that way when we feel strongly about something.

Sister Act (1992) and Sister Act 2: Back in The Habit (1993) are truly religious experiences to Cin-Obs everywhere... pun intended. Whoopi Goldberg is brillz, and the music is rockin'.

The soundtrack album (for the first film) debuted at #74 and eventually reached #40 on the Billboard Top 200 Albums Chart where it charted for 54 weeks. Later in the year of the film's release, Whoopi Goldberg and the film "nuns" performed at a Democratic fundraiser for Bill Clinton. (Wikipedia)

So we weren't the only ones who lurrved it lots! It was a phenomenon!

This musical masterpiece is a triumph. It brings all the right elements together to make a truly sublime soundtrack, for example:

- The old nuns who suck, then get really good
- Rehearsals, montages, and the big performance
- The Vegas Show scene
- The punk kids who turn out to be really talented
- The big competition

Have we convinced you yet? Not to mention the music itself is bloody wonderful.
Ok, ok... talking about music is ridiculuz, you just gotta hear it.

Sister Act: Whoopi (aka Deloris Van Cartier, aka Sister Mary Clarence) whips the ailing nun choir into shape. This is their big reveal as a kick-ass ensemble.



Sister Act 2: The bad-ass ghetto students pull it together with their original rendition of a churchy classic and blow the audience away. We also get reminded that Lauryn Hill can actually sing.



Buy the soundtrack. Listen to it. And make it a habit. (Get it? Nuns... habit... nevermind)

PS - Sister Act is going to Broadway. The music was THAT good.

Click here to see more Sublime Soundtracks!

Dazzling Dance: Fiddler on the Roof

MAZEL TOV!!!

Now THIS looks like a real celebration! Geez, this makes all the weddings I've been to look like total snoozefests.

If I tried the bottle-balancing act, there'd be a lot of smashing and people stepping on shards of glass. You know what, I'd just take the role of the person who drank until the bottles were empty... then sit back and enjoy the festivities.

Tantalizing Trivia: Guys And Dolls

Frank Sinatra made a public stink about Marlon Brando being cast as Sky Masterson in the 1955 screen version of Guys And Dolls. The role was bigger than that of Nathan Detroit, and Sinatra thought himself the bigger star.

Brando couldn't carry a tune in a bucket, and his musical numbers were a patchwork of multiple takes.

Sinatra even openly nicknamed Brando "Mumbles" for the way he delivered his lines.

Brando's character got to sing one of the best songs in the film, Luck Be A Lady (come on, you totally know it) and this really got under Frankie's skin - so much so that he made it part of his stage show for years later in his career.

Memorable Monologue: The Producers

"How did it begin? He walked into my office with his cockamamy scheme! You can make more money with a flop than with a hit! We can do it. We can do it. I can't do it. We can do it. I can't do it. Good-bye Max! Oh Lord I want that money! I'm back Max! Come on Leo we can do it! Step 1: Find the Play! See it, Smell it, Touch it, Kiss it! Hello Mr. Liebkind! Guten Tag, hop hop Guten Tag, clop clop! Adolf Elizabeth Hitler? Guten Tag, hop hop Guten Tag, clop clop! Step 2: Hire the Director Keep it gay, keep it gay, keep it Two-three, kick, turn, turn, turn, kick, turn! Ulla! Oooh wah weee wah wah wow wowie! Step 3: Raise the Money! Along Came Bialy! Step 4: Hire all the actors! A wandering minstrel I, A thing of shreds and... Next! The little wooden boy. Next! That's our Hitler! Break a leg! I broke my leg! Springtime for Hitler and Germany- A surprise smash! Springtime for Hitler and Germany- It'll run for years! Where did we go right? Where did we go right? Gimme those books Fat, fat, fatty! Gimme those books! Fat, fat, fatty! Books, fat! Books, fat! Books, fat! Books, fat! Lousy fruit- Kill the actors You ever eat with one? Then you ran to Rio And you're safely out of reach, I'm behind these bars you're banging Ulla on the beach! Just like Julius Caesar was betrayed by Brutus, Who'd think an accountant would turn out to be my Judas! I'm so dismayed, is this how I'm repaid? To be... Betrayed! BETRAYED!"

~ Nathan Lane as Max Bialystock in The Producers (2005)

Audacious Audition: The Producers

Voilà! Another Audacious Audition - this time from Mel Brooks' 1968 production of The Producers.

Now before you get offended seeing countless Hitlers wandering around and saluting and crap, you need to know the premise of the film. Broadway producers Bialystock and Bloom are out to make the worst show of all time (in a crazy scheme to make a fortune), so they sought out the offensive material and bad actors.

Audition today for the role of Adolf Hitler! No previous experience required!

Tantalizing Trivia: Bye Bye Birdie

Many of the actors from the 1963 version of Bye Bye Birdie have stated they were unhappy with the final product of the film, feeling it turned into a star vehicle for Ann-Margret.

Director George Sidney was smitten with Margret and, at his own expense, added in this title sequence. It was filmed 6 months after initial production was finished. Margret is prominently featured singing a song at the beginning of the film, AND at the end. This song was written expressly for this purpose, not having been included in the original Broadway production.

I guess the other actors had a point.

Scintillating Scene: Hello Dolly!

Hey Cin-Obs. I know this is a 8 minute clip, but I'm asking you the favour of watching the whole thing.

Found this classic on DVD at HMV for SIX DOLLARS, and if you know me at all, you know I can't pass up a musical. And this is a STREISAND musical.

Hello Dolly! (1969) won the Oscar for best music, and boy did it deserve it. This clip here is the crowning jewel of the film. Not only is it the most remembered song in the film, but the dance numbers that accompany it are amazing. Waiters flyin' all over the place, corny food props, it's a feast for the eyes! AND THE EARS!

I could rave about every moment of this scene from sets to costumes, but you just need to watch to appreciate it.

And if you feel it's a little long, keep this in mind - the legend Louis Armstrong makes a cameo late in the clip at the 5:28 mark. And that's not something you'll wanna miss.

As expected, different versions of NINE poster!

As previously stated (since I know all, and see all) there are more versions of the Nine poster... I knew they wouldn't leave us hanging with just Kate, Penelope and ... *shudder*... Fergie.

Oh no... we got more! Of course we had to see frozen-faced Kidman, the legendary ladies Sophia Loren and Dame Judi Dench... oh yeah and frenchie Marion Cotillard. Yeah... she's pretty. Might as well show her off too. Oh and duh... Mr. Daniel Day... I love him, even though he pretty much scares me in every movie.

Oh yeah, we also got Fergie again... this time playing in the sand and looking like what would happen if Evil and Ugly had a baby.... and it turned out to be a hooker.

BEEEEE ITALIAN! Poster and Featurette for Rob Marshall's NINE!

Here it is folks! One of the promotional posters for the upcoming musical NINE. Can't wait for this one! Singin' and dancin' and sparkly outfits... how could you go wrong? Plus Daniel Day Lewis, and he pretty much doesn't make bad movies... like ever.

With all the huge stars in this film, I can't believe they only selected three for the poster! I'm betting there's other versions of this out there with the other folks on it... there's gotta be one with plastic-face Nicole Kidman. Cuz I mean, people still like her... right?

Now check out some rehearsal footage, mixed with the final product. This just might be another Chicago for us... meaning watched over and over and over and over with the soundtrack on constant repeat in the car, mixed with fantasies of permorning every musical number, with the occassional private dance routine in my bedroom in fishnets.

Opulent Opening: Sister Act 2

This soundtrack is on permanent rotation in our car. We sit quietly and calmly as the intro begins and then we go apeshit. We sing in unison, we sing in rounds, harmonies are happening left, right and center. It's wild. It's frequent.

It's classic.

It's Sister May Clarence yo.

Dazzling Dance: Chicago

I'm not even ashamed to say I put on this soundtrack in my bedroom and pranced around like a jazz vixen. Yeah. I did. I had some hardcore dance fantasies about this movie. So what. I've done more embarrassing things.

Dazzling Dance: Guys and Dolls

Since we recently discussed Marlon Brando's lack of musical ability, have a look at a great dance scene from the 1955 MGM version of Guys and Dolls. Skip to about 50 seconds to get the the weirdest salsa dancing you've ever seen, plus one hell of a bitch fight.

Ripley's Believe It Or Not - The Movie! BELIEVE IT!

The classic freakshow franchise is coming to the big screen, sometime in 2011!

And guess who's gonna play Mr. Ripley?

I'm sure all first guesses would be Johnny Depp, because he just loves weird crap like that... but no!

It's Jim Carrey! LOVE IT!

Not many details have been released about the plot or other cast, but we did get our hands on that one juicy tidbit!

You know he'll do wonders with that character. We like your serious stuff Jim, but let's face it... you're wacky to the core and that's what we wanna see!

See also: Brilliant Bloopers: A Series Of Unfortunate Events

Memorable Monologue: Chicago

"I'm standin' in the kitchen, carving up a chicken for dinner, minding my own business, when in storms my husband, Wilbur, in a jealous rage. 'You've been screwing the milkman,' he said. He was crazy, and he kept on screaming, 'You've been screwing the milkman.' And then he ran into my knife... he ran into my knife ten times."

~ Deidre Goodwin as June in Chicago (2002)

Captivating Close-Up: Tim Curry

Timothy James "Tim" Curry (born 19 April, 1946) is an English actor, singer, composer and voice artist, known for his work in a diverse range of theatre, film and television productions. He currently resides in Los Angeles, California. Curry first became known to audiences with his breakthrough role as Frank N. Furter in the 1975 cult movie The Rocky Horror Picture Show. Besides The Rocky Horror Picture Show, he is known for his role as Wadsworth in the film Clue. He most recently has performed the role of King Arthur in the Broadway hit Monty Python's Spamalot. Curry is also well known as Pennywise the Dancing Clown in the horror film Stephen King's It.

Curry was cast as the Joker in Warner Brothers' Batman: The Animated Series, and even recorded several episodes worth of dialogue. Reports differ as to why he was replaced by Mark Hamill in the role. One source says that the producers felt his interpretation was too dark and frightening and replaced him with Hamill. At the 1993 San Diego Comic-Con, Bruce Timm told a panel audience that Curry could not maintain the Joker voice for long, and would violently cough between takes.

Curry was also cast as the voice of SIR (Simulated Intelligence Robotics) at Walt Disney World's 'Alien Encounter', which ran from 1995 to 2003.

Source: Wikipedia

Tempting Trailer: Guys and Dolls

Wow, have trailers ever changed! Check out the trailer for Guys and Dolls (1955). Not only is it 5 minutes long, but has an intro by Ed Sullivan himself! It's also not the quick outline of a movie, like we see nowadays in a trailer... it shows audiences almost full scenes and musical numbers!

Love the trailer as much as we love the movie! It's an art that has evolved over the years, so the oldies are fun to watch!

Oklahoma: A Classic Review

OOOOOOKLAHOMA where the wind comes sweepin' down the plaines! YEEEHAW!!!

I'm sorry I just can't help myself. I'm a sucker for cheesey movies, dance numbers, and cowboys and farmers who are well trained in jazz, ballet, and tap.

Oklahoma! is a 1955 musical based on the 1940's stage hit, starring Shirley Jones (of Partridge Family fame) in her film debut! She was only 21!

Boy oh boy, have I ever rewatched this movie. The songs are constantly in my head, and I find myself randomly breaking into hoedowns and little two-steppin' jigs. I want to live in the movie. I would if I could, honestly.

It's not just me who loves it either... In 2007 Oklahoma! was selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry by the Library of Congress as being "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant" (Wikipedia). This is a big deal in the film world... it means the government is recognizing a film as an important part of American culture.

The plot is quite simple - it's the turn of the century, a lovely farm girl and a dashing cowboy fight against their feelings for each other, and overcome some lame obstacles to end up together, with singin', dancin', horses, and corsets thrown in for good measure. Easy, light-hearted, and fun. Period.

But back to my obsession. If you love corny musicals, this movie is for you. It's chalk-full of great dialogue, with words like "purty" and "dangit" and "reckon."

Check out the opening scene below, featuring one of the most popular songs to come from the film. I bet you know it, and didn't even know where it came from. Am I right? Told ya so...

Once on This Island

This musical was a success on Broadway (based on a novel), and New Line Cinema is going to bring it to the silver screen in 2010. There isn't much info about the movie project, other than the fact that it will get done.

Once on This Island is a retelling of The Little Mermaid, with some plot elements of Romeo and Juliet thrown in. How could we NOT be excited about this one?!

The island in question is actually Haiti. The story is told to a young girl who is frightened by a thunder storm, and she is enthralled with the details of a poor peasant girl who falls in love with a rich, important man. A classic plot-line, fo sho. Can't go wrong!

The story is filled with musical numbers, colourful characters, and romance. No details yet on cast, but it is rumoured that some of the original Broadway performers will reprise their roles.

Anything that incorporates The Little Mermaid, the Caribbean, and dance numbers is sure to get our attention.