LIGHTER FILMS by Marie L. Hamilton
The current films show a tendency to be less serious, and there is some variety in those with popular music interest,
CINDERELLA.
.. RKO-Radio Feature length Disney Technicolor Cartoon.
The new Disney is all that everyone hopes for when a new Disney is mentioned - ingenious, technically marvelous and generally captivating. The old fairy tale is told with a humor and charm that makes it more suitable for audiences of all ages than any of the master's other films. Synchronization of action and score is, as usual one of the cartoon's delights. Six songs have been written "by the successful trio - Mack David, Jerry Livingston and Al Hoffman. Cincerella, through the voice of Ilene Woods, sings a ballad, "A Dream is a Wish Your Heart Makes", a waltz, "So This is Love" and her jolly "Work Song". "Ring, Sweet Nightingale" is first given a comic rendering by the step-sisters, then sung sweetly by Vies Woods, who at one point carries all the voices in a four part arrangement of the melody. The Fairy God Mother chirrups through the novelty song - "Bibbidi- Bobbidi-Boo" and Cinderella's friends, the mice, make a distinctively treble chorus of her theme song.
THE GREAT RUPERT.. Eagle-Lion: Jinny Durante, Terry Moore. Directed by Irving Pichel. Music by Leith Stevens. Songs by Fred Spielman, Buddy Kaye.
George Pal has produced a fresh, funny little film that stars, Jimmy Durante and a squirrel. Both prove worthy of top billing in a story about the trials of a family of acrobats in a world indifferent to human pyramids. Jimmy sings some of the troubles away with "Jingle Bells" and Christmas Comes but Once a Year" and a whimsical miracle takes care of the rest. Jimmy's daughter, a harpist, and the boy next door who plays the tuba get together in an attractive number, "Melody for Two Orphan Instruments".
NANCY GOES TO RIO.. Metro: Ann Sothern, Jane Powell. Directed by Robert Z. Leonard. Songs by Ray Gilbert and others. Musical direction, Georgie Stoll . Technicolor.
In one of those lush, plush Metro musicals, Jane Powell becomes a rival for her glamorous widowed mother's suitor and her position as a musical comedy star. Ann Sothern, as the threatened parent comes through uninjured, and both ladies break into occasional song as though to voice satisfaction with the luxury that prevails. Ann has the opening number, "Time and Time Again", She and Jane and Grandpa Louis Calhern do an impromptu drawing room rendering of "Shine On Harvest Moon". Jane sings often, both alone and with a chorus: "Magic is the Moonlight, ""Enbraceable You", "Love is Like This, the title song and the Musetta Waltz from La Boheme. Carmen Miranda puts over three songs with her inimitable verve- "Garoom -Pa-Pa", "Coe,Coe" and the "Yipsee-i-o", Carmen's idea of a cowboy song.
Film Music Notes, January-February 1950
© Derek McLellan 2007,on editing or revisions if any.
The current films show a tendency to be less serious, and there is some variety in those with popular music interest,
The new Disney is all that everyone hopes for when a new Disney is mentioned - ingenious, technically marvelous and generally captivating. The old fairy tale is told with a humor and charm that makes it more suitable for audiences of all ages than any of the master's other films. Synchronization of action and score is, as usual one of the cartoon's delights. Six songs have been written "by the successful trio - Mack David, Jerry Livingston and Al Hoffman. Cincerella, through the voice of Ilene Woods, sings a ballad, "A Dream is a Wish Your Heart Makes", a waltz, "So This is Love" and her jolly "Work Song". "Ring, Sweet Nightingale" is first given a comic rendering by the step-sisters, then sung sweetly by Vies Woods, who at one point carries all the voices in a four part arrangement of the melody. The Fairy God Mother chirrups through the novelty song - "Bibbidi- Bobbidi-Boo" and Cinderella's friends, the mice, make a distinctively treble chorus of her theme song.
THE GREAT RUPERT.. Eagle-Lion: Jinny Durante, Terry Moore. Directed by Irving Pichel. Music by Leith Stevens. Songs by Fred Spielman, Buddy Kaye.
George Pal has produced a fresh, funny little film that stars, Jimmy Durante and a squirrel. Both prove worthy of top billing in a story about the trials of a family of acrobats in a world indifferent to human pyramids. Jimmy sings some of the troubles away with "Jingle Bells" and Christmas Comes but Once a Year" and a whimsical miracle takes care of the rest. Jimmy's daughter, a harpist, and the boy next door who plays the tuba get together in an attractive number, "Melody for Two Orphan Instruments".
NANCY GOES TO RIO.. Metro: Ann Sothern, Jane Powell. Directed by Robert Z. Leonard. Songs by Ray Gilbert and others. Musical direction, Georgie Stoll . Technicolor.
In one of those lush, plush Metro musicals, Jane Powell becomes a rival for her glamorous widowed mother's suitor and her position as a musical comedy star. Ann Sothern, as the threatened parent comes through uninjured, and both ladies break into occasional song as though to voice satisfaction with the luxury that prevails. Ann has the opening number, "Time and Time Again", She and Jane and Grandpa Louis Calhern do an impromptu drawing room rendering of "Shine On Harvest Moon". Jane sings often, both alone and with a chorus: "Magic is the Moonlight, ""Enbraceable You", "Love is Like This, the title song and the Musetta Waltz from La Boheme. Carmen Miranda puts over three songs with her inimitable verve- "Garoom -Pa-Pa", "Coe,Coe" and the "Yipsee-i-o", Carmen's idea of a cowboy song.
Film Music Notes, January-February 1950
© Derek McLellan 2007,on editing or revisions if any.
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