Had Kathryn Grayson done the role as originally intended rather than a dubbed Cyd Charisse, this beautiful song would probably have been retained in the final cut of the film. Nothing against Carol Richards, who had a lovely voice, but she wasn't a soprano, and couldn't match the soaring music with an equally soaring soprano voice. This song just begs to be sung by someone like a Kathryn Grayson or Jane Powell. Also Gene Kelly's thin tenor wasn't up to the power needed to really put the song over, but with the right female singer, that could have been forgiven.
Charisse is a lovely singer and an exquisite dancer and wonderful actress...and Kelly' s voice is uniquely and handsomely nuanced and of course his dancing so masculine, athletic and creatively exquisite and his acting skills are undeniable!!!! What a joy, joy, joy to see them together or separately...ALWAYS!!!! Thank you for posting...as everyone privileged to see...will be BLESSED by these Heaven-sent beloved ones!
Surprised I hadn't seen this one before... Excellent clip choices! Unlike other videos I've seen, this one let some of the clips play on and really showcase the performers in them, to see them in a fuller scope of the dance and not just a single moment. The moments are spectacular but sometimes the dancing that leads into the moment or following the moment, they make the whole of "the cool spot" even better! Nice video! Very enjoyable!
This scene was absolutely gorgeous, and should have been left in the film. I hear what everyone is saying, however, this is the only love scene in the film, and shows us the pain both characters are going through, actually, very much like real life, painful choices we all must make. Again, this is very moving and for me, it has great depth of emotion, we’re lucky to finally see this little gem at last!
The scene is in the film but is set to different music (a reprise of Heather On The Hill) because the song -sadly- was cut. Gene didn't have to change the choreography and, oh, that kiss. Gene Kelly and Cyd Charisse were two of the most beautiful people in the Movies.
I’ve never seen this before. It is very, very beautiful. Summer Stock is one of my favorite Judy Garland movies, and definitely my favorite Judy/Gene movie. They were supposed to make Easter Parade together, but Gene broke his ankle and Fred Astaire agreed to step in only because it was Judy Garland. I like Fred Astaire a lot, but how I wish it could have been a fourth movie starring the best couple Hollywood ever produced. And as good as Astaire was, to imagine that movie with Judy and Gene Kelly is to imagine perfection. Thank you for this beautiful video!!
Brigadoon (1954) is a holdover from a different era with different expectations. Soundstage dressed up to look like woods and streams. It does not hold up and looks like a filmed version of a high school play. One year later, Oklahoma's location settings aided in taking film musicals to the next level. I thought this cut scene brought the adventure side of Brigadoon to a grinding halt. Depends on who the studio was targeting I suppose.
Kelly and the director both intended to film Brigadoon on location in Scotland. Kelly even scouted locations in Scotland. But MGM did not want to go for the increased costs. In addition, this movie was filmed in cinema scope, a new format in 1954. It is well suited to locations because it would take in all the beauty of the landscape, but a single dancer working against scenery looks a bit lost. This problem is visible in the number "It's almost like being in love." It's hard to find Kelly as he dances up the hills created for him on the soundstage. The scene with the meeting of the clans could have been amazing on location, but cinema scope and scenery make it a thoroughly underwhelming scene. By the time Kelly does It's Always Fair Weather, he has learned much more about avoiding the traps of cinema scope, and Donen as co director definitely was key to managing the film format. His excellent roller skating number proves this.
BTW Oklahoma used another film format known as Todd AO. It was an amazing film that captured movement in a wonderful way. Todd AO was also used in "Hello Dolly" that Kelly directed.
@@girlfromthebronxbywayofelb7288 The reason that MGM wouldn't greenlight shooting the film on location was because by 1954, more and more people were staying home to watch television rather than going out to the movies, and it was eating into their profits. Had Brigadoon been made just a few years earlier, Kelly and Minnelli probably would have easily gotten the studio to allow them to film in Scotland.
This ballet is one of the most gorgeous Gene ever choreographed. What on earth were they thinking when they decided to cut it? That was one of the worst decisions ever. If you want to see this ballet in the fullness of its celebration of the sacredness of love, watch this clip that is set to Sibelius. It will take your breath away. ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-dmzrriXOo8U.html&feature=share
Cyd Charisse preferred to work in the early morning because by noon when the California heat came she said she lost her energy. She was an exacting artist. She always knew her lines, she always knew her choreography and she followed direction beautifully. She and her husband Tony Martin were notable givers to good causes and special events benefitting good causes. When Cyd was at parties she was know for finding a calm place to sit and relax and let people come to her.
