In this clip from "Nancy Goes to Rio" Jane Powell as Nancy sings romantically to Barry Sullivan, who is uncomfortable because he is in love with Nancy's mother (played by Ann Sothern).
Very Happy Birthday to my dearest Jane at 89 who always graced our screens with infectious youthful beauty and charm. Jane could sing any style with ease. That is a rare talent.
I tried to buy this record (78rpm) many many years ago but I could never find it, I was beginning to think that I imagined Jane singing it. Thanks for posting this beautiful video.
Jane Powell you are a very beautiful girl & one of the best sopranos produced by Hollywood & your voice is supreme with classical opera & not when you invade the crooner's domain of popular romantic ballads.For example, your rendition of "Embraceable You "& "The Peanut Vendor" were so unsuited to your operatic voice that it was so embarrassing to listen to.
Jane's voice and style was very flexible, and her voice was not limited to operatic song. In fact, she was not considered an operatic singer as such although she sang with Lauritz Melchior, for example. But in that "embraceable you' sequence, there was a lot of stress coming up as she is about to find out that there was a kind of competition between herself and her mother, which developed very shortly thereafter. And "the peanut vendor" was a marvelous improvisation as she asked cugat to play opera and he would not, so she improvised the dance and the song and wowed everybody including Melchior, because she deliberately sang various high notes and impressed him. It seems snobbish to so ignore her versatility.
Dear Sian McDaniel you obviously viewed my comments in regards to Jane Powell. Speaking of flexibility & versatility may I draw your attention to two super stars, Deanna Durbin & Kathryn Grayson. The talents of Durbin & Grayson obliterates Jane Powell's acting & vocal talents into insignificance I rest my case..
@@peterfarrar9015 'your opinion' of Jane's singing talents does not lessen the enjoyment she gave to many people over her career. I personally prefer her "inferior" talent to Grayson and Durbin. Besides her lovely voice, Jane always brought an appealing quality to all her acting roles, whether the role required her to sing, or not.
I'll challenge your taste on the "PEANUT VENDER" song. I thought it excellenly was very well done. I really enjoyed the mixing of opera with popular venues . She could sing any song in any venue and sound spectacular. She could sing the alphabet and sound spectacular and I would praise her spectacular voice. He voice had a tremendous range.
