1943

Lisa’s Home Bijou: Girl Crazy

July 29, 2016 by Lisa Grable 3 Comments

Film Festival: The West and Southwest

The 1943 film,Girl Crazy, is one of the best examples of the early 20th century “go West” philosophy. A curious trend in plotlines started in the movies and theater in the 1920s and 1930s. It goes as follows: a hero or heroine living in the east is headed for certain moral downfall if high living continues. An authority figure invariably recommends college (or a rest cure, or a ranch) in the West as a way to get off the road to perdition and back on the straight and narrow.

“There hasn’t been a woman out there since the Civil War!”

Girl Crazy was an important play in the history of Broadway Theater. It featured Ginger Rogers in her first starring role. In fact, she was discovered by Hollywood agents while starring in the play. Ethel Merman, the former stenographer with the amazing voice, had her first Broadway role in Girl Crazy, and brought the house down with the song, I’ve Got Rhythm. Wouldn’t it have been great if someone had filmed this original play in 1930?

The film version is no less delightful. It stars Judy Garland and Mickey Rooney and was made in 1943, the height of World War II, about ten years after the original Broadway show. Music for the play and the film was written by George and Ira Gershwin and many of the songs are considered classics. Most of the glorious songs from the play were used in the film: Treat Me Rough; I’m Bidin’ My Time; Could You Use Me?; Embraceable You; Fascinating Rhythm; But Not for Me; and the grand production number, I’ve Got Rhythm.

Tommy Dorsey and his orchestra are the house band in the film. They perform in a New York nightclub, at a college birthday party, at a pre-rodeo prom, and at the rodeo itself. Fascinating Rhythm is a showcase piece for them; a rich orchestral arrangement along the lines of Rhapsody in Blue. Adding to the spectacular production value of the film is the choreography of Busby Berkeley for the I’ve Got Rhythm production number.

The story begins when Danny Churchill (Mickey Rooney,) the son of a wealthy publisher, visits a New York night club featuring 100 beautiful chorus girls. A young June Allyson gets on stage to do Treat Me Rough, a specialty number a la Betty Hutton. Danny ends up on stage with the showgirls, does an Parisian Apache dance, and his antics show up on the front pages the next morning.

Danny’s father has had enough. He calls his son into his office to inform him of his destiny: the Churchill men have attended the Cody College of Mines and Agriculture for two generations and now Danny’s attendance there will make it three. Danny protests strongly about being sent out west.

“Son, you’re living in a world of weekend whimsy! … Any mention of Danny, Junior winning academic honors at Yale? No! Or even a spelling bee? Why the next thing you know, you’ll be sponsoring a beauty contest!” — Danny’s father

Danny arrives in Codyville, and walks eight miles through the desert to the college. Unlike New York, there are no taxis in Codyville. On the way, he meets a young woman repairing her mail vehicle. It’s Ginger Gray, postmistress and dean’s granddaughter, played by Judy Garland. Danny is smitten immediately.

Being the debonnaire New York playboy, Danny is the worst tenderfoot anyone in Codyville has ever seen. His classmates initiate him to the western style, with much amusement. They dress him in goofy western clothes; they give him a 20-gallon hat and chaps decorated with long fur.

Danny is very unhappy at college and he quits several times. A telegram is phoned in to his father in which he calls his classmates “pretty snerfy.” A group of them overhear this conversation and take high umbrage. When the state decides to close the college for lack of applicants, Danny devises a strategy to save the school, which finally wins him the admiration of his snerfy classmates.

“–How do I look? –You look great, old man! –Yeah, well, if you bump into Buffalo Bill, tell him not to worry.” –Danny and Henry

He organizes a “Queen of the Rodeo” competition to stir up publicity. Ginger is the popular favorite of the college men for the honor, but Danny needs the Governor’s daughter to win for political reasons. This leads to dramatic tension between Ginger and Danny.

“–You are the most precocious, overconfident, spoiled young man I’ve ever had the misfortune to meet. –I think you’re cute too. –And as an added attraction, you’re a quitter! … –Now, wait a minute, now it’s my turn. Did anyone ever tell you that you’ve got a face like a two-week vacation, with pay? Did anyone ever tell you you’ve got a nose cute enough to write a song about?” — Ginger and Danny

The I’ve Got Rhythm production number at the end is not to be missed (9 minutes long!). Judy Garland belts the song out with real joy and she is adorable in her mid-calf boots and short, fringed skirt. There are dozens of backup singers, Tommy Dorsey’s huge orchestra, and at least 100 dancers, as well as Mickey and Judy. There’s tap and jitterbug dancing, whip cracking, guns shooting and finally a cannon is shot off.

“I got rhythm
I got music
I got my man
Who could ask for anything more?
I got daisies
in green pastures
I got my man
Who could ask for anything more?” — Ginger

The experience of seeing all this will probably leave you speechless, but be sure to see it anyway. This is a great film, a feel-good musical made in the heyday of that genre. It probably went a long way to help Americans forget about the war which was raging outside, for a few hours.

Lisa’s Home Bijou: Stormy Weather

May 30, 2016 by Lisa Grable 3 Comments

Film Festival: Divine Divas

Lena Horne plays the leading lady in Stormy Weather, a film legacy of her expressive voice and luminous beauty. One of America’s divine divas, she came to our attention as a chorine at Harlem’s famed Cotton Club and made her way to Hollywood to become the first black woman to sign a long-term contract with a major studio.

Stormy Weather (1943) is a retrospective of twenty-five years in the life of veteran entertainer Bill Williamson (Bill Robinson). His life in show business spans the years between the two World Wars and the miles between New York, Memphis, Chicago, and Hollywood. Bill is entertaining a group of children on the porch of his California home when the mailman delivers Theatre World magazine. Bill’s picture is on the cover with a big headline.

“Celebrating the magnificent contribution of the colored race to the entertainment of the world during the past twenty-five years.”

The magazine brings back a flood of memories to Bill. In 1918, he was a member of Jim Europe’s military band, which was part of a regiment that received the Croix de Guerre. Europe’s drum major was Noble Sissle, who later went on to co-write Broadway hits “Chocolate Dandies” and “Shuffle Along” with Eubie Blake. Bill recalls the band’s triumphant return from the War to New York City, shown with genuine newsreel footage.

Bill and his friend Gabe (Dooley Wilson) celebrate at a dance hall. There they have their first meeting with the beautiful Selina (Lena Horne). She entertains the crowd with a great song and Bill has a wonderful time dancing the Cakewalk with her.

“–How do you spell US? –U! S! –You leave off the S and worry about you. Every time you start to promotin’ that spells trouble!” –Bill and Gabe

After his exciting visit to New York, Bill goes back to his old peacetime job on a Mississippi cotton boat. He grows weary of the hard labor and takes a job as a waiter at a club on Beale Street in Memphis. His bosses at the club are Ada Brown and Fats Waller. Selina and her successful mentor Chick Bailey (Emmett “Babe” Wallace) visit Bill’s club. Chick is looking for talent for a show he’s putting together in Chicago. At first Selina doesn’t remember Bill, but eventually Bill ends up going to Chicago for the show.

Chick doesn’t like Bill and only tolerates him in the show for Selina’s sake. Chick stars in a big jungle production number, surrounded by chorus girls dressed as zebras. Behind Chick’s back, Bill seizes his chance by dancing on the drums on the set. Even though the audience loves Bill, Chick fires him from the show.

“–Oh man, it doesn’t look like there gonna be no show! –How come? –All the chorus girls ganged up and refused to work unlessen they get paid for last week’s rehearsal. …–Now you listen to me. If you look prosperous and sweet talk them gals, they’ll be so busy figuring out how to make you spend what they think you got, that they ain’t got no time to worry about how much money you ain’t got!” –Bill and Gabe

Bill turns lemons to lemonade by going to Harlem and putting on his own show. He finds his old friend Gabe again. Gabe hatches a plan to help Bill open his show, even though he is $560 short. Selina shows up to see the show and support Bill. Finally they click romantically.

The happy times don’t last very long. In 1936, Bill goes to Hollywood. He wants to settle down with Selina, but she doesn’t want to quit show business. Soon after this, she leaves him and goes to Paris.

During World War II, Cab Calloway visits Bill at his home. He invites him to perform at a benefit for soldiers. Bill agrees, not realizing that Cab has a big surprise up his zoot suit: Selina is in the show! Bill finds his true love again.

“Say, this cat ain’t hep to the jive. Stop beatin’ up your chops to him. –Now ain’t that a bring-down! That’s a wrong riff, Jack. –Say, what in the devil are you two fools talking about? –We’re talking jive!” –Cab, Gabe, and Bill

Enough cannot be said about Helen Rose’s costumes for the film, which represent an elegant timeline through the years between the two World Wars. Only someone with Lena’s panache can do these outfits justice:

A crystal-pleated chiffon dress with a stiffened minaret overskirt, trimmed with tulle ruffles and gold lamé, topped by a fez hat with huge feathers.
A gold lamé halter dress with an elaborate turban.
A velvet dress with white fur collar, muff, and matching hat.
A black dress with a leopard bolero jacket and leopard hat.
All-over silver sequins, chiffon drape for her shoulders, with pannier drapes at the hip.
Dark chiffon overlay dress with a basque waist, rhinestones sprinkled over the dress, the skirt actually a heavy full-length fringe
White illusion wedding dress with picture hat
Black sequined evening gown with illusion sleeves topped with a white mink stole.

Cab Calloway also makes a definitive fashion statement in this film. He may be wearing THE quintessential zoot suit. His shoes appear to be yellow, his hat brim is a yard wide and his watch chain reaches below his knees.

The music for the film is a real treat and preserves performances from many entertainers. Lena Horne sings No Two Ways about Love, Diga Diga Do, I Can’t Give You Anything But Love, and Stormy Weather. She sings the last song with such emotion that she actually sheds tears. Katherine Dunham, the modern dance pioneer, provides a dance sequence for Stormy Weather.

“Don’t know why
There’s no sun up in the sky
Stormy weather
Since my man and I ain’t together
Keeps raining all the time” –Selina

Fats Waller performs his trademark Ain’t Misbehavin’. Baby, Baby, What’s the Matter With You is sung by Ada Brown. Mae E. Johnson gives a spirited rendition of I Lost My Sugar in Salt Lake City. Cab Calloway and his orchestra perform Old Geechee Joe and Hep Hep. The Nicholas Brothers (Fayard and Harold) join in the fun on Hep Hep looking so elegant in white tie. Bill Robinson’s big number is Ain’t That Something to Shout About.

Stormy Weather is an entertaining movie that is a wonderful legacy for black performers, with its ensemble of so many fabulous entertainers. Lena Horne turns in a superstar performance that is unforgettable and made her song Stormy Weather an American standard.

Lisa’s Home Bijou: Cabin in the Sky

April 18, 2016 by Lisa Grable Leave a Comment

Film Festival: Divine Divas

ETHEL WATERS was one of the first black divas to cross-over and successfully sing pop tunes. In Cabin in the Sky, the 1943 film version of the hit Broadway musical by Lynn Root, John Latouche, and Vernon Duke, Waters recreates her stage role on film accompanied by a stellar cast. Waters was a skinny, teenage blues singer who moved on to star in the theater, nightclubs and film. Later in life she became an evangelist.

Cabin in the Sky is, according to the press materials, “a story of faith and devotion from legend, fable, and fantasy.” We first see Petunia Jackson (Ethel Waters) who is making every effort to get her husband, Little Joe (Eddie ‘Rochester’ Anderson), to church. Little Joe has a problem with gambling – he’s hooked on his “calamity cubes” (dice). He’s sure the devil’s got him since he can’t seem to throw his dice away into the fire.

“Right now I’m wrestling with the Devil. While I was looking for the necktie in the bureau drawer, I also found two calamity cubes. And I ain’t throwed ‘em away yet!” –Little Joe

Petunia manages to get Little Joe into church but just when the time comes for him to step forward to testify and receive salvation, his bookies lure him outside. They take Joe to Jim Henry’s Paradise, the downtown hotspot, to gamble with Domino Johnson (John ‘Bubbles’ Bubblet), big money from out-of-town. Shots ring out and Petunia arrives at the club to find Little Joe wounded.

“–Little Joe, rise up from that bed and report for duty. –Report? Report where? –Now where do you suppose you’d be reporting? A shiftless no account like you is! Get up!” –Lucifer Jr. and Little Joe

Joe is seriously ill. As he lays in the bed, the devil’s men and the angels fight over his soul. God gives Joe six months to straighten up or he goes to Lucifer. The devil’s men do their plotting to capture Joe’s soul at the Hotel Hades.

They concoct a plan — Joe will win the sweepstakes and become rich. Then they’ll send in Georgia Brown (Lena Horne) to complete his downfall. Meanwhile, Petunia, using somewhat dishonest means, proves that the local hustlers have been cheating Joe all along.

“Oh Lord, please forgive me for backslidin’. But sometimes when you fight the devil you got to jab him with his own pitchfork.” –Petunia

After winning his windfall, Little Joe tries to resist the temptations put in his way, but between Georgia’s charms and the devils’ determination, he doesn’t have much of a chance. He starts spending all his time entertaining Georgia and hanging out at Jim Henry’s Paradise.

“–Of course, I ain’t saying I altogether forgot you. You ain’t easy to erase from the mind, once a man gets to know you good like. –Why does you want to forget me, sugar?” –Little Joe and Georgia

A wonderful scene takes place at the Paradise. Duke Ellington is playing at the club. The dancers start off with a languid slough foot. The tempo builds until the whole club is whirling in an energetic lindy hop.

Domino joins in with a memorable tap solo.

Petunia arrives, ready to fight Georgia’s fire with fire. She sashays in, dressed to kill, and orders a double King Kong.

“–Oh I guess she’s just jealous ‘cuz she ain’t got what I got. –Quit kiddin’ yourself, not only have I got everything you got but a whole lot more. –Well you ain’t got Little Joe. –Now that’s the main thing you got I don’t want. And if I run across any other second hand junk I’ll pass that on to you!” –Petunia and Georgia

The film features a great set of songs, some by E.Y. Harburg and Harold Arlen:

“Happiness is a thing called Joe” – Ethel
“Life’s full o’ consequences” – Eddie and Lena
“L’il Black Sheep” – church congregation
“Tis the old shepherd Zion” – church congregation
“There’s a little cabin in the sky” – Ethel
“Takin’ a chance on love” – Ethel
“Just because” – John Bubbles
“There’s love in me” – Lena and Ethel
“Going up” – Duke Ellington

Here I slide again
About to take that ride again
Starry eyed again
Taking a chance on love

There are a great set of supporting players in the film to watch for: Louis Armstrong as one of the devil’s men, Butterfly McQueen as Lily, and Ruby Dandridge (Dorothy’s mother) as Mrs. Kelso. The film was directed by Vincente Minnelli and Irene served as costume designer.

Cabin in the Sky has great music, comic shenanigans, pathos, and top-notch dancing. See it for a nice showcase of the divine abilities of Ethel Waters.