 An American in Paris 1951  N/R, 113 min.
Genre: Musical / Romance
Director: Vincente Minnelli
Cast: Gene Kelly, Oscar Levant, Leslie Caron, Nina Foch, Georges Guetary, Eugene Borden, Ann Codee, Dick Wessel, Paul Maxey, John Eldredge, Noel Neill, Madge Blake
Based on the music of George and Ira Gershwin, dance and music sequences contributed to the Academy Award for Best Picture. The story is about ex-GI Jerry (Gene Kelly) who stays in Paris after the war to study art and then falls in love with Lise (Leslie Caron). The film also won five other Oscars, and Director Vincente Minnelli received a nomination.
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 Batman 1966  N/R, 105 min.
Genre: Action / Adventure / Comedy / Family
Director: Leslie H. Martinson
Cast: Adam West, Burt Ward, Lee Meriwether, Cesar Romero, Burgess Meredith, Frank Gorshin, Alan Napier, Neil Hamilton, Reginald Denny, Stafford Repp, Madge Blake, Milton Frome, Gil Perkins, Dick Crockett, George Sawaya
The stars of the popular TV series are brought to the big screen with new and advanced (for that time) special effects. Batman and Robin (Adam West and Burt Ward) have to deal with not just one of their nemeses but with four–Joker (Cesar Romero), Penguin (Burgess Meredith), Catwoman (Lee Meriwether), and Riddler (Frank Gorshin). Fun, often corny lines, and lots of "Pows" and "Bams."
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 Glory 1956  N/R, 100 min.
Genre: Drama
Director: David Butler
Cast: Margaret O'Brien, Walter Brennan, Charlotte Greenwood, John Lupton, Byron Palmer, Madge Blake, Hugh Sanders, Walter Baldwin, Leonid Kinskey
Clarabel Tilbee (Margaret O'Brien) is determined to enter her horse in the Kentucky Derby, and love blooms between Clarabel and horse breeder Chad (John Lupton) along the way to the big race.
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The Long, Long Trailer 1953 N/R, 103 min.
Genre: Comedy / Romance
Director: Vincente Minnelli
Cast: Lucille Ball, Desi Arnaz, Marjorie Main, Keenan Wynn, Gladys Hurlbut, Moroni Olsen, Bert Freed, Madge Blake, Walter Baldwin, Oliver Blake, Perry Sheehan, Frank Gerstle, John Call, Edgar Dearing, Jack Kruschen
While setting off on their honeymoon, Nicky and Tracy Collini (Desi Arnaz and Lucille Ball) naively opt to live in a 40-foot trailer in his comedy about getting their rig from one spot to another as Nicky's job sites change. Their decision results in a series of comedic disasters that leave them on the verge of divorce. But, by story's end, their marriage is saved.
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Please Murder Me 1956 N/R, 78 min.
Genre: Thriller
Director: Peter Godfrey
Cast: Raymond Burr, Angela Lansbury, Dick Foran, Lamont Johnson, John Dehner, Robert Griffin, Denver Pyle, Alex Sharp, Russell Thorson, Lee Miller, Madge Blake
Attorney Craig Carlson (Raymond Burr) defends Myra (Angela Lansbury)–the widow of his best friend–after she has been accused of her husband's murder. He "proves" her innocence and falls in love with her only to learn that, indeed, she really did murder her husband.
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Rhapsody 1954 N/R, 115 min.
Genre: Drama
Director: Charles Vidor
Cast: Elizabeth Taylor, Vittorio Gassman, John Ericson, Louis Calhern, Barbara Bates, Stuart Whitman, Michael Chekhov, Celia Lovsky, Richard Hageman, Madge Blake
Beautiful Louise Durant (Elizabeth Taylor) leaves her violinist lover for a young pianist but still cannot find happiness.
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 Singin' in the Rain 1952  N/R, 102 min.
Genre: Comedy / Musical / Romance
Director: Stanley Donen, Gene Kelly
Cast: Gene Kelly, Donald O'Connor, Debbie Reynolds, Jean Hagen, Rita Moreno, Cyd Charisse, Douglas Fowley, Millard Mitchell, Madge Blake, King Donovan, Kathleen Freeman, Mae Clarke, Stuart Holmes
This is the film featuring Gene Kelly's memorable dance through the rain-splattered street. Kelly plays 1927's silent film star Don Lockwood who has teamed up professionally with Lina Lamont (Jean Hagen), but he prefers spending his personal time with aspiring actress Kathy Selden (Debbie Reynolds). Now, Don and Lina are set to film their first talkie. Don has no problems, while Lina's shrill voice does not adapt to the microphone. Don finds the solution to the problem by dubbing in Kathy's voice to replace Lina's. This film represents one of the best musicals ever. The songs include "Singin' in the Rain," "You were Meant for Me," "You are My Lucky Star," and "The Broadway Melody." Jean Hagen was nominated for an Oscar as Best Supporting Actress. 1 User Review
| User Review |
| | As Good as it Gets | 1fatts 07/22/2007 | The script is funny. The music is great. The Gene Kelly/Donald O'Connor dancing duets are magic. Debbie Reynolds looks younger than Princess Leia ever did. Jean Hagen steals every scene she is in -- Steals it? She picks it up, tucks it under her arm and carries it away.
Best Line: "I make more money than Calvin Coolidge . . . put together!"
Favorite Trivia: At the end of the film, Debbie Reynolds is supposedly dubbing a song which the Jean Hagen character is mouthing because she cannot sing. In reality, in this one song in the film, Debbie Reynolds is being dubbed by . . . Jean Hagen!
This one is on everyone's list of top ten musicals ever made. But if you know anything about movies, you already know that. |
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| 1. An American in Paris (1951)
2. Batman (1966)
3. Glory (1956)
4. The Long, Long Trailer (1953)
5. Please Murder Me (1956)
6. Rhapsody (1954)
7. Singin' in the Rain (1952)
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