Window No. 5

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One of the benefits of having older parents - mine were born in the 1920s - was their taste in films. We watched old black and white cowboy films where the good guys always wore a white hat and the bad guys needed a bath. We watched comedies dominated by Tony Curtis, and thrillers starring Cary Grant and Audrey Hepburn. My favourites films though were the musicals. I loved 'Singing in the Rain' for Gene Kelly's dancing, Debbie Reynolds gutsiness and Donald O'Connor's funny moves. 'Sweet Charity' made me cry and I secretly used to sing 'There's gotta be something better than this' when my parents were out of earshot. My top musical of all time though was 'Kismet'.

I saw it for the first time in the lead up to Christmas one year and was enchanted by it's Arabian Nights like storyline - a prince and a poet's daughter fall in love while the poet himself (played with fine gusto by Howard Keel) gets into all kinds of trouble. Where my friends lusted after pop stars, Howard Keel was my first real crush.

The song that I always recall from the musical is Baubles, Bangles and Beads.

Comments

  1. Unknown5 December 2011 at 14:22

    Pretty music, Fi! Have you seen the new movie Hugo? As a fan of older cinema, I think you might really enjoy it. :)

    EJ

    ReplyDelete
  2. Fi5 December 2011 at 20:31

    I've seen it advertised and may have to drag my children to see it.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Mopshell6 December 2011 at 09:05

    I really enjoyed this - brought back such wonderful memories of growing up with my grandparents. My Grandad took my Mum and I to see "Sound of Music" - it was my first ever 'grown-up' film at the cinema. I think my all-time favourite would have to be "Gigi".

    I'm also going to take your advice, EJ, and go and see "Hugo". It sounds like something I would enjoy too.

    (She Writes compatriot)

    ReplyDelete
  4. Fi6 December 2011 at 09:23

    M - glad I could bring back some good memories.

    ReplyDelete

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