Month O' Musicals: Guys and Dolls

Vital Stats:
Year: 1955
Director: Joseph L. Mankiewicz
Stars: Marlon Brando, Jean Simmons, Frank Sinatra, Vivian Blaine, Stubby Kaye, Sheldon Leonard
Choreographer: Michael Kidd
Music & lyrics: Frank Loesser
Based on stories by: Damon Runyon

Summary:
Gambler Nathan Detroit is under a lot of pressure. Not only is his fiancee of 14 years getting tired of waiting for him, but he also can't find a place to hold his permanent floating crap game. In an attempt to get the money to pay for a gambling location, Nathan makes a $1000 bet with high-roller Sky Masterson. Surely Sky can't talk missionary Sgt. Sarah Brown into going to Havana with him. Or can he?

Memorable Moments:
The title song, the city sewer performance of "Luck Be a Lady", and the show-stopping "Sit Down, You're Rockin' the Boat".


What I love about it:
Two fun numbers by the ladies: "Adelaide's Lament", ("a person can develop a cold") and the rum-induced-exuberance of "If I Were a Bell". Actually, a big part of the fun of the latter song is watching Brando react to the rum-induced-exuberance. (And while we're on the subject, you have to give Brando credit for doing his own singing, in the same movie as the incomparable Frank Sinatra, too.)

Month O' Musicals: Anchors Aweigh

Vital Stats:
Year: 1945
Director: George Sidney
Stars: Frank Sinatra, Kathryn Grayson, Gene Kelly, Jose Iturbi and a very young Dean Stockwell as the runaway child

Summary:
Two sailors on leave ("when they give you leave, you gotta leave") try to help an aspiring singer get an audition at MGM.

Memorable Moments:
Frank Sinatra crooning "I Fall in Love Too Easily" and Gene Kelly dancing with the animated Jerry Mouse. ("Look at me, I'm dancing!")


What I love about it:
The above scenes are great, but I really love the bit where the boys try to scare off a would-be suitor of the girl they're both falling for by singing a funny version of "If You Knew Susie" (with altered lyrics like: "S is for sincerity, which she's got none of...")