The musical polls are closed and the results are in! (I didn't vote on these myself, but will share my picks below.)
What's your favorite Rodgers and Hammerstein musical?
The Sound of Music wins with 43% of the votes. South Pacific comes in second, with Oklahoma!, State Fair, and The King and I tied not far behind. No big surprises here about the winner; The Sound of Music came in 4th on AFI's 100 musicals list, the highest rated of any Rodgers and Hammerstein movie.
While this popular movie gets a lot of love, there also seems to be a small group of people that really hate it. While I don't know that I feel that strongly about it, I'm more on the disliking side of the argument. Confession: I've never even seen the whole thing. I've seen different parts of it when it's been on TV, but somehow have never been inspired to watch the movie from start to finish. (Sorry, Sound of Music lovers!)
My vote in this category: Oklahoma!
Favorite Astaire/Rogers film?
Swing Time comes out on top with 41% of the votes, followed by Top Hat, then Shall We Dance, then Roberta and Carefree (tied). While I haven't yet seen every one of the Astaire/Rogers pairings, (I know, for shame!) I happen to like Shall We Dance quite a bit. But since no one voted for The Barkleys of Broadway, I want to give that one a little love. It gets my uncounted vote.
Your favorite Gene Kelly musical?
The winner here is the movie that topped AFI's 100 musical list: Singin' in the Rain, with 53% of the votes. The distant second, with 15% picking it, is On the Town. Third place is crowded, with For Me and My Gal, Anchors Away, An American in Paris, and Brigadoon each getting the same amount of votes.
While I would agree that Singin' in the Rain is the best Gene Kelly musical, the vote for my favorite is An American in Paris. With 's wonderful Gershwin music, acerbic Oscar Levant, and captivating end ballet, it's not just my favorite Gene Kelly musical, but my favorite musical ever.
Favorite Disney animated musical?
This was the least agreed upon in the polls. The Little Mermaid just barely edged out the competition, followed by Aladdin, and then a three-way-tie with Mulan, Pocahontas, and Beauty and the Beast. There were also a couple votes for "other". What did I miss? Peter Pan? Lilo and Stitch?
I'm surprised that the older Disney films didn't get any votes. I really love the charm of the older style animation before everything was so slickly done with computers. Maybe I should have made an old-style animated Disney movie poll and a newer animated Disney movie poll. My older favorites include Pinocchio, Alice in Wonderland, Lady and the Tramp, and 101 Dalmatians.
As for the newer choices, I was a bit surprised that no one picked The Lion King, even though I find it pretty mean and depressing. (I did enjoy the Broadway version of the story better, mostly due to the cool costumes.) My personal pick for newer favorite would have to be Aladdin.
Final Thoughts:
When I first had the idea to focus on musicals for a month, I wondered if I could come up with enough to talk about. Then I began to make a list and realized there were more movie musicals I'd already seen and enjoyed than I could ever post about in one month, let alone the musicals I had yet to see. As it was, I highlighted 17 different musicals this month. I definitely leaned more toward my favorites, probably because those were the ones I have the strongest opinions about and that I most wanted to revisit. Not as well represented: newer musicals, Disney musicals, and new-to-me musicals. I could very easily do another whole Month O' Musicals, or perhaps I'll just continue to feature one musical each month.
Before the month ends, there is one more movie I'd like to put in a plug for: That's Entertainment! With various musical stars introducing some outstanding musical moments, it's much more enjoyable than any movie of clip after clip has any right to be. While it only looks at MGM musicals, true to the title it is very entertaining and might give you ideas for more musicals to check out.
Farewell, Month O' Musicals. It's been fun. Thanks for helping me get through a cold January. Now I'm ready to move on to something without any song and dance numbers. Like documentaries.
I'll be back soon with some big changes coming in February!
Friday, January 30, 2009
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
Overlooked Musical: It's Always Fair Weather
Did you ever watch On the Town and find yourself wondering what might have happened to those three guys when the war was over? In a way, It's Always Fair Weather is the answer.
Originally conceived as sequel to On the Town, the sailors have morphed into soldiers with only Gene Kelly returning as a main character. He's joined by Dan Dailey and Michael Kidd to make up a trio of army buddies whose war experiences have made them the closest of friends. When the war is over and the three prepare to go their separate ways, they make a pact to meet again in ten years.
While you might think that three such very good friends would try to keep in touch during the intervening years, the story is about them coming back together and realizing they now have nothing in common, except for perhaps their disillusionment with life. Cyd Charisse enters the picture as a TV producer ready to use the reunion as fodder for a sappy reality show which ends up bringing the guys together in an unexpected way.
The cynical perspective that pervades makes for a darker movie than most MGM musicals. Television is satirized in the movie's Midnight With Madeline program, with Delores Gray playing the show's star as an over-the-top, insincere diva. The corporate world is also a target, with ad-man Dailey's character song "Saturation-Wise" making fun of business jargon (five years before The Apartment did it).
But there's also moments of sheer fun and joy, like the three friends dancing with garbage can lids on their feet and Gene Kelly's "I Like Myself" solo on roller skates. The film is also interesting to look at as it makes full use of CinemaScope, filling up the widescreen format and using split screens and montages to tell the story.
A major theme of the movie is how people change over time and what happens to friendships. One of my favorite scenes is when the reunited pals go to lunch. The same trio that once sang about being friends until death now sing about their disappointment at being back together. To the tune of the Strauss waltz "The Blue Danube", each friend in turn asks "why am I here?" and labels the other two with names like hick, square, snob and punk. This funny bit gets right to the heart of the matter: each friend, in recognizing how the other two are not what he expected, also realizes he is not the person he once wanted to be, either. While it's a less-than-rosy look at life and friendship, there is an underlying truth here about how dreams and relationships shift over time. And there's a hopeful undercurrent of finding a way to change or accept the person you've become.
While it's no Singin' in the Rain, if you're looking to expand your range of musicals and you like Gene Kelly, add It's Always Fair Weather to your list.
Originally conceived as sequel to On the Town, the sailors have morphed into soldiers with only Gene Kelly returning as a main character. He's joined by Dan Dailey and Michael Kidd to make up a trio of army buddies whose war experiences have made them the closest of friends. When the war is over and the three prepare to go their separate ways, they make a pact to meet again in ten years.
While you might think that three such very good friends would try to keep in touch during the intervening years, the story is about them coming back together and realizing they now have nothing in common, except for perhaps their disillusionment with life. Cyd Charisse enters the picture as a TV producer ready to use the reunion as fodder for a sappy reality show which ends up bringing the guys together in an unexpected way.
The cynical perspective that pervades makes for a darker movie than most MGM musicals. Television is satirized in the movie's Midnight With Madeline program, with Delores Gray playing the show's star as an over-the-top, insincere diva. The corporate world is also a target, with ad-man Dailey's character song "Saturation-Wise" making fun of business jargon (five years before The Apartment did it).
But there's also moments of sheer fun and joy, like the three friends dancing with garbage can lids on their feet and Gene Kelly's "I Like Myself" solo on roller skates. The film is also interesting to look at as it makes full use of CinemaScope, filling up the widescreen format and using split screens and montages to tell the story.
A major theme of the movie is how people change over time and what happens to friendships. One of my favorite scenes is when the reunited pals go to lunch. The same trio that once sang about being friends until death now sing about their disappointment at being back together. To the tune of the Strauss waltz "The Blue Danube", each friend in turn asks "why am I here?" and labels the other two with names like hick, square, snob and punk. This funny bit gets right to the heart of the matter: each friend, in recognizing how the other two are not what he expected, also realizes he is not the person he once wanted to be, either. While it's a less-than-rosy look at life and friendship, there is an underlying truth here about how dreams and relationships shift over time. And there's a hopeful undercurrent of finding a way to change or accept the person you've become.
While it's no Singin' in the Rain, if you're looking to expand your range of musicals and you like Gene Kelly, add It's Always Fair Weather to your list.
Monday, January 26, 2009
A musical interlude of pretend babies
Much of the movie The Band Wagon is a series of loosely related clips, but the following is my favorite, and has been for a long time. When I was in middle school, I shared this song with two girls who either liked it or me enough to learn all the lyrics and sing the different parts with me as we walked around the schoolyard. For a time, we even called ourselves "The Triplets". (Those were some cool girls.)
Here's Fred Astaire, Nanette Fabray and Jack Buchanan as the battling babes:
And while I'm thinking of "children" in musical movies, I have to mention The Muppets Take Manhattan scene where Miss Piggy imagines what it would have been like if she and Kermit had known each other when they were younger. The song "I'm Gonna Always Love You" features baby Piggy explaining all the things she will do when she grows up (singing, flying a plane, neurosurgery) without losing her love for Kermit. This scene, which inspired the Muppet Babies cartoon, has got to be one of the cutest moments in movie musical history.
Here's Fred Astaire, Nanette Fabray and Jack Buchanan as the battling babes:
And while I'm thinking of "children" in musical movies, I have to mention The Muppets Take Manhattan scene where Miss Piggy imagines what it would have been like if she and Kermit had known each other when they were younger. The song "I'm Gonna Always Love You" features baby Piggy explaining all the things she will do when she grows up (singing, flying a plane, neurosurgery) without losing her love for Kermit. This scene, which inspired the Muppet Babies cartoon, has got to be one of the cutest moments in movie musical history.
Sunday, January 25, 2009
Communion from the Tabernacle
Acceptance and adoption of new directives such as the Australian bishops promulgation of the new GIRM, tend to take on some strange twists and emphases.
One such instruction that has been interpreted literally by local priests is the instruction that Holy Communion MUST be from hosts consecrated at that particular Mass that the communicant is attending. If this does not happen some liturgists or priests who feel that they are liturgical authorities get very angry. In their view people MUST receive communion from bread and wine consecrated at that Mass. We will take a trip through history to see where this has come from.
The earliest reference to the desirability comes from Pius XII in his encyclical Mediator Dei. He in turn quotes from Pope Benedict XIV (reigned 1740-1758).
"And although in addition to those to whom the celebrant gives a portion of the Victim he himself has offered in the Mass, they also participate in the same sacrifice to whom a priest distributes the Blessed Sacrament that has been reserved; however, the Church has not for this reason ever forbidden, nor does she now forbid, a celebrant to satisfy the piety and just request of those who, when present at Mass, want to become partakers of the same sacrifice, because they likewise offer it after their own manner, nay more, she approves of it and desires that it should not be omitted and would reprehend those priests through whose fault and negligence this participation would be denied to the faithful."(Encyclical Letter Certiores effecti, par. 3.)
Furthermore Pius XII states that :
Now it is very fitting, as the liturgy otherwise lays down, that the people receive holy communion after the priest has partaken of the divine repast upon the altar; and, as we have written above, they should be commended who, when present at Mass, receive hosts consecrated at the same Mass, so that it is actually verified, "that as many of us, as, at this altar, shall partake of and receive the most holy body and blood of thy Son, may be filled with every heavenly blessing and grace."[Mediator Dei para 121].
The constitution on the sacred liturgy Sacrosanctum Concilium states that:
That more perfect form of participation in the Mass whereby the faithful, after the priest's communion, receive the Lord's body from the same sacrifice, is strongly commended. (n55)
which really is a repeat of Mediator Dei.
The may 2007 edition of the GIRM states it again:
It is most desirable that the faithful, just as the priest himself is bound to do, receive the Lord’s
Body from hosts consecrated at the same Mass and that, in the instances when it is permitted, they partake of the chalice (cf. no. 283), so that even by means of the signs Communion will stand out more clearly as a participation in the sacrifice actually being celebrated (n85)
Body from hosts consecrated at the same Mass and that, in the instances when it is permitted, they partake of the chalice (cf. no. 283), so that even by means of the signs Communion will stand out more clearly as a participation in the sacrifice actually being celebrated (n85)
Note that the terms over the centuries are desirable, strongly commended, fitting, desires.
However, it is not something to get totally our liturgical nickers in a knot about if not everyone can receive from the hosts consecrated at Mass. It is good practice to provide as much as possible by estimating as accurately as one can, as to how many hosts are needed. What we need to wipe out is the remaining practices where all the hosts are got from the tabernacle.
Friday, January 23, 2009
The Archdiocese of Brisbane in 2059
Now that a whole lot of urgent matters have now been set aside - time fro more blogging. Hopefully Roman will have some interesting photos and gossip from his travels.
This year we have launched upon the 150 anniversary celebrations of the Archdiocese of Brisbane. Given all the self congratulations it is worthy to reflect upon what possibilities that the next 50 to 100 years might bring. Here is a scenario. Like all future forecasting, it is dangerous to to hinge upon one single scenario, we do not know what is around the corner (look at the current financial crisis for example).
In 2059 I am sitting at my device or walking down the street thinking about the history of the Catholic Church whilst the device (previously called a computer) writing my thoughts.
****
Many changes came upon the archdiocese of Brisbane in the first half of the 21st century, with bigger impacts upon the archdiocese than the years following the second Vatican Council. The largest impact was the collapse of the priesthood in the archdiocese in the years 2010 to 2020, as the seminary continued to fail to attract students, and existing priests retired and died. the total staff of priests for the archdiocese shrank to around 30 (down from 150 in 2006). This had a number of flow-on effects. Although the laity assumed leadership in some parishes, this brought its own difficulties with the bishops having to mediate as some parishes split into warring factions. However, the impact was mitigated somewhat as the "silent" and "baby boomer" generation, (the generation brought up with the idea that not attending Sunday Mass was a mortal sin) died off but were not replaced by their children who had all left the church as soon as possible, and congregations shrank, and in some places collapsed also.
Most of the congregations consist of immigrants and converts which has led to a re-definition of the ethos of committed Catholicism. As many choose to be Catholic in culture as well as belief, the archdiocese overall in 2059 a lot more fundamentalist that it was 50 years previously. Part of this also has been a disenchantment with the liberal catholicism of their parents, as well as an adoption of "religion of choice" rather than being born into it. This tighter and more closed-in catholicism has resulted in more vocations to the priesthood and some of the new religious orders, particularly when far reaching reforms were made to the local seminary after 2010.
Liturgy changed as well with the launch of new English translation of the Roman Missal in 2010, and other reforms, the most controversial being the withdrawal of the indult allowing Communion in the hand by Pope Gregory XVII in 2025. The Extraordinary Form of the Roman Rite was also revised in this period so that although it differs very little from the 1962 Missal of St John XXIII, the 2022 edition is the most common one used. It still appears unlikely that there will be a total blending of the two forms of the Roman Rite. However, some communities have abandoned table Altars and the celebration of the Eucharist facing the congregation, and have adopted some usages from each other. There is still some tension between the two forms of the rite particularly coming from the charismatic communities.
The changing structure of the church has resulted in the parish system, as envisaged by Archbishop Duhig in the early part of the 20th century being almost disbanded and replaced by a more flexible missionary structure. Therefore people travel on Sunday to the church community that suits them, largely on the city metro system built between 2030 and 2050, as car travel is now too expensive for most families. The more established communities are led by the Priestly Fraternity of Saint Peter, who celebrate according to the extraordinary form of the Roman Rite in a handful of churches in Brisbane (eg. their parishes at St Brigids Red Hill, and St Marys at South Brisbane and St Lukes at Buranda, as well as their Mass Centres on the Gold and Sunshine Coasts) and the Neo-Catechumenal Way who minister in some of the bible-belt areas of Ipswich and Logan. The Legionaires of Christ and other groups also minister to communities formed out of the old parishes.
The lasting legacy of the old parish system was the local catholic school (formerly called convent schools) which have continued to flourish. However, their links with the church are now only to do with property ownership and administration, as they have ceased their identity as Catholic schools, apart from their unique names which date back to the old parishes. Many of the adjoining churches and convents that they were based around are now demolished or converted into school halls. Catechists visit these schools on an occasional basis and this is a major activity of the priests during the week.
****
A realistic scenario? I would be interested in comments that anyone might have.
This year we have launched upon the 150 anniversary celebrations of the Archdiocese of Brisbane. Given all the self congratulations it is worthy to reflect upon what possibilities that the next 50 to 100 years might bring. Here is a scenario. Like all future forecasting, it is dangerous to to hinge upon one single scenario, we do not know what is around the corner (look at the current financial crisis for example).
In 2059 I am sitting at my device or walking down the street thinking about the history of the Catholic Church whilst the device (previously called a computer) writing my thoughts.
****
Many changes came upon the archdiocese of Brisbane in the first half of the 21st century, with bigger impacts upon the archdiocese than the years following the second Vatican Council. The largest impact was the collapse of the priesthood in the archdiocese in the years 2010 to 2020, as the seminary continued to fail to attract students, and existing priests retired and died. the total staff of priests for the archdiocese shrank to around 30 (down from 150 in 2006). This had a number of flow-on effects. Although the laity assumed leadership in some parishes, this brought its own difficulties with the bishops having to mediate as some parishes split into warring factions. However, the impact was mitigated somewhat as the "silent" and "baby boomer" generation, (the generation brought up with the idea that not attending Sunday Mass was a mortal sin) died off but were not replaced by their children who had all left the church as soon as possible, and congregations shrank, and in some places collapsed also.
Most of the congregations consist of immigrants and converts which has led to a re-definition of the ethos of committed Catholicism. As many choose to be Catholic in culture as well as belief, the archdiocese overall in 2059 a lot more fundamentalist that it was 50 years previously. Part of this also has been a disenchantment with the liberal catholicism of their parents, as well as an adoption of "religion of choice" rather than being born into it. This tighter and more closed-in catholicism has resulted in more vocations to the priesthood and some of the new religious orders, particularly when far reaching reforms were made to the local seminary after 2010.
Liturgy changed as well with the launch of new English translation of the Roman Missal in 2010, and other reforms, the most controversial being the withdrawal of the indult allowing Communion in the hand by Pope Gregory XVII in 2025. The Extraordinary Form of the Roman Rite was also revised in this period so that although it differs very little from the 1962 Missal of St John XXIII, the 2022 edition is the most common one used. It still appears unlikely that there will be a total blending of the two forms of the Roman Rite. However, some communities have abandoned table Altars and the celebration of the Eucharist facing the congregation, and have adopted some usages from each other. There is still some tension between the two forms of the rite particularly coming from the charismatic communities.
The changing structure of the church has resulted in the parish system, as envisaged by Archbishop Duhig in the early part of the 20th century being almost disbanded and replaced by a more flexible missionary structure. Therefore people travel on Sunday to the church community that suits them, largely on the city metro system built between 2030 and 2050, as car travel is now too expensive for most families. The more established communities are led by the Priestly Fraternity of Saint Peter, who celebrate according to the extraordinary form of the Roman Rite in a handful of churches in Brisbane (eg. their parishes at St Brigids Red Hill, and St Marys at South Brisbane and St Lukes at Buranda, as well as their Mass Centres on the Gold and Sunshine Coasts) and the Neo-Catechumenal Way who minister in some of the bible-belt areas of Ipswich and Logan. The Legionaires of Christ and other groups also minister to communities formed out of the old parishes.
The lasting legacy of the old parish system was the local catholic school (formerly called convent schools) which have continued to flourish. However, their links with the church are now only to do with property ownership and administration, as they have ceased their identity as Catholic schools, apart from their unique names which date back to the old parishes. Many of the adjoining churches and convents that they were based around are now demolished or converted into school halls. Catechists visit these schools on an occasional basis and this is a major activity of the priests during the week.
****
A realistic scenario? I would be interested in comments that anyone might have.
Month O' Musicals: The Wizard of Oz
Vital Stats:
Year: 1939
Director: Victor Fleming
Stars: Judy Garland, Ray Bolger, Frank Morgan, Jack Haley, Bert Lahr, Billie Burke, Margaret Hamilton
Based on the novel by: L. Frank Baum
Summary:
Dorothy Gale and her little dog Toto are swept away in a cyclone and transported to the magical land of Oz. In her quest to return back home, Dorothy follows the yellow brick road in search of the wonderful wizard of Oz, making new friends (and a dangerous enemy) along the way.
Memorable Moments:
The beautiful song "Over the Rainbow" made it to the top of AFI's 100 Years 100 Songs list. Many other aspects of the movie (the ruby slippers, the yellow brick road, "Lions and tigers and bears, oh my", "I have a feeling we're not in Kansas anymore") have been referenced elsewhere, showing the fairytale's wide appeal and cultural impact.
What I love about it:
It's hard to be objective about a childhood favorite, and it's very possible that nostalgia plays a part in why this one is close to my heart. Anyway I'm not alone; the movie seems pretty universally beloved. But one unusual thing I like about the story is the four main characters' connection to the four main temperament types outlined by David Keirsey. In the book People Patterns, these characters are referenced (along with other book and movie examples) to show how different temperaments behave. Dorothy is the stable Guardian, cautious and yearning for home; the Scarecrow is the quick-thinking, brainy Rational who figures out how things work; the Tin Man is the dreamy Idealist with the kindest heart of all; the Lion is the excitable Artisan who values courageous action above all else. I think it's a lot of fun trying to guess where people (and movie characters) fit into the different personality/temperament types, and these four make a good starting place (and reference point) for the basics. What's your personality type?
Thursday, January 22, 2009
Month O' Musicals: Oklahoma!
Vital Stats:
Year: 1955
Director: Fred Zinnemann
Stars: Shirley Jones, Gordon MacRae, Gloria Grahame, Rod Steiger, Eddie Albert, Gene Nelson, Charlotte Greenwood
Choreographer: Agnes de Mille
Songwriting: Rodgers & Hammerstein
Summary:
Set in Oklahoma territory, it's a simple tale of cowboys and the women they love.
Memorable Moments:
The sweet ballad "People Will Say We're in Love" and the dance to the fun "The Farmer and the Cowman" are both great, while the auction scene is an especially nice mix of comedy and drama.
What I love about it:
Another title with an exclamation point! "Chicks and ducks and geese better scurry..." The highly entertaining secondary love story between all-or-nothing Will Parker and the girl who can't say no, Ado Annie. Gordon MacRae's gorgeous singing. And Aunt Eller.
I can't decide if I want a relative like Aunt Eller or if I just want to be her. There is something so appealing about being an old woman able to say and do whatever you please, including pulling a gun on someone and making him sing.Some of my favorite examples of Aunt Eller's wisdom:
"Why don't you grab her and kiss her when she acts that-a-way, Curly, she's just aching for you to, I bet."
"Let's not break the law, let's just bend it a little."
"You've got to get used to having all kinds of things happening to you. You've got to look at all the good on one side and all the bad on the other side and say well, all right then, to both of them."
and of course "I don't say I'm no better than anybody else, but I'll be danged if I ain't just as good!"
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