buggestwug Reviews

Finian's Rainbow (1968)

aw, innocence!

[10/10 · 7 March 2006]

'Finians Rainbow' with Fred Astaire and Petulia Clark may not be in the same league as 'The Sound of Music' or 'South Pacific' but why should it matter. A movie does not need to be complicated or cost millions to be enjoyed. It has beautiful music, Fred Astaire dancing and a growing Lepricon! What more can you ask for?

I saw 'Finians Rainbow' for the first time (in the '60's) when i was a teenager. I was young and innocent and so was the movie. Now that I'm old, I love to sit back and watch 'Finians Rainbow' and other movies of this ilk ('Calamity Jane', 'Bye,Bye Birdie') and pretend i'm innocent again.

Calamity Jane (1953)

singing dancing and innocence

[7 March 2006]

Calamity Jane with Doris Day was my first experience with musicals. i was so entranced I talked my mother into letting me stay to watch it again. I was left with an unknown women who had come to watch the next showing. (Something unheard of in this day!) The sheer joy of the singing, dancing and innocence of a time past is something that is sorely missed today.

Doris Day's Calamity Jane is a story of love between men and women and women and women during a time when this love was innocent and people did not worry that someone might look at it in a sexual way. Women could hold hands and hug to support each other in happiness as well as grief.

Songs like 'Secret Love' and 'Take Me Back to the Black Hills' are beautiful even to the audiences today. this type of music will never die.

Yankee Doodle Dandy (1942)

feel good movie

[10/10 · 7 March 2006]

Yankee Doodle Dandy is a movie anyone can see and enjoy. no sex, violence or profanity just lively entertainment. it is good enough to watch on any day, not just the Fourth of July.

James Cagney really brings George Cohan to life. when i see him walk up the wall i jump up and applaud. i wish we could see more talent like his today.

this is one of those movies that i used to wait all year to see again on the television's late shows. it is also one that i used to dream of owning but never dreamed it would really be possible.

the music and dancing are exceptional and make the heart soar.