I have to say this review is incredible and so well thought out. I recently rewatched An American in Paris, and I was really bothered by how rude Jerry was upon meeting Lise. He's invited by someone he barely knows to a dinner so that they can support his career, he ignores them and leers straight at Lise in an uncomfortable manner. I couldn't get past this cringy start to buy into their relationship. Lise would have been better off with Henri. The dancing is great, the film looks good with the Technicolor, and I really enjoyed Oscar Levant as Adam. I've noticed that the videos in this series are from a while ago. Any chance you will resume making videos to continue this series? I realize they must be quite time consuming, but they are really well done, insightful, and enjoyable to watch. Thanks!
Thank you so much for sharing your thoughts and for the kind words! Means a lot! 🙂 And, yes, the videos will definitely continue. Since I started doing videos that covered the Best Picture nominees that lost and due to personal life stuff, it's been taking me longer to get around to Best Picture winner videos. I'd originally planned to get the Around the World on Eighty Days video out by the end of the year, but I'm not going to manage that. So, I'm hoping it'll be out by early next year. But in the mean time, I will have two Best Picture nominees videos coming out and a long-form video that I'm really excited about. Until I catch up with the BP nominees videos (ie when the nominee videos and the winner videos are covering the same year), rhe pattern I'm going with is four nominee videos and then a winner and so on and so forth. So, stuff is coming. It's just taking a while. Thank you so much for your interest and support!
Marvellous review of a superb production! I am delighted you chose one of my favourite Oscar Levant scenes to illustrate his brilliance. When he says, "So far!" it cracks me up every time! Thanks so much!
No, thank YOU for the kind words! Means a lot! Oscar Levant is a hoot in the film, and I really enjoy that scene (obviously, since I put it in the video).
@@TheCinematicPackrat1: In addition to being the greatest interpreter of Gershwin, Oscar Levant was ALWAYS hilarious. My favourite Levant Line is: "Every morning, I wake up, brush my teeth, and sharpen my tongue."
@@MissClassix Levant was one of the most indoors men who ever lived, but when Paar asked why he had relocated from New York to the West Coast his deadpan answer was 'For the surfing'.
YAY! My favorite reviews are back! Can't wait to see more. I agree for I am not a huge fan of An American in Paris but I love Singing in the Rain. Looking forward to your review on Marty and all the rest going forward.
Thank you so much! Glad you like them. Hoping to get the Greatest Show on Earth review out later this month. August is busy for me, though, so that might not happen.
That's all right. You don't have to apologize. I can't wait to hear your thoughts on From Here To Eternity, On the Waterfront, Around the World in 80 Days, The Bridge on the River Kwai, Gigi, Marty, and of course Ben Hur! (oh and the Greatest Show on Earth)
Hey CP! I just stumbled across this series and spent the day marathoning it. It's fascinating listening to your thoughts on these Best Picture winners, many of which I admittedly haven't taken the time to see yet. I'm definitely looking forward to the next episode. On a similar note, maybe someone has already asked, but have you considered looking into the losing Best Picture nominees, maybe see how they measure up to the winner of that particular year?
TheITinFIT Awww, thanks. It means a lot to me that you enjoy them and that you would marathon them. The next episode should be out by the end of the month. When my wife and I originally decided to watch all the winners, I suggested (more jokingly, if I remember correctly) we watch all the nominees, too. She said no. Haha. That's probably a good thing. You could approach a series like this from many different angles. 1. Only cover the winners. 2. Cover the nominees, too, all in separate videos before finishung with the winner and comparing it to what was nominated. 3. Cover all films in one video and compare and contrast as you go. And there are many more ways. All have their pros and cons. The way I chose to do it is probably best because I simply don't have the time to cover all the nominees from each year. In my podcast, a friend and I have talked about each nominee of the past two ceremonies. Maybe I could cover the old nominees in podcast form. Or I could maybe do mini-reviews of each as part of a series. Hmmm. You got my brain working. If I do decide to do something, it won't be for a long while do to other projects. Thanks again for watching and for the kind words. If you check out some of the BP winners, let me know what you think of them.
Thanks for your review!🎉 Amazingly, you voiced all my concerns, all my hesitations in recommending this movie to anyone other than: foreign dancers intrigued with vintage American musicals!🤔
Even as a huge Gene Kelly fan, I had to watch this movie a few times to really appreciate it. Yes, the cinematography is beautiful, the performers are brilliant, and I love Gershwin’s music. But I really feel it was the script that let it down. I can’t believe it won an Oscar when it was the weakest part about it. Lisè went from despising Jerry to loving him far too quickly. Maybe if she didn’t hate him so much on their first meeting. Leslie was far too convincing on that. Perhaps a shy little smile from her or a glimpse of her cutting her eyes a towards him with interest would have made this less cringy. It would have felt more like it wasn’t possible because of her sense of obligation not because of her outright disgust. And I’m not even getting into the awful dialogue setting up “Our Love is Here to Stay.” A beautiful song set up with such drivel. “Sundays in America…everyone catches cold.” “Did you?” “Sometimes…” Really? There was only a short scene to set it up and that’s the best you could do?
Did you know there is a theater adaptation of An American in Paris and have you see it? I saw a few months ago, and it actually rectifies the problems with story and characters you mentioned in this video--the story actually feels the weight of the recently-concluded second world war, so it's more a story about a city rediscovering its color and song. The characters all recall what they did during the war to flesh them out, and Jerry is a lot less creepy on stage. Lise is actually a ballerina, not just a shop girl, and the show actually incorporates the climatic ballet into the story as an abstract art themed diegetic production prepared throughout the musical, and the fantasy is not Jerry's but Lise's. I don't think you can see the show on youtube, but here's a video about Lise's character: ua-cam.com/video/RUk6nVhs_3U/v-deo.html
I did know about it, but I have not seen it. The changes you mention sound great. Love the idea of showing a rebirth in Paris after World War II, and of course, Jerry being not a creep would improve the story immensely. Thank you for sharing this. Makes me interested and excited about seeing the stage show someday. Thanks for watching!
I'm doing all the Best Picture winners in order. So I'll definitely get to them eventually. Next up is The Greatest Show on Earth in January or (more likely February). Gigi is just a few reviews down the road. Thanks for the interest in my reviews! It means a lot! :)
The Cinematic Packrat Oh great, I didn't know you did them in chronological order. Btw just to give my feedback, I like the reviews and podcast, but I'm not a fan of the mini-reviews
I can't, but it also allows me to cover films that I would never have time for if I were to do a full-length review, which is one of the main reasons I started doing them. There'll also probably improve as time goes on. I've written plenty of min-text-reviews, but only done a few short video reviews. So there's still a learning curve on how to make the most effectively, especially when it comes to silent films. Thank you for the feedback! :) I really do appreciate it. It's one of the ways I get better. And thanks for watching! :)
You're right. SIR is a better movie than AIP but that is because the script is superior. The music In AIP is far greater than the music in SIR. Nacio Herb Brown was no Gershwin.
Donald Saigh Singin' in the Rain certainly has a better script, but I don't think agree with you opinion about the music. Gershwin certainly had advantages over Brown, and Paris' songs are better in a technical and composition sense. But I find the songs in Rain to be much more fun and memorable. But Ira wrote the lyrics for Paris' songs so this rests on him as well. Of course, this is just my opinion. I can totally understand if you prefer Paris' songs. Thanks for watching and sharing your thoughts. Please share more of your thoughts on the film if you have any. :)
@Randy White Then I wonder why Gershwin is recognized as one of the towering figures of 20th century music, while Nacio Herb Brown is all but forgotten?
@@TheCinematicPackrat1 Probably the most memorable song in SIR is the title song. It is staged brilliantly which adds to the songs memorable appeal, but the song is quite pedestrian. It pales in comparison to classics like "Our Love Is Here To Stay", "Stairway To Paradise", "I Got Rhythm", "Embraceable You", and the "Homesick Blues" section of the "American in Paris" tone poem.
Jamie Taylor Thank you for your interest in my reviews. I reviewed Rebecca a few years ago. Here's the link to it: ua-cam.com/video/vXHhAYnr1DQ/v-deo.html It's not a great review. I intend to go back at some point and redo some of my early reviews, but for the moment, that's what I have. Thanks again for the interest! :)
I have to say this review is incredible and so well thought out. I recently rewatched An American in Paris, and I was really bothered by how rude Jerry was upon meeting Lise. He's invited by someone he barely knows to a dinner so that they can support his career, he ignores them and leers straight at Lise in an uncomfortable manner. I couldn't get past this cringy start to buy into their relationship. Lise would have been better off with Henri. The dancing is great, the film looks good with the Technicolor, and I really enjoyed Oscar Levant as Adam. I've noticed that the videos in this series are from a while ago. Any chance you will resume making videos to continue this series? I realize they must be quite time consuming, but they are really well done, insightful, and enjoyable to watch. Thanks!
Thank you so much for sharing your thoughts and for the kind words! Means a lot! 🙂
And, yes, the videos will definitely continue. Since I started doing videos that covered the Best Picture nominees that lost and due to personal life stuff, it's been taking me longer to get around to Best Picture winner videos. I'd originally planned to get the Around the World on Eighty Days video out by the end of the year, but I'm not going to manage that. So, I'm hoping it'll be out by early next year. But in the mean time, I will have two Best Picture nominees videos coming out and a long-form video that I'm really excited about. Until I catch up with the BP nominees videos (ie when the nominee videos and the winner videos are covering the same year), rhe pattern I'm going with is four nominee videos and then a winner and so on and so forth. So, stuff is coming. It's just taking a while.
Thank you so much for your interest and support!
Marvellous review of a superb production! I am delighted you chose one of my favourite Oscar Levant scenes to illustrate his brilliance. When he says, "So far!" it cracks me up every time!
Thanks so much!
No, thank YOU for the kind words! Means a lot! Oscar Levant is a hoot in the film, and I really enjoy that scene (obviously, since I put it in the video).
@@TheCinematicPackrat1: In addition to being the greatest interpreter of Gershwin, Oscar Levant was ALWAYS hilarious.
My favourite Levant Line is: "Every morning, I wake up, brush my teeth, and sharpen my tongue."
@@MissClassix When Jack Paar asked Levant what he did for exercise, Oscar said 'I stumble and fall into a coma'.
@@esmeephillips5888: YES! Thank you, Esmee -- I had forgotten that one! He was brilliant!
@@MissClassix
Levant was one of the most indoors men who ever lived, but when Paar asked why he had relocated from New York to the West Coast his deadpan answer was 'For the surfing'.
It's a Masterpiece.
YAY! My favorite reviews are back! Can't wait to see more. I agree for I am not a huge fan of An American in Paris but I love Singing in the Rain. Looking forward to your review on Marty and all the rest going forward.
Thank you so much! Glad you like them. Hoping to get the Greatest Show on Earth review out later this month. August is busy for me, though, so that might not happen.
Can't wait! BTW -A Place in the Sun should have won best picture in '51. Just saying. At least George Stevens got the nod for Best Director.
@Randy White
Hello, again, Randy. 🙂🙃
🎬 Singin' In The Rain ☔
Thank you for correcting folks. 👍
My favorite series is back!
So glad you like the videos so much! Hope this one satisfied you, too! Sorry for the long wait. Thanks again for watching.
That's all right. You don't have to apologize. I can't wait to hear your thoughts on From Here To Eternity, On the Waterfront, Around the World in 80 Days, The Bridge on the River Kwai, Gigi, Marty, and of course Ben Hur! (oh and the Greatest Show on Earth)
Hey CP! I just stumbled across this series and spent the day marathoning it. It's fascinating listening to your thoughts on these Best Picture winners, many of which I admittedly haven't taken the time to see yet. I'm definitely looking forward to the next episode.
On a similar note, maybe someone has already asked, but have you considered looking into the losing Best Picture nominees, maybe see how they measure up to the winner of that particular year?
TheITinFIT Awww, thanks. It means a lot to me that you enjoy them and that you would marathon them. The next episode should be out by the end of the month.
When my wife and I originally decided to watch all the winners, I suggested (more jokingly, if I remember correctly) we watch all the nominees, too. She said no. Haha. That's probably a good thing. You could approach a series like this from many different angles.
1. Only cover the winners.
2. Cover the nominees, too, all in separate videos before finishung with the winner and comparing it to what was nominated.
3. Cover all films in one video and compare and contrast as you go.
And there are many more ways. All have their pros and cons. The way I chose to do it is probably best because I simply don't have the time to cover all the nominees from each year. In my podcast, a friend and I have talked about each nominee of the past two ceremonies. Maybe I could cover the old nominees in podcast form. Or I could maybe do mini-reviews of each as part of a series. Hmmm. You got my brain working. If I do decide to do something, it won't be for a long while do to other projects.
Thanks again for watching and for the kind words. If you check out some of the BP winners, let me know what you think of them.
Thanks for your review!🎉 Amazingly, you voiced all my concerns, all my hesitations in recommending this movie to anyone other than:
foreign dancers intrigued with vintage American musicals!🤔
Even as a huge Gene Kelly fan, I had to watch this movie a few times to really appreciate it. Yes, the cinematography is beautiful, the performers are brilliant, and I love Gershwin’s music.
But I really feel it was the script that let it down. I can’t believe it won an Oscar when it was the weakest part about it. Lisè went from despising Jerry to loving him far too quickly. Maybe if she didn’t hate him so much on their first meeting. Leslie was far too convincing on that. Perhaps a shy little smile from her or a glimpse of her cutting her eyes a towards him with interest would have made this less cringy. It would have felt more like it wasn’t possible because of her sense of obligation not because of her outright disgust.
And I’m not even getting into the awful dialogue setting up “Our Love is Here to Stay.” A beautiful song set up with such drivel. “Sundays in America…everyone catches cold.” “Did you?” “Sometimes…” Really? There was only a short scene to set it up and that’s the best you could do?
The film has its charms, but Singin’ In the Rain is infinitely the far better film.
Did you know there is a theater adaptation of An American in Paris and have you see it? I saw a few months ago, and it actually rectifies the problems with story and characters you mentioned in this video--the story actually feels the weight of the recently-concluded second world war, so it's more a story about a city rediscovering its color and song. The characters all recall what they did during the war to flesh them out, and Jerry is a lot less creepy on stage. Lise is actually a ballerina, not just a shop girl, and the show actually incorporates the climatic ballet into the story as an abstract art themed diegetic production prepared throughout the musical, and the fantasy is not Jerry's but Lise's. I don't think you can see the show on youtube, but here's a video about Lise's character: ua-cam.com/video/RUk6nVhs_3U/v-deo.html
I did know about it, but I have not seen it. The changes you mention sound great. Love the idea of showing a rebirth in Paris after World War II, and of course, Jerry being not a creep would improve the story immensely. Thank you for sharing this. Makes me interested and excited about seeing the stage show someday.
Thanks for watching!
@Harriet
👍 Agree! Thank you so much for the link!🇫🇷
Have you done My Fair Lady or GiGi? If not please do them ☺️
I'm doing all the Best Picture winners in order. So I'll definitely get to them eventually. Next up is The Greatest Show on Earth in January or (more likely February). Gigi is just a few reviews down the road. Thanks for the interest in my reviews! It means a lot! :)
The Cinematic Packrat Oh great, I didn't know you did them in chronological order. Btw just to give my feedback, I like the reviews and podcast, but I'm not a fan of the mini-reviews
I appreciate the feedback. To be a bit more specific, what exactly about the mini-reviews don't you like?
The Cinematic Packrat I think it's because being a mini-review, you can't really go into the details of the movie and the meanings in great depth.
I can't, but it also allows me to cover films that I would never have time for if I were to do a full-length review, which is one of the main reasons I started doing them. There'll also probably improve as time goes on. I've written plenty of min-text-reviews, but only done a few short video reviews. So there's still a learning curve on how to make the most effectively, especially when it comes to silent films.
Thank you for the feedback! :) I really do appreciate it. It's one of the ways I get better. And thanks for watching! :)
You're right. SIR is a better movie than AIP but that is because the script is superior. The music In AIP is far greater than the music in SIR. Nacio Herb Brown was no Gershwin.
Donald Saigh Singin' in the Rain certainly has a better script, but I don't think agree with you opinion about the music. Gershwin certainly had advantages over Brown, and Paris' songs are better in a technical and composition sense. But I find the songs in Rain to be much more fun and memorable. But Ira wrote the lyrics for Paris' songs so this rests on him as well. Of course, this is just my opinion. I can totally understand if you prefer Paris' songs. Thanks for watching and sharing your thoughts. Please share more of your thoughts on the film if you have any. :)
@Randy White Then I wonder why Gershwin is recognized as one of the towering figures of 20th century music, while Nacio Herb Brown is all but forgotten?
@@TheCinematicPackrat1 Probably the most memorable song in SIR is the title song. It is staged brilliantly which adds to the songs memorable appeal, but the song is quite pedestrian. It pales in comparison to classics like "Our Love Is Here To Stay", "Stairway To Paradise", "I Got Rhythm", "Embraceable You", and the "Homesick Blues" section of the "American in Paris" tone poem.
please review 1940's Rebecca :)
Jamie Taylor Thank you for your interest in my reviews. I reviewed Rebecca a few years ago. Here's the link to it: ua-cam.com/video/vXHhAYnr1DQ/v-deo.html
It's not a great review. I intend to go back at some point and redo some of my early reviews, but for the moment, that's what I have.
Thanks again for the interest! :)