April 1

Happy Birthday to Wallace Beery, Lon Chaney, Ali McGraw, Tashiro Mifune, Jane Powell and Debbie Reynolds.

TCM had an all day and night birthday celebration for two stars. The day was Jane Powell and the night was Debbie Reynolds.

For Jane Powell I watched Nancy Goes To Rio. The basic story is a mother and daughter are interested in the same man. It is a more musical (and color) version of It’s A Date. In Nancy, Jane plays the daughter of Ann Sothern a Broadway singing star. Ann goes to Rio to rest and get ready for her next musical. Jane is also a singer and gets a chance for a role. She rehearses the role on the boat to Rio to be with her mother. Barry Sullivan hears her rehearsing and thinks that she is in “trouble” and acts as a protector. He asks Carmen Miranda to talk with her woman to woman to guide her along. Jane develops a crush on Barry. When they get to Rio, Ann and her grandfather also hear her rehearsing. When Barry comes courting they think that he is the father. Barry admits to only meeting her recently on the boat. When Ann goes to confront Barry he is amazed about who she is and falls for her. When Jane sings Embraceable You to him he is embarrassed, but does not want to hurt her. Jane finds out the part offered to her is the same part that Ann is rehearsing. Jane doesn’t want to take the role, but will become engaged to Barry instead so they can go away. Ann realizes that she is too old for the role and makes sure that Jane gets the part.

It’s A Date has Kay Francis as the mother, Deanna Durbin as the daughter and Walter Pidgeon as the man. You can’t compare the films acting wise. All the actors are incredibly talented and play the role in their own way. Both are good films. In Nancy Goes to Rio Carmen Miranda sings several songs in Technicolor clothing and hats that make the movie just fun. Ann Sothern sings in a deeper tone than I have heard her sung before, but it sounds like her so I don’t think it is dubbed. It is also a more serious role for her. Kay Francis only had one song in It’s A Date, but it was not her voice. Nancy in Rio is not a shot for shot or same exact dialog as It’s A Date but there are a few similarities, namely the opening and ending of the film. At the beginning the daughter is in the audience or wings mouthing and singing along to her mother on stage. At the end of the films the role is reversed and the mother is in the audience and mouths the words of the song her daughter is singing on stage. I like that part. It is pride, encouragement and maybe a hint of jealousy but full of love.

For Debbie Reynolds I watched Mary, Mary. I have to admit the Monkee’s song keeps going through my head. This is a sophisticated adult comedy with great dialog. It made me realize that I miss sexual tension in a film. It enhances the story. If there is a sex scene or the couple has sex at the beginning of the film something seems to be missing in the film. The story is based on Jean Kerr play and is very play bound in the film. That is not necessary a bad thing, but it is obvious. Barry Nelson plays a publishers who is Debbie’s ex-husband who is being audited by the IRS and his accountant decides that Debbie is needed to help explain some missing details. Barry who playing the role on Broadway overdoes the action. Some of his actions are exaggerated. Michael Reninie plays an actor who wants to revitalize his career by having his memoirs published. Michael also played the role on Broadway. He doesn’t seem to overdo the action as Barry does. Or if he does it fits more with the character. Debbie comes to the apartment when Michael is there. Since there divorce about 9 months prior she has undergone a glamorous beauty treatment and bought new cloths that enhanced her figure. Michael and Debbie agree to have dinner. Barry who is getting married the next day goes to his fiancée’s parents house. On the way there, a terrible snow storm develops and they have to head back to the city. When he gets to his apartment, Debbie and Michael are kissing on his couch. Michael leaves and Debbie and Barry argue.

The next morning Debbie is woken up by the fiancée and practically searches the entire apartment looking for a cigarette. Barry comes in and states that he has been walking around all night in the snow with no coat. The fiancée thinks they slept together and is ok with that fact. Barry becomes quite upset that she would think that. The fiancée realizing that Barry is still in love with Debbie decides to break the engagement. Barry takes some vitamins to give him energy actually takes 3 sleeping pills by mistake. So for the rest of the film Barry struggles to stay awake or when he does fall asleep is rudely wakened. Barry tells Debbie that he likes being married and they get along well since they know each others faults and they should get remarried. Debbie did not like the comfortable speech. Michael wants Debbie to go away with him his publicity event in New Orleans. Debbie starts to go with him but Barry locks her in the closet and throws the key out the window, almost falling out himself. Michael goes alone. The fiancée leaves. Debbie opens the closet door. She still had the keys. They finally accept that they love each other. Barry finally falls into a deep sleep.

After seeing Debbie in films like Tammy and The Batchelor and Singing in the Rain it is very refreshing to see her in a fully adult intelligent modern role. Maybe mature is the word I am looking for. She played strong, shy, bewildered, angry and lively independent woman.