Sunday, November 18, 2007
Get in the Thanksgiving Spirit...
...by watching Singin' in the Rain! This week on Wednesday evening TCM is showing our favorite Gene Kelly movie. Tune in at 8 pm (Eastern).
Wednesday, November 7, 2007
Marjorie Morningstar vs. Dirty Dancing
“Nobody puts Marjorie in the corner…”
The movie Dirty Dancing has been back in the news recently for its 20th anniversary, and also for being compared to High School Musical 2. But for a true comparison, has anyone else realized that it’s a happier, more lighthearted, more musical version of Gene Kelly’s Marjorie Morningstar? If you’ve never thought about it before, consider the following:
- The main character for both movies is a naïve, good Jewish girl (Natalie Wood as Marjorie in MM and Jennifer Grey as Baby in DD).
- Marjorie works at a camp in the Catskills. Baby visits a camp in the Catskills.
- Marjorie falls for the cocky bad-boy entertainment director, Noel (Gene Kelly). Baby falls for the cocky bad-boy dance instructor, Johnny (Patrick Swayze).
- Marjorie’s parents disapprove of the relationship because he’s not Jewish and he has no ambition. Baby’s parents disapprove of the relationship because he’s not Jewish and he’s the hired help.
- Noel teaches Marjorie how to perform. Johnny teaches Baby how to dance. Side note: DD’s choreographer, Kenny Ortega, is a huge Gene Kelly fan and worked with him on “Xanadu”.
This is where the two stories begin to differ drastically. Unfortunately for Marjorie, MM is the more serious and dramatic movie that focuses on the relationship of Noel and Marjorie. Simply, Noel is a loser. He can’t handle the stability that Marjorie offers and he can’t handle not being successful in the “real world”. In the end, Marjorie winds up with Wally, Noel’s assistant who is now a successful Broadway playwright. Is it me, or does anyone else think that if Marjorie didn’t listen to Wally in the end that maybe, just maybe, she and Noel would have worked things out? Anyway, DD has a much happier ending for Baby and Johnny. Of course, don’t forget that MM was a dramatic adaptation of an award-winning novel. DD was merely a happy musical that skirted some serious social issues. Any attempt at drama didn’t work because of the now-infamous pitiful dialogue that will induce laughter in all but pre-teens who think it’s the best movie ever.
But, let’s continue with our comparison with the differences…
- The “good guy” assistant Wally is the … well, the good guy in the end (except he convinces Marjorie to stay away from Noel…hmm, maybe he is the bad guy after all). The “good guy” waiter Robbie is the bad guy all along, but he’s revealed at the end.
- MM’s “A Very Precious Love” was nominated for an Academy Award for “Best Song” in 1958. DD’s “(I’ve Had) The Time of My Life” actually won the Academy Award for “Best Song” in 1987.
- MM’s happy couple end happily separated, never to reunite because Noel’s a jerk. DD’s happy couple ends happily together – and Baby’s father might actually be warming up to him.
- Dare we compare the stars of the two films? Let’s face it, MM may not have been Gene’s best dramatic role, but he handled it well. What would be truly refreshing? Gene Kelly starring in Dirty Dancing! Or would it be funnier to see Patrick Swayze in Marjorie Morningstar?
Trivia Challenge: Gene Kelly and Patrick Swayze were co-stars in --------?
The movie Dirty Dancing has been back in the news recently for its 20th anniversary, and also for being compared to High School Musical 2. But for a true comparison, has anyone else realized that it’s a happier, more lighthearted, more musical version of Gene Kelly’s Marjorie Morningstar? If you’ve never thought about it before, consider the following:
- The main character for both movies is a naïve, good Jewish girl (Natalie Wood as Marjorie in MM and Jennifer Grey as Baby in DD).
- Marjorie works at a camp in the Catskills. Baby visits a camp in the Catskills.
- Marjorie falls for the cocky bad-boy entertainment director, Noel (Gene Kelly). Baby falls for the cocky bad-boy dance instructor, Johnny (Patrick Swayze).
- Marjorie’s parents disapprove of the relationship because he’s not Jewish and he has no ambition. Baby’s parents disapprove of the relationship because he’s not Jewish and he’s the hired help.
- Noel teaches Marjorie how to perform. Johnny teaches Baby how to dance. Side note: DD’s choreographer, Kenny Ortega, is a huge Gene Kelly fan and worked with him on “Xanadu”.
This is where the two stories begin to differ drastically. Unfortunately for Marjorie, MM is the more serious and dramatic movie that focuses on the relationship of Noel and Marjorie. Simply, Noel is a loser. He can’t handle the stability that Marjorie offers and he can’t handle not being successful in the “real world”. In the end, Marjorie winds up with Wally, Noel’s assistant who is now a successful Broadway playwright. Is it me, or does anyone else think that if Marjorie didn’t listen to Wally in the end that maybe, just maybe, she and Noel would have worked things out? Anyway, DD has a much happier ending for Baby and Johnny. Of course, don’t forget that MM was a dramatic adaptation of an award-winning novel. DD was merely a happy musical that skirted some serious social issues. Any attempt at drama didn’t work because of the now-infamous pitiful dialogue that will induce laughter in all but pre-teens who think it’s the best movie ever.
But, let’s continue with our comparison with the differences…
- The “good guy” assistant Wally is the … well, the good guy in the end (except he convinces Marjorie to stay away from Noel…hmm, maybe he is the bad guy after all). The “good guy” waiter Robbie is the bad guy all along, but he’s revealed at the end.
- MM’s “A Very Precious Love” was nominated for an Academy Award for “Best Song” in 1958. DD’s “(I’ve Had) The Time of My Life” actually won the Academy Award for “Best Song” in 1987.
- MM’s happy couple end happily separated, never to reunite because Noel’s a jerk. DD’s happy couple ends happily together – and Baby’s father might actually be warming up to him.
- Dare we compare the stars of the two films? Let’s face it, MM may not have been Gene’s best dramatic role, but he handled it well. What would be truly refreshing? Gene Kelly starring in Dirty Dancing! Or would it be funnier to see Patrick Swayze in Marjorie Morningstar?
Trivia Challenge: Gene Kelly and Patrick Swayze were co-stars in --------?
Back to Blogging
Well, after a month without DSL, it's finally been resolved. But, this is a blog about Gene Kelly, not about how incompetent Verizon is. So, that's all I'll say. Back to your regularly scheduled blogging...
Thursday, November 1, 2007
Silent, Not By Choice
Thanks to Verizon, the Epitome of Incompetence, I have been without DSL for about a month now. Based on what I've heard from others, I'm probably a couple of weeks away from a true resolution. Based on how long it has taken to publish this post via dial-up, I'm afraid this blog will be silent for a bit longer. But please don't think I've abandoned it! I have a lot more to say about Gene Kelly. To quote a different actor, I'll be back...
Tuesday, September 11, 2007
To Be an American in Paris
The Gene Scene Blog will be silent for a while as I do my "Jerry Mulligan" tour of Paris. As a bon voyage thought, let me quote Gene Kelly as Jerry himself:
"Back home everyone said I didn't have any talent. They might be saying the same thing over here but it sounds better in French."
Monday, September 10, 2007
Leslie Caron wins an Emmy
At the "Creative Arts Emmys" on Saturday night, Leslie Caron won an award for her guest appearance on the television show "Law and Order: Special Victims Unit." Reports say that the 76-year-old actress quipped "I think I was nominated in 1951 for the most promising newcomer. I'm glad I finally realized my potential."
Leslie will be a presenter on the primetime Emmy Awards on September 16th and will wear a drss that she designed. Read an article by Robert Osborne in The Hollywood Reporter about her win.
Leslie will be a presenter on the primetime Emmy Awards on September 16th and will wear a drss that she designed. Read an article by Robert Osborne in The Hollywood Reporter about her win.
Friday, September 7, 2007
Betty Comden Tribute
Anyone living in or nearby New York City will be happy to hear about a special tribute for Betty Comden on September 18th. The event is called "Great Women Salute A Great Woman: Betty Comden - In the Words of Comden and Green" and will be held at Broadway's Majestic Theater, 247 West 44 Street, beginning at 2 PM. It's free, open to the public, and will feature many Broadway stars and some "surprise guests" to celebrate Betty's life. Read more about the event in Playbill.
For anyone who does not recognize the name of Betty Comden, she's half of the amazing writing duo "Comden and Green". With partner Adolph Green, the pair co-wrote On the Town, It's Always Fair Weather, and Singin' in the Rain - just to name a few of the Gene Kelly hits. She died nearly one year ago at the age of 89.
For anyone who does not recognize the name of Betty Comden, she's half of the amazing writing duo "Comden and Green". With partner Adolph Green, the pair co-wrote On the Town, It's Always Fair Weather, and Singin' in the Rain - just to name a few of the Gene Kelly hits. She died nearly one year ago at the age of 89.
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