I have finally learned what babies want: Mom and Dad in a close proximity at all times. Last weekend I got some movies from the library to help me stay put for a nap time or two, and she was thrilled. It's always fun to see the expression on the sweet librarians' faces after they see my choices. This week it was a Moosewood Cookbook, (why do I even try?) Triston and Isolade, a documentary on Kensey, and Annie Get Your Gun. So far, all that I have used so far has been Annie Get Your Gun.
My brothers never seemed to appreciate their humor while my sister owns every Beach Movie in existence, and I would like to say I have found a happy medium between the two opinions. I like Guys and Dolls. I own Kiss Me Kate. I respect West Side Story, I thoroughly enjoy Grease every now and then, but this movie was too much. I did not like how they portrayed Annie Oakley as a caricature of ignorance just "Doin' What Comes Naturally,' nor did I appreciate their Disney-esque portrayal of Native Americans with "I'm an Indian Now," but what bothered me more was how she kept throwing herself at Frank Butler, and he was just a prick. There is only one part in the movie that I was seriously proud of her and that was during the song, "Anything You Can Do I Can Do Better," which ironically was the bane of my existence for several months when it was used as the backdrop to a stupid laundry detergent commercial several years back.
Besides, who says "You Can't Get A Man With A Gun"? Not according to Sarah Palin.
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Correction: I don't own "Muscle Beach" but I have seen it.
ReplyDeleteI'm a huge fan of musicals--but not those that are based on stereotypes, which this one is. The technicolor movie musicals of the 1950's (ish) tended to reinforce the stereotypes of the era. But some musicals actually provoke thought while delivering the tuneful goods: "Showboat" (race relations and the realities of love and marriage), "The Fantasticks" (illusion vs. reality), "Man of La Mancha" (are heroism and idealism irrelevant--a sign of mental illness--in this world of suffering?), and "Sweeney Todd" (is it true, as the demon barber says, that "we all deserve to die"?).
ReplyDeleteOf course, there's a time and place for stereotypes--in a Mel Brooks movie, for instance. Excuse me while I step away from the keyboard for a rousing chorus of the title song from "Blazing Saddles"....