Cinema Tuesdays {The Gang's All Here}

From 1943 it's The Gang's All Here, a gorgeous Technicolor morale boosting musical with the standard solider falls for a chorus girl and forgets to mention that he's already engaged to the girl in the mansion next door. It's stars Alice Faye, Carmen Miranda and appearing as himself, the great Benny Goodman, the King of Swing!

Directed by Busby Berekley, it features the suggestive and risqué "Lady in the Tutti-Frutti Hat" number, "You Discover You're in New York" which lampoons rationing and a positively surreal finale that looks like polka-dots on an acid trip.

James Ellison who plays the solider is a bit of a heel and he ain't no Don Ameche.

Cinema Tuesdays {Cover Girl}

For the month of August, I've decided to do Second World War Musicals, starting with Cover Girl from 1944, one of the most stunning Technicolor musicals ever! It's just filled with gorgeous Forties fashions and hair. The plot? Who cares. Rita Hayworth and Gene Kelly will get together in the end and Phil Silvers will be funny throughout.

Actually, the war isn't mentioned that much in the film. Gene Kelly's character was wounded and that's why he's returned to running his night club and Phil Silvers' character has bad eyesight. But we're never told why that big shot Broadway producer isn't doing his bit.

The war is only mentioned in the musical numbers, which were clearly done in order to keep morale up, both at home and on the front so go back and listen to them again.

I just love Eve Arden's costumes throughout the film!

One of his first experimental dance routines.