BARRY LEVINE: Memorable tunes graced American movie musicals

EDITOR’S NOTE — First of a two-part series on American musical films beginning from “An American in Paris” in 1951 to “Grease” in 1978. Part 2 will appear in The Albany Herald on Sunday, June 10. The musicals are listed by the year they were released.

If you initiate a discussion on where the most memorable music was produced in this nation from 1950 to 1978, you probably will get more different responses than if you asked, “Who was the greatest singer of all-time?”

Precious few, if anyone, would respond that the most memorable music came from movie musicals.

The number of songs that have become standards – tunes that have withstood the test of time — from these films is absolutely incredible.

Here are the musicals released during that period. See how many songs you recall from that period. You’ll be amazed how many standards you know.

An American in Paris – The 1951 film, which was set in Paris, starred Gene Kelly, Leslie Caron, Oscar Levant and Nina Foch. The movie was a huge success, collecting eight Academy Award nominations, winning six, including Best Picture. It is ranked ninth among American Film Institute’s Greatest Movie Musicals.

The plot focuses on an American World War II veteran (Kelly) in Paris attempting to gain a reputation as a painter through his efforts to sell his art.

Among the memorable songs from the movie are “Embraceable You,” “I Got Rhythm,” “’S Wonderful” and “I’ll Build a Stairway to Heaven.”

Singing in the Rain – This is another musical that starred Gene Kelly. The 1952 film starred Donald O’Connor, Debbie Reynolds and Kelly. Co-starring in the film are Jean Hagen, Cyd Charisse and Rita Moreno.

The movie is ranked No. 1 among AFI’s Greatest Musicals. The film depicted Hollywood during the late 1920s, with Kelly, O’Connor and Reynolds portraying performers trying to make the transition from silent films to sound movies.

The main song in the movie is “Singing in the Rain,” which was performed by Kelly.

Brigadoon – Guess what? This is another musical in which Kelly starred. Also starring in the 1954 film were Van Johnson and Cyd Charisse. The movie centers on two Americans (Kelly and Johnson) who go on a hunting trip to Scotland and become lost in the woodlands. They stumble upon Brigadoon, a miraculously blessed village that rises from the mists every hundred years – but for only one day.

“Once in the Highlands,” “Waiting for My Dearie,” “I’ll Go Home with Bonnie Jean” and “Almost Like Being in Love” are the most famous songs from the movie.

A Star is Born – The 1954 movie, which starred Judy Garland and James Mason, was adopted from the 1937 film by the same name. Garland and Mason were both nominated for Academy Awards. The AFI ranks the movie seventh on the list of all-time best musicals.

The movie centers around Esther Blodgett (Garland), a talented aspiring singer with a band, and Norman Maine (Mason) as a former matinee idol with a career in the early stages of decline. When he arrives intoxicated at a function at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles, the studio publicist attempts to keep him from reporters. After an angry exchange, Norman bursts onto a stage where an orchestra is performing. Blodgett takes him by the hand and pretends he is part of the act, thereby turning a potentially embarrassing and disruptive moment into an opportunity for the audience to greet Norman with applause.

“My Melancholy Baby” and “Swanee” are the two most memorable songs from the film.

Oklahoma! – Based on the 1943 stage show “Oklahoma!,” the 1955 musical was written by composer Richard Rodgers with lyricitist Oscar Hammerstein. The movie starred Gordon MacRae, Shirley Jones (in her film debut), Rod Steiger, Charlotte Greenwood, Gloria Grahame, Gene Nelson, James Whitmore and Eddie Albert.

Set in the Oklahoma Territory, the movie tells the story of farm girl Laurey Williams (Jones) and her courtship by two rival suitors, cowboy Curly McLain (MacRae) and farmhand Jud Fry (Steiger). A secondary romance concerns Laurey’s friend, Ado Annie (Grahame), and cowboy Will Parker (Nelson), who also has a rival. A background theme is the territory’s aspiration for statehood and the local conflict between cattlemen and farmers.

Among the memorable songs from “Oklahoma!” are “Oh, What a Beautiful Mornin’,” “The Surrey with the Fringe on Top,” “People will Say We’re in Love” and “Oklahoma.”

Carousel – The 1956 film is adopted from Rodgers and Hammerstein’s 1945 Broadway musical with the same name. The movie starred Gordon MacRae and Shirley Jones. The plot centers around Billy Bigelow (MacRae), a rough-talking, macho, handsome carousel barker, and Julie Jordan (Jones), a young, innocent mill worker, both living their busy lives in the small town of Boothbay Harbor, Maine.

Although not having a plethora of memorable songs, “Carousel” had three timeless tunes: “June is Bustin’ Out All Over,” “If I Loved You,” and “You’ll Never Walk Alone.”

The King and I – The highly successful 1956 film was nominated for nine Academy Awards, capturing five, including Best Actor for Yul Brenner. The movie is ranked 11th on AFI’s list of top movie musicals.

The plot focuses on the relationship of strong-willed, widowed schoolteacher Anna Leonowens (Deborah Kerr), who arrived in Bangkok from Wales with her young son, Louis, after being summoned to tutor the many children of King Mongkut (Brenner). The two are introduced to the intimidating Kralahome (Martin Benson), King Mongkut’s confidante and Siam’s prime minister. Kralahome explains he has come to escort them to the Royal Palace where they will live — a violation of Anna’s contract, which calls for them to live in a separate house outside the walls of the palace. Despite her threat to leave, Anna reluctantly disembarks with Louis and Kralahome.

The movie was loaded with memorable songs including “I Whistle as a Happy Tune,” “Hello, Young Lovers,” “Getting to Know You” and “Shall We Dance.”

South Pacific – The 1958 romantic musical is based on the Rodgers and Hammerstein Broadway play. The film stars Rossano Brazzi, Mitzi Gaynor, John Kerr and Ray Walston in the leading roles with Juanita Hall reprising her Broadway role as Bloody Mary.

The plot is centers on a secluded South Pacific island during World War II and the relationships that unfold. “There’s Nothing Like a Dame,” “Bali Ha’i,” “Some Enchanted Evening,” “I’m Gonna Wash That Man Right Outa My Hair” and “Younger Than Springtime” are the musicals most memorable songs.

The American Film Institute’s Top 15 Musicals of all-time:

1 – “Singing in the Rain,” 1952

2 – “West Side Story,” 1961

3 – “The Wizard of Oz,” 1939

4 – “The Sound of Music,” 1965

5 – “Cabaret,” 1972

6 – “Mary Poppins,” 1964

7 – “A Star is Born,” 1954

8 – “My Fair Lady,” 1964

9 – “An American in Paris,” 1951

10 – “Meet Me in St. Louis,” 1944

11 – “The King and I,” 1956

12 — “Chicago,” 2002

13 – “42nd Street,” 1933

14 – “All That Jazz,” 1979

15 – “Top Hat,” 1935

Barry “The Old Rocker” Levine is an entertainment writer for The Albany Herald. He can be reached at [email protected].