Summer Stock, 1950

(Originally posted: March 9, 2012)
THURSDAY MOVIE CONNECTION!!!
Eddie Bracken-- Gene Kelly

Director: Charles Walters

Choreography: Nick Castle

Stars: Judy Garland, Gene Kelly, Eddie Bracken, Gloria DeHaven

Jane (Garland) has to deal with getting the crops in and taking care of her family's farm all by herself because her sister Abigail (DeHaven) has left for school. But Abigail is scheduled to return and when she does, Jane is sure she will help out. Instead, Abigail brings all her friends with her- to use the barn to put on a great production. Jane is upset, especially when she meets Joe (Kelly), the director, and they don't get along. But they workout a deal so that Joe and the rest will work on the farm every morning to earn their keep.

But when Abigail and the male lead decide to leave for a better job in New York, Joe convinces Jane to take on the female lead, so they don't have to return all the money from the ticket sales.

Sorry, Fred, but Gene is my favorite dancer! Fred was suave and elegant; Gene was athletic and powerful. And both were BRILLIANT, with all capitals. I guess Gene was better looking, anyway, and that may be part of the reason.

Summer Stock, 1950

Director: Charles Walters

Choreography: Nick Castle

Stars: Judy Garland, Gene Kelly, Eddie Bracken, Gloria DeHaven

Jane (Garland) has to deal with getting the crops in and taking care of her family's farm all by herself because her sister Abigail (DeHaven) has left for school. But Abigail is scheduled to return and when she does, Jane is sure she will help out. Instead, Abigail brings all her friends with her- to use the barn to put on a great production. Jane is upset, especially when she meets Joe (Kelly), the director, and they don't get along. But they workout a deal so that Joe and the rest will work on the farm every morning to earn their keep.

But when Abigail and the male lead decide to leave for a better job in New York, Joe convinces Jane to take on the female lead, so they don't have to return all the money from the ticket sales.

Sorry, Fred, but Gene is my favorite dancer! Fred was suave and elegant; Gene was athletic and powerful. And both were BRILLIANT, with all capitals. I guess Gene was better looking, anyway, and that may be part of the reason.

Christmas in Connecticut, 1945

Director: Peter Godfrey

Stars: Barbara Stanwyck, Dennis Morgan, Sydney Greenstreet

Elizabeth Lane (Stanwyck), a single writer living in a crowded New York apartment, has created the perfect woman: Mrs. Lane, who lives on a farm in Connecticut, with a husband and baby; an exemplary mother, wife, cook-- everything! And Ms. Lane makes "Mrs. Lane" come to life in the articles she writes for a magazine.

But when the owner of the magazine, Mr. Yardely, decides to invite himself and war hero, Lieutenant Jones (Morgan), for a lovely Christmas in Connecticut, Ms. Lane is in trouble. It turns out Yardely doesn't like it when people lie in their articles. So if she wants a job, Ms. Lane must somehow come up with a husband, a farm, a baby, and the ability to flip a perfect flapjack!

Well, luckily, she's got a friend, Mr. Sloan, who keeps proposing to her, who has a farm in Connecticut. And an uncle who's also a restaurant owner, Felix, whose recipes always find their way into "Mrs. Lane's" kitchen. And after agreeing to marry Mr. Sloan, she heads to Connecticut with the whole gang!

But it just sucks for her, when Lieutenant Jones walks into "her" farmhouse, and it's pretty much love at first sight.

NOTE: If you can look at it as a cute comedy and ignore the fact that they both want to commit adultery, even though it isn't really adultery (it isn't on her side since she knows she's not really married, but Jones doesn't), then this is a sweet movie. I have to say it like that; though it is a movie, it's still awful that Jones falls in love with someone he believes to be married. And otherwise, Jones is the cutest EVER! And a war hero, as well. Did I mention the uniform?

Swoon!