Swing Time (1936), Yankee Doodle Dandy (1941), and Summer Stock (1950; in color)

I am happy to share three more musicals with you. As is so often the case, they feature the fantastic talents of Fred Astaire, Judy Garland, and Gene Kelly as well as some iconic song and dance numbers. You will not want to miss these. Enjoy!

- Olivia

Swing Time (1936)- 1 hr 44 mins

Devil-may-care dancer and gambler, John 'Lucky" Garnett (Fred Astaire) could care less about having a steady job and income. He takes his negligence and bad habits too far, though, when he misses his own wedding. His father-in-law-to-be insists that earn $25,000 before he will even reconsider allowing the marriage. Lucky decides to head off to the Big City in hopes of making just that. There he meets talented dance instructor and aspiring professional “hoofer” Penny (Ginger Rogers). The two form a formidable dancing team. What they don't expect, though, is to fall in love in the process.

Swing Time features Hollywood's most “electric" dance duo at their very best in one of their most enduring films. The film also introduces several American songbook classics such as The Way You Look Tonight and other Jerome Kern favorites. Complete with top-notch tap and ballroom numbers as well as a colorful cast of characters, Swing Time is a must-see!

Availability: Daily Motion (free), Amazon video, Googleplay, DVD, and Blu-ray.

Daily Motion (free; pretty good quality): https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x22cktj
Purchase DVD: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/dvd-swing-time-fred-astaire/3627791?ean=0715515231114
Purchase Blu-ray: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/dvd-swing-time-fred-astaire/3627791?ean=0715515231015&st=PLA&sid=BNB_ADL+Core+Top+EAN+-+Desktop+High&sourceId=PLAGoNA&dpid=tdtve346c&2sid=Google_c&gclid=Cj0KCQiAq97uBRCwARIsADTziyayUGssWP1TRJazjE3vl1eW3iqunMxgCetswksB-ghqoroZVj6BHTgaAoj5EALw_wcB

Yankee Doodle Dandy (1941)- 2 hrs 6 mins

Yankee Doodle Dandy retells the story of the hugely influential George M. Cohan. The film begins at the very end of his life when he receives the Congressional Medal of Honor from the President. From there, George reflects on his life - growing up in Vaudeville, making it as a songwriter and eventually becoming one of the theater's most significant contributors as a director, actor, dancer, producer, and playwright.

The writer of songs like Yankee Doodle Boy, Mary's a Grand Old Name and Give My Regards, Cagney is spectacular in his second of three Oscar-winning performances as Broadway's Cohan. His performance most notably garnered him Cohan's personal seal of approval. He is fabulously dynamic in a role that will forever be associated with him.

The great Michael Curtiz directed. Not only was he able to turn out a biopic musical, but at its essence, Yankee Doodle Dandy is a patriotic film that aroused the country just a few months after the attack on Pearl Harbor.

Availability: Youtube, Amazon video, Googleplay, DVD, and Blu-ray.

Purchase DVD (great deal!): https://www.amazon.com/Yankee-Doodle-Dandy-Two-Disc-Special/dp/B00005JKS8
Purchase Blu-ray: https://www.amazon.com/Yankee-Doodle-Dandy-Blu-ray-Cagney/dp/B00NMQR6ZG/ref=tmm_blu_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=

Summer Stock (1950; in color)- 1 hr 49 mins

When Jane finds out that her family farm is in danger, she sets out to do everything she can to prevent the farm’s closure. Just when things couldn't get any worse, her impulsive and inconsiderate sister Abigail (Gloria DeHaven) invites her whole theater troupe up to use the farm to rehearse their show.

Judy Garland stars as Jane, while Gene Kelly plays Joe Ross, the troupe's director and Abigail's fiancé. The two butt heads but eventually form a formidable friendship when Abigail ditches the troupe. Joe begins to think that he’s asked the wrong girl to marry him!

Highlights of this delightful musical include iconic numbers such as Garland's Get Happy and Kelly's dance to You Wonderful You in which he uses common objects such as an old piece of newspaper and creaky boards in the barn. Summer Stock is a perfect musical for the whole family.

Availability: Youtube, Amazon video, Googleplay, DVD, and Blu-ray.

Purchase DVD: https://www.oldies.com/product-view/2658GD.html?c=gbase&gclid=Cj0KCQiAq97uBRCwARIsADTziyY6xZ3knu2Y6SKuJJ-ycU9R1ZADZG4XFzal4bU0CMw7O3n7CDLjFPoaAko2EALw_wcB
Purchase Blu-ray: https://www.google.com/shopping/product/9633209797276933623?q=summer+stock+musical+bluray&prds=epd:2771043309173805040,prmr:3,tpim:CJ7Gy-jpjrikeRD7o5Wchaeu3BwY8I-fByIDVVNEKM_Xl-8FMJPS6AQ,pdprs:5&utm_medium=tu_cu&utm_content=eid-lsjeuxoeqt&utm_campaign=10103059&gclid=Cj0KCQiAq97uBRCwARIsADTziyYsLlAg0NIQMpxPggqZZrJjXO1ICQdho1VoA2skV3qNunlfimMjXlYaAktxEALw_wcB