Cinderella

I fell in love with Rodgers and Hammerstein's Cinderella http://www.amazon.com/Rodgers-Hammersteins-Cinderella-Lesley-Warren/dp/B00005RYKY the first time I viewed it.  I must have been in high school. But even now, some forty plus years later, I still love the musical.  I actually have found myself singing some of the songs in the last couple of days. 

Amazingly, tonight, I found it on BET: a different version of Rodgers and Hammerstein's Cinderella:  http://www.amazon.com/Rodgers-Hammersteins-Cinderella-Brandy-Norwood/dp/B00004Z4SE.  I had no idea this was remade in1997.  But, it is just as wonderful and magical as the original, in its own way. The colors were so much more vibrant and dramatic than the 1965 version, which seemed to have much more etherial hues.   Both were fun to watch.  Such good fantasy. 

Christmas Movies

I stumbled upon It's a Wonderful Life http://www.filmsite.org/itsa.html when I was freshman at college.  I tried to watch it every year I could, until the year it was on non-stop for at least 24 hours.  I did watch it, but I kind of got tired of it...

I love Dicken's A Christmas Carol. I am not sure which version I like, but I will watch it hopefully at least once during the Christmas season.  I frequently also read the book, often in one night, Christmas Eve, or thereabouts. http://www.stormfax.com/dickens.htm

I was a late comer to the movie A Christmas Story. It is wonderful, hilarious, has so many great moments and is just fun.. Did you know that the house where the movie was filmed in Cleveland has been restored and is open as a museum? http://www.achristmasstoryhouse.com/.

There is White Christmas http://www.imdb.com/media/rm1931648512/tt0047673 from Irving Berlin, and which this year, is having it's own 24 hour marathon.  But wait, the song I'm Dreaming of a White Christmas was actually introduced in another Irving Berlin movie, also starring Bing Crosby, called Holiday Inn http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0034862/.

Not a movie about Christmas, but set in the season is a favorite movie of mine: Desk Set. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0050307/ One of the main characters, Bunny Watson is played by Katharine Hepburn, and is a reference librarian. I have always identified with her character since the first time I saw the movie.  And, my director long ago identified me with that character, also...

Last year, at Christmas time, the Hallmark TV channel http://hallmarkchannel.com/ had several movies about life, family, love, and careers that were set during the holiday season.. They were schmaltzy but good. just the same.

I am sure that there are other Christmas classics out there.  Would you care to share your favorites with me?

Musicals

It is really bedtime... But "Oklahoma" just came on TV... The story is not so great, but the music is GREAT!  Tomorrow is Saturday... I have chores to do, but none require me to be awake at the crack of dawn... Hmm,  what harm is it to watch this movie.

The Difference

I went to a national touring production of "Fiddler on the Roof" http://www.fiddlerontour.com/itinerary.html on 10/29/10.  I love musicals, and this is one of my favorites.  It was very well done, and as I do every time I see the play or musical, I cried through most of the last half. 

I was totally impressed with the professionalism of this production:  the sound system was good, the dance moves intricate but synchronized, the presentation of the actors was strong and confident...

I love the Lubbock Moonlight Musicals
http://www.lubbockmoonlight.org/Lubbock_Moonlight_Musicals/Home.html  but their amateurish presentation, and poor sound system really do represent them poorly...

I suspect, with time the Moonlight Musicals will increase their polish, and I have seen it as the years progress.  I suspect, thought, that audiences want the presentation now, and are not willing to wait....

Musicals

I love musicals... Tonight I am watching Rogers and Hammerstein's South Pacific."  I am always amazed and astounded that musicals offer so much social commentary.  "South Pacific" has so many comments.  The nature of war. Class difference, race difference, the human condition.

Leonard Bernstein's "West Side Story" also talks about cultural clash, racial/ethnic difference, learning to live with one another, the senselessness of clash over territory and culture.

"Oklahoma," again by Rogers and Hammerstein, alludes to different lifestyles (ranchers and farmers) learning to live together.

"The Music Man" by Meredith Wilson reflects on values:  a cheat who gives people hope and a chance for a future, vs. being exposed as a cheat.