11.17.2010

bells are ringing


the year: 1960

the genre: musical


the cast: Judy Holliday (Ella Peterson); Dean Martin (JEffrey Moss); Fred Clark (Larry Hastings); Jean Stapleton (Sue); Frank Gorshin (Blake Barton)


the plot: Ella Peterson is a Brooklyn telephone answering service operator who listens in on others' lives and adds some interest to her own humdrum existence by adopting different identities for her clients. They include an out-of-work Method actor, a dentist with musical yearnings, and in particular playwright Jeffrey Moss, who is suffering from writer's block and desperately needs a muse. Adding complications to the plot are the police, who are certain the business is a front for an "escort service," and the owner's shady boyfriend, who unbeknownst to her is using the agency as a bookmaking operation.



don't miss: the mail-order classical record business/horse betting system.



watch for: Frank Gorshin's spot on Brando impression.




listen for: "Titantic Records - the highest fi of them all."






did you know: Judy Holliday won Broadway's 1957 Tony Award as Best Actress for the same role she recreated in the film version.



count: how many orders come in for Beethoven's tenth symphony.




also listen for: "I'm going back where I can be me, at the Bonjour Tristese Brassiere Company!"



and my favorite song:

2 comments:

Erika said...

What's up with the guy who dances and walks like a rag doll?

Millie Motts said...

In the white sportcoat? Not a clue - he's a minor character that only appears at the party.