easter parade

the year: 1948

the genre: musical



the cast: Judy Garland (Hannah Brown); Fred Astaire (Don Hewes); Peter Lawford (Jonathan Harrow III); Ann Miller (Nadine Hale); Jules Munshin (Francios)



the plot: When Don Hewes' dancing partner (and object of his affection) Nadine Hale refuses to start a new contract with him, Don is crushed. To prove Nadine's not important to him, Don acquires innocent new protegee Hannah Brown, vowing to make her a star in time for next year's Easter parade.



did you know: Judy Garland and Fred Astaire had not met before filming this movie - although they were both big stars at the time.



check out: the shedding feathered gown worn by Judy Garland in one of their numbers. It's an inside joke referring to Ginger Rogers' problematic gown in Top Hat.


don't miss: Jules Munshin's film debut as Francios the waiter. (I'll have the salad, please.)




listen for: "Can you drown a brunette in this?" bartender: "How tall is she?" "Five foot six." (after filling the glass more) "Try this."


extra bonus points: if you know who was set to star in the movie instead of Astaire and Garland.

hit the deck

the year: 1955

the genre: musical



the cast: Tony Martin (Chief Boatswain's Mate William F. Clark); Vic Damone (Rico Ferrari); Russ Tamblyn (Danny Xavier Smith); Ann Miller (Ginger); Jane Powell (Susan Smith); Debbie Reynolds (Carol Pace); Walter Pidgeon (Rear Admiral Xavier Smith)



the plot: Three navy friends, Bill, Rico and Danny have been given 48-hour shore leave, and they are determined to hit the town and have some fun. Bill opts to visit his girlfriend, showgirl Ginger, who has waited six long and futile years for Bill to propose. Rico goes home to visit his mom, while Danny visits his admiral father and his sister Susan. The three navy friends agree to rendezvous later in the evening with dates, although things get messed up pretty quick. Ginger, her patience exhausted, wants to dump the noncomitant Bill. Susan’s date for the evening is ruined by an overly-protective Danny. The misunderstanding and resulting fisticuffs between the sailors and Susan’s date soon has the shore patrol in hot pursuit of Bill, Rico, and Danny. The three friends end up cooling their heels at Rico's place while trying to figure out a way to avoid court martial or worse.



did you know: Ann Miller’s character Ginger was a nod to Ginger Rogers in Follow the Fleet – a movie on which HTD was (very) loosely based.




don’t miss: the Shore Patrol.




also don’t miss: how Bill messes with Mr. Peroni’s mind.



listen for: “This morning I had four men fighting over me. Now I've got nothing. “




extra bonus points: if you can name two other musicals starring Russ Tamblyn.

trailer is here.

on the town

the year: 1949

the genre: musical


the cast: Gene Kelly (Gabey); Frank Sinatra (Chip); Jules Munshin (Ozzie); Vera-Ellen (Ivy Smith); Ann Miller (Claire Huddesen); Betty Carrett (Brunhilde Esterhazy)



the plot: Three sailors - Gabey, Chip and Ozzie – are let loose on a 24-hour pass in New York and the Big Apple will never be the same! Gabey falls head over heels for "Miss Turnstiles of the Month" (he thinks she's a high society deb when she's really a dancer at Coney Island); innocent Chip gets hijacked (literally) by a lady cab driver; and Ozzie becomes the object of interest of a gorgeous anthropologist who thinks he's the perfect example of a "prehistoric man".



did you know: this was the first musical feature film to be shot on location. At the end of "New York, New York", as the camera tilts up at Rockefeller Plaza, you can see the skating rink lined with spectators watching Frank Sinatra and Gene Kelly.


don’t miss: Chip’s thwarted attempts to see the sights of NYC. My favorite scene is "You're Awful" atop the Empire State Building.


check out: Ozzie hanging around the Empire State Building.


listen for: “You oughta feel proud that three sailors from the United States Navy got off the ship for one day, and what did they do? Were they thirsty for hard liquor? No. They were thirsty for culture. Were they running after girls? No. They came running to the museum to see your dinosaur. For months out at sea they were dreaming about your dinosaur.”

great videos here, here, and my favorite here.

extra bonus points: if you can name the other two movies where Frank and Gene co-starred together.