Les parapluies de Cherbourg (1964) Jacques Demy
I was expecting to love this movie and was very underwhelmed. Understanding French just makes you realize that the singing and lyrics are really not all that good.
The colours are still fantastic of course but the french actors just don't have the same kind of presence as a Gene Kelly or a Judy Garland and don't seem to work all that well in a musical context.
Check out
The Young Girls of Rochefort!! You won't regret it!
Meet Me in St. Louis (1944) Vincente Minnelli
What a great movie. Holy crap! Garland is so likeable and adorable and strong and pleasant. The romantic scenes are sold so well by the actors that for a little while I reverted to the 13 year old idealist me that still believed in real life hollywood romances.
And then I find out that one of my favorite Christmas songs originated in this movie and I'm 100% sold.
It wins on all sides.
Yes yes yes! One of my top 100!
I get annoyed every time I hear a version of "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" that doesn't have the "muddle through somehow" line.