Review of On the Town (1949) by Loni K — 09 Jul 2006
Because I am anxiously awaiting the arrival of my next netflix DVD, I must get my movie fix from old favorites kept safe on the bookshelf above my TV. If you may not have noticed, I am a musicals junkie.
I watched this again last night and felt the same charge of energy I experienced the very first time I caught this movie on Turner Classics, many moons ago. Two years ago, my brother-in-law, who hails from Australia and now lives with my dear sister in London, was up late with me hoisting a few.
As our bottle collection grew legion, he suddenly asked whether I might have any DVDs he may not have viewed. I got to my feet with not a little difficulty, took a rather circuitous route downstairs to my collection, puzzled over them for an inordinately long time, and finally hiked up the stairs with copies of On the Town, Muppets Treasure Island, and The Big Lebowsky.
"Seen any of these?" I inquired? "No," he replied. "What are they about?" "Well," I said, "this one's a musical love story thing, this one's a muppet take on Robert Louis Stevenson, and this one's the Coen brothers' tribute to Jeff Bridges' personal wardrobe, to bowling, and to nihilism.
" "Hmmm," my bro-in-law pondered, "at this hour and after this many brews, you'd better pop in an easy one to digest." At the end of the movie, my silent co-viewer simply said, as the credits rolled, "Well, Lanning, I think I might not be adding this one to my list of all-time favorite musicals.
" Just recently I hear that my sister dragged her dear husband--though he apparently neither kicked nor screamed--to a London stage version of On the Town, and she tells me he "enjoyed it very much.
" Of course I have yet to hear this from him personally, and I do know he has access to both a telephone and to the internet, but I'll just assume he has forgotten to communicate to me his joy over seeing the stage version : ) I will grudgingly admit that On the Town may not be everyone's cup of tea.
However, should you be a Kelly and/or Sinatra fan, then this is a must. And if you are a musicals addict like me, this should not be missed. My highest praise goes to Alice Pearce as Lucy Shmeeler. She is terrific as the "other" woman with a heart as big as the five boroughs New York City.
P.S. My brother-in-law and I watched Lebowsky a few nights later, and he absolutely raved about it. So we do agree on some things :).
This review of On the Town (1949) was written by Loni K on 09 Jul 2006.
On the Town has generally received positive reviews.
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