Michael's Movie Grade: A+
Review: Once again I am doing a review of another great time I had at the old town music hall. This is an incredible place for all those who love old movies and if you are ever in El Segundo, California, it is a place that you must go to.
As always before the movie Bill Field (an extremely talented musician) played the Mighty Wurlitzer pipe organ. This pipe organ has existed since 1925 and still sounds amazing to this day. Then the screen came down and introduced what films and concerts were coming soon. Following this lyrics to songs appeared on the screen, and the whole audience sang along. These songs included such great songs as Mairzy Doats, April Showers, and Pretty Baby.
Following this was a silent short film starring Our Gang. In this short after hearing about Noah's Ark, they decide to make their own Noah's Ark. This was a fast paced and very funny short. Some of the highlights included dressing a dog up as a lion, and a cars reaction to a skunk. The Our Gang kids are really great comic actors easily on par with the best adult comic actors. They were pure professionals and pure talent and nowhere does that show better than on the screen. Accompanying this short was Bill Field on the pipe organ. If you have not seen a silent film with live music, you are only cheating yourself. This is a completely different experience than watching one of these films on TV. Honestly this is something everybody needs to do sometime in their life, esspicially if they are movie lovers.
After a short intermission came the feature and what a great feature it was. Like many movies with Fred Astaire, the story itself is pleasant but predictable. However when watching the movie you don't care at all, because everything is done so well. The dialogue is extremely clever, fast paced and just plain funny ("Just think papa, you've been married longer than we've lived!" "I consider that a very fortunate coincidence, my dear."). The chemistry between Fred Astaire and Rita Hayworth is near perfect. You simply believe the relationship between these two so well and it is just a joy to see them share the screen. Of course though the best thing about this film is the singing and dancing. There is so much energy, talent and commitment in these scenes to a level you rarely see in today's films. They may not make movies like this anymore, but after watching this film (esspicially in such a great atmosphere with an amazing audience) I have to say this film has never been lovelier.
-Michael J. Ruhland
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