Two Weeks with Love

Yes, remade as DIRTY DANCING! I was lucky enough to see this hilarious and enchanting film in real 3 strip Technicolor in the early 1970s when every Sunday night there would be a classic double at a local theatre.......I can't ever describe how beautiful the colour is / was in this format. Often it played with a 3 strip tech print of Singin In The Rain, so imagine the imagery left to take home and replay in my head...... The cinema was always full (700 +) and the crowd just roared with appreciation. This is a very funny film and one that really addresses teen worries in the most lovable way. One sequence where the families go night time boating with lanterns, all to the song By The Light Of The Silvery Moon is spellbinding enough to transport the hardiest soul to sheer bliss (my brother). Kids need to see this film today and if you can show it to them, they will put aside their demands and really come to love it. The raisins reference above is from the most uproarious dinner time gag early in the film. Have a look....it's delivered perfectly. Like the film.

Patti (Jane Powell) is coming of age in the early XX century. She sights for Demi (Ricardo Montalbán) and willing to wear corset, a clear sign of becoming a woman. Until then she can not allow any man put his arms around her...or they would discover she is not wearing corset and consequently is not a woman yet. But her parents prefer to wait until she is eighteen. That means waiting a whole year, a difficult thing specially if you have a friend called Valerie (Phyllis Kirk) who is already in the adult world and fighting for Demi's love. Delightful musical comedy that includes many beautiful songs such as Oceana roll, Row, row, row, Aba daba honeymoon (a huge success after film's release that lead to a tour song through the States for both singers), By the light of the silvery moon and a The chocolate soldier's fragment, all of them perfectly fitted. In brilliant Technicolor with wonderful costumes by Edith Head, an accurated set designs and mise-en-scène and great performances by all the cast this is a film not to be missed. Specially enjoyable are the lake boat dream sequence with Ricardo Montalban appearing in Patti's dreams and the tango dance finale A media luz (made famous by tango singer Carlos Gardel) where Mr. Montalbán (a great dancer) shines dancing with Miss Powell. She said this was her favorite film. Great entertainment.

This not being one of MGM's "tentpole" musicals. This is a very basic story of NYC families vacationing in the Catskills and the "resort romance" that teenagers often encounter. Despite how gorgeous and talented Jane Powell is, her character is insecure and easily embarrassed as any 17 year old. She falls for the ever gorgeous Ricardo Mantalban who shows that he can play light romantic comedy well. Debbie Reynolds is perfectly cast as Powell's little sister (actually 17 at the time) who pretty much steals the picture. Louis Calhern and Ann Harding play their parents and it was great to see Calhern in a lighter role with so many nice close ups. Carleton Carpenter was outstanding as the boy caught in the middle of the two sisters affections.

This Technicolor production was a feast for the eyes-beautifully photographed, believable sets and great costuming and make up. Whenever I see these I know what kind of stress the actors were under-those incredibly hot lights wearing heavy costumes & caked make up. This group of pros never let their discomfort show and there was lots of smiling and dancing included here.

As I said earlier, Debbie Reynolds completely stole the show, she had the best lines and the best, most energetic dance numbers. She played the typical fun loving tom boy who is just discovering boys and crushes. She plays adorably for the camera but is a real standout in her dancing with Carlton Carpenter, who is also just spectacular. I noticed the camera shot them dancing from a low angle capturing their entire bodies but close enough to clearly see their facial expressions-the brilliance of Busby Berkeley.

There is no doubt Debbie Reynolds was going to be a HUGE star. You can see it, everyone can see it. Why didn't Carpenter? He certainly is a standout. Maybe it's tougher in musical comedy when you're male?

Jane Powell and Ricardo Mantalban headline this film made in 1950. Debbie Reynolds was the supporting star early in her career. Jane Powell has said that this was one of her favorite films to work on, despite being more famous for "Seven Brides For Seven Brothers." The plot is about Jane's character trying to break out into womanhood, despite her mother trying to keep her a little girl. Along the way, she falls for a young Cuban (Mantalban) and conflicts between Powell, her mother and her romantic rival climax at a good moment. Debbie Reynolds is Jane Powell's younger sister in the film and sings her first record hit, "Aba Daba Honeymoon" with Carlton Carpenter. This song is available from Curb Records nowadays. Not to be outdone singing at an early age, Debbie's sparkling style of acting was the real highlight of the film. Her character's wit and occasional negative attitude creates a "she's so cute" attitude towards her from the audience. Debbie fans will notice this right of the bat. Despite being 17 or 18 when the film was shot, the film calls for her to be 14 or 15, and she looks it too. This film is not one of the "Great Classics" of Hollywood, but Jane Powell and Debbie Reynolds' fans should thoroughly enjoy this one. Jane Powell would go on to star with Debbie Reynolds in "Athena" and "Hit the Deck." Ricardo Mantalban would star with Debbie Reynolds 16 years later, in "The Singing Nun."

I love this movie not just because of Jane Powell's charming performance or Ricardo Montalban's romantic looks, but for its wonderful recreation of the period and most of all for its heartfelt appreciation of the angst of growing up and moving from girl to woman. And it's so funny!- the scene where her (surgical) corset locks during her longed-for dance with Ricardo is hilarious. What more could you ask - even Debbie Reynolds is (comparatively) restrained.