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02 Dec 09 - 10:58 AM (#2778520) Subject: Top musical number in film From: MGM·Lion 'Fred Astaire, whatever his virtues, was hardly a top singer [tho a most attractive one at that]; but 'A Couple Of Swells' from 'Easter Parade', his duet with Judy Garland, would probably be my choice of best-ever musical number in a film: even more than the two brilliant ones from 'Singing In The Rain', 'Make Em Laugh' & the title number.' I wrote this on another thread, but decided the topic needs a thread of its own — so this is it. Pausing simply to add 'Kiss Me Kate's' 'Brush Up Your Shakespeare' as a further candidate, I hereby throw this debate open to the floor... |
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02 Dec 09 - 11:07 AM (#2778529) Subject: RE: Top musical number in film From: frogprince I think the absolute greatest musical moment in the history of American film has to be Lee Marvin's rendition of "Happy Birthday" in "Cat Ballou". |
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02 Dec 09 - 11:10 AM (#2778532) Subject: RE: Top musical number in film From: GUEST, Sminky I positively hate musicals and I loathe tap-dancing with a passion but, for me, the most incredibly wonderful scene in the whole of movie history is the "Lullaby of Broadway" sequence in "Gold Diggers of 1935". It's something I just cannot explain. |
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02 Dec 09 - 11:22 AM (#2778545) Subject: RE: Top musical number in film From: MGM·Lion Ah, yes now — I meant songs really; but having chosen the title I did for the thread, I suppose that Busby Berkeley production numbers must be admitted as candidates — or need we start yet another thread for the likes of them? BTW — having mentioned one song from KissMeKate above, I must also recall 'True To You In My Fashion'. |
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02 Dec 09 - 11:31 AM (#2778557) Subject: RE: Top musical number in film From: Jack Blandiver The Monkey-Doodle-Do in the 4 Marx Brother's The Cocoanuts (1929). Here it is in situ sung and danced by the delicious Mary Eaton: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8P9rQs3F9vw And here it is used as the soundtrack for a film of a monkey in Edinburgh Zoo playing with a dead mouse I made back in 2004: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=atN8qQfcsGc |
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02 Dec 09 - 11:41 AM (#2778563) Subject: RE: Top musical number in film From: GUEST,Elmore "love theme from Barry Lyndon" by The Chieftains" |
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02 Dec 09 - 11:49 AM (#2778572) Subject: RE: Top musical number in film From: Smedley 'The Trolley Song' from Meet Me In St Louis always warms the cockles. |
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02 Dec 09 - 11:51 AM (#2778575) Subject: RE: Top musical number in film From: frogprince Suibhne, I'll be showing that clip of Mary Eaton to my wife. Her sister Doris married the man whose poultry farm my father-in-law managed for many years. I just took Doris's autobiography, "The Days We Danced", off our shelf; Mary died tragically in 1948, after a long history of alcoholism. Doris is 104 years old, sharper than most people much younger, and still able to dance. |
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02 Dec 09 - 11:56 AM (#2778583) Subject: RE: Top musical number in film From: GUEST,Torchy The best song ever in a film was My rifle my pony and me in Rio Bravo, Dean Martin and Ricky Nelson. |
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02 Dec 09 - 11:59 AM (#2778586) Subject: RE: Top musical number in film From: John on the Sunset Coast Songs only--any of Sylvia Fine's specialty songs for Danny Kaye for fun; The Third Man Theme for a more serious music...very haunting. For production numbers, I try to watch each of those '30s 'Gold Diggers' films whenever I can. "We're In the Money" is an especial favorite. |
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02 Dec 09 - 12:01 PM (#2778589) Subject: RE: Top musical number in film From: GUEST, Sminky Ah, yes now — I meant songs really In my defence - the song does last the whole scene (albeit with a ...errr.. fantasy sequence in the middle). |
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02 Dec 09 - 12:05 PM (#2778591) Subject: RE: Top musical number in film From: Rasener Well for me it has to be My Heart Will Go On by Celine Dion in Titanic http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=saalGKY7ifU Also Time Warp from the Rocky Horror Picture Show http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=6827163268088648679# |
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02 Dec 09 - 12:10 PM (#2778596) Subject: RE: Top musical number in film From: GUEST,Gusty Madeline Kahn's 'I'm Tired' in 'Blazing Saddles', closely followed by Gene Wilder and Peter Boyle's 'Putting on the Ritz' in 'Young Frankenstein'. |
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02 Dec 09 - 12:12 PM (#2778597) Subject: RE: Top musical number in film From: Stu Greased Lightnin! |
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02 Dec 09 - 12:14 PM (#2778602) Subject: RE: Top musical number in film From: Stu . . . and anything from My Fair Lady. |
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02 Dec 09 - 12:17 PM (#2778606) Subject: RE: Top musical number in film From: Jack Blandiver Doris is 104 years old, sharper than most people much younger, and still able to dance. Amazing! Didn't know Mary's fate though a lot of those girls had a very rough time of it... |
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02 Dec 09 - 12:20 PM (#2778613) Subject: RE: Top musical number in film From: Rasener Lets not forget Singing in The Rain http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o3GqaQkhuYw |
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02 Dec 09 - 12:24 PM (#2778619) Subject: RE: Top musical number in film From: Bee-dubya-ell I know it's unimaginative, but I'd have to go with "Somewhere Over the Rainbow". Not just a great movie song, but possibly the best song of the entire 20th century. It works as a song or simply as an instrumental, and it works on any instrument (or ensemble thereof) from full-blown symphony orchestra to banjo. |
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02 Dec 09 - 12:29 PM (#2778621) Subject: RE: Top musical number in film From: John MacKenzie What a Swell Party This Is', from High Society, in fact almost any number from that great film. |
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02 Dec 09 - 12:30 PM (#2778622) Subject: RE: Top musical number in film From: John MacKenzie 'Who Wants to be a Millionaire? Same film |
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02 Dec 09 - 12:35 PM (#2778626) Subject: RE: Top musical number in film From: MGM·Lion Lets not forget Singing in The Rain>>> We didn't, Villan. It's in my OP — as are not [o how they flood into mind] New York New York from OnTheTown; Dietrich FallingInLoveAgain, the BlueAngel. & could the entirely unexpected James Cagney possibly infiltrate the CAN·Sing thread with YankeeDoodleDandy? |
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02 Dec 09 - 12:38 PM (#2778631) Subject: RE: Top musical number in film From: MGM·Lion 'What a Swell Party This Is', from High Society,>>> Well did you ever!!!!! |
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02 Dec 09 - 12:39 PM (#2778632) Subject: RE: Top musical number in film From: Rasener Sorry MtGM missed that. |
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02 Dec 09 - 12:42 PM (#2778635) Subject: RE: Top musical number in film From: MGM·Lion NEWSFLASH All those James Bond title numbers are now jostling for recognition in my head... |
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02 Dec 09 - 12:44 PM (#2778638) Subject: RE: Top musical number in film From: John MacKenzie See What the Boys in the Back Room Will Have |
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02 Dec 09 - 12:45 PM (#2778640) Subject: RE: Top musical number in film From: beeliner "The Kangaroo Hop" in Sherlock Holmes' Smarter Brother. An absolute show-stopper. |
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02 Dec 09 - 12:52 PM (#2778650) Subject: RE: Top musical number in film From: MGM·Lion Someone mentions Over The Rainbow above — my adored Judy G again. I know she was a gay icon, but I must be the only straight Friend·Of·Dorothy in captivity. {NB This is MY thread, & I positively forbid it to start off on any of the themes on THAT particular topic currently ongoing below the line!.. So Hurrah For Captain Spalding...} & who remembers Marilyn's masterly ['mistressly'? no I think not!] rendition of Cole Porter's My Heart Belongs To Daddy in Let's Make Love? And what do we all think [talking of other ongoing threads] of the use & rendering of Sumer Is i-Cumen In at the climax of The Wicker Man? |
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02 Dec 09 - 01:01 PM (#2778665) Subject: RE: Top musical number in film From: greg stephens Well, I have a very soft spot for the very wonderful "I'm a lonesome polecat"..the snow-encrusted axe-wielding worksong in "Seven Brides for Seven Brothers" |
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02 Dec 09 - 01:07 PM (#2778671) Subject: RE: Top musical number in film From: greg stephens And here's a clip of that polecat scene. Fantastic! Generated in me a lifelong love of chopping wood and wearing lumber jackets. |
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02 Dec 09 - 01:08 PM (#2778674) Subject: RE: Top musical number in film From: John MacKenzie You too could become a friend of Dorothy then, Greg |
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02 Dec 09 - 01:12 PM (#2778678) Subject: RE: Top musical number in film From: MGM·Lion Slight drift [I can - I'm OP] — what did we DO B4 YouTube? |
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02 Dec 09 - 01:13 PM (#2778679) Subject: RE: Top musical number in film From: greg stephens Or at least a friend of Michael Palin |
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02 Dec 09 - 01:16 PM (#2778682) Subject: RE: Top musical number in film From: Rasener >>Generated in me a lifelong love of chopping wood and wearing lumber jackets<< Funny you should say that. This had the same effect on me. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5zey8567bcg&feature=related LOL |
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02 Dec 09 - 01:36 PM (#2778702) Subject: RE: Top musical number in film From: Rasener ooops http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5zey8567bcg&feature=related |
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02 Dec 09 - 01:59 PM (#2778731) Subject: RE: Top musical number in film From: VirginiaTam Olive Oyl's He's Large from the musical Popeye |
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02 Dec 09 - 02:02 PM (#2778737) Subject: RE: Top musical number in film From: MikeofNorthumbria I'm astounded that nobody has yet mentioned "As Time Goes By" from 'Casablanca' - "Arrest the usual suspects!" Wassail! |
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02 Dec 09 - 02:22 PM (#2778757) Subject: RE: Top musical number in film From: Rasener You just have Mike :-) |
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02 Dec 09 - 02:26 PM (#2778765) Subject: RE: Top musical number in film From: Don Firth The dream sequence ballet in "An American in Paris." Leslie Caron, Gene Kelly, others. Runs about half an hour. Bloody brilliant! Gershwin would have been proud! Don Firth |
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02 Dec 09 - 02:27 PM (#2778769) Subject: RE: Top musical number in film From: richd "The End" by The Doors at the begining of 'Apocalypse now'. "Smoke gets in Your Eyes" in the sock hop scene in 'American Graffiti'. "The Rustle of Spring" in 'The Singing Detective'. "I Wanna Be like You" in "The Jungle Book". |
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02 Dec 09 - 02:55 PM (#2778791) Subject: RE: Top musical number in film From: catspaw49 A great thread! There are so many wonderful musical moments in film.............and here's an area where we agree MtheGM. Starting with your opening post I think I have agreed with all of the selections. I think we can nominate hundreds but may never agree on a "top" number....that's the worst thing about these lists. Personally, I loved every minute of a Marx Brothers film but I still enjoy Chico and Harpo equally to the humor. Groucho, a musically talented man himself. hated the piano and harp interludes. Adding a bit to the Cagney post.........Jimmy was an entirely different dancer than anyone else of his time and watching "Yankee Doodle Dandy" should be mandatory to fill the "block of cultural knowledge" that we should have. Dancers? Can't leave out "White Nights".........Mikhail Barishnikov and the late Gregory Hines in one movie........fantastic! Spaw |
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02 Dec 09 - 03:03 PM (#2778801) Subject: RE: Top musical number in film From: GUEST,Ian Gill Cab Calloway doing 'Minnie the Moocher' in the 'Blues Brothers' movie ? Or the 'Rawhide' theme from the same - 'we got both types of music here, country and western'? |
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02 Dec 09 - 03:05 PM (#2778804) Subject: RE: Top musical number in film From: MGM·Lion Thank you, Spaw. Agree will never establish a Top Number. I wouldn't even like to try & decide which was Busby Berkeley's best-ever sequence, or Judy Garland's or Bing Crosby's or Frank Sinatra's best song, or Fred Astaire's best dance & whether it was better than any of Gene Kelly's... Must mention here, tho — next time you watch the crap-game-in-sewer sequence in Guys&Dolls, notice the guy in the big green fedora hat — that is my cousin Daniel Mayer, nephew of Louis B who was my grandfather's 1st cousin so mine 2ce removed. Danny came over here every year with Garland's company on her annual visit to the Dominion Tottenham Ct Rd; was there for the one she died. A couple of years before he had made contact & we all had tea together at my grandmother's. If you want to know why my Cal cousins spell it that bit different [Mayer while I am Myer] — why, becoz Americans can't spell of course - why else!!! |
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02 Dec 09 - 03:13 PM (#2778820) Subject: RE: Top musical number in film From: MGM·Lion Talking of Cab Calloway & Minnie the Moocher & the Marx Bros — have always loved the bit at beginning of ANightAtTheOpera, where the Sig Ruhman character, director of the opera, announces that their new signing from Europe will be a great bargain at only $1000 a night. '$1000 a night,' exclaims Groucho: 'why for 75 cents you can get a phonograph record of Minnie the Moocher — come to think of it, for a dollar and a quarter you can get Minnie.' Ah, happy, innocent days! |
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02 Dec 09 - 03:43 PM (#2778854) Subject: RE: Top musical number in film From: GUEST,Tunesmith This is one of favourites. Julie London in "The Girl Can't Help It" and that's Barney Kessel on guitar. Cry Me a River |
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02 Dec 09 - 04:20 PM (#2778883) Subject: RE: Top musical number in film From: Rasener There is a place for us http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-BQMgCy-n6U |
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02 Dec 09 - 04:39 PM (#2778901) Subject: RE: Top musical number in film From: frogprince And now for something completely different: How many of you have seen the French movie "Juliette of the Spring"? I think that the scene of Juliette in the woods, dancing nude and playing the harmonica, is easily the most beautiful example of nudity in a film that I've seen. Also, I have a question; what melody was she playing? |
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02 Dec 09 - 07:09 PM (#2779056) Subject: RE: Top musical number in film From: John on the Sunset Coast Re: Guys and Dolls I remember really looking forward to this movie, but was disappointed full-sore. The leads were poorly cast--Marlon Brando, feh! I understand Sinatra really wanted the Masterson role, and I believe he would have caught the spirit of Damon Runyon much better. Also I would have like to see a bit more of Sheldon Leonard in that film. Likewise Paint Your Wagon. Note to self: When you make a musical, use musical voices. |
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02 Dec 09 - 07:34 PM (#2779065) Subject: RE: Top musical number in film From: GUEST I must admit my partiality to Oscar Hammerstein. His lyrics to Bill's Soliloquy in CAROUSEL just can't be topped. This song reveals Bill's character as well as it advances the musical's plot. Also I am sufficient old to know that everybody back in the late forties/early fifties graduated to "You'll Never Walk Alone". Finally, a generation before in SHOWBOAT, Hammerstein and Jerome Kern showed how a song that every bass sang for the next forty years ("Old Man River") could not only function as a showstopper but also as a leitmotif for the rest of the musical. |
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02 Dec 09 - 07:41 PM (#2779070) Subject: RE: Top musical number in film From: Little Robyn Most of those above are great but no-one's mentioned Sound of Music - Eidelweiss is one we sing at work quite a lot! Robyn |
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02 Dec 09 - 08:07 PM (#2779082) Subject: RE: Top musical number in film From: M.Ted Given that this is a folk forum, here is a folk song, and one of the most moving musical moments ever in a film--From "Paths of Glory" |
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02 Dec 09 - 08:52 PM (#2779102) Subject: RE: Top musical number in film From: frogprince As to my reference to "Juliette of the Spring"; that's "Manon of the Spring"; I don't know where I got the "Juliette". |
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02 Dec 09 - 09:54 PM (#2779125) Subject: RE: Top musical number in film From: GUEST,Neil D I had never heard of Leonard Cohen till I saw "McCabe and Mrs. Miller" and I became an instant fan. For that reason alone I pick "Winter Lady" from that film. |
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02 Dec 09 - 11:52 PM (#2779172) Subject: RE: Top musical number in film From: MGM·Lion Talking of 'You'll Never Walk Alone', did youse over there know that it has become, as it were, officially folkified here as the theme song of Liverpool, sung before all their matches, who are one of our leading football [soccer] clubs? — the title is even inscribed on the gates to their ground. |
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03 Dec 09 - 12:27 AM (#2779186) Subject: RE: Top musical number in film From: MGM·Lion Another charming use of a folksong on film, but only adduced for its movie-history interest - hardly a 'top number' - is Jean Simmons' first-ever appearance on camera at about 15: 1945 film The Way To The Stars, about RAF in WWii. She sings Let Him Go, Let Him Tarry at a base dance for UK & US airmen, who all unaccountably seem to know the chorus & join in from the start... This a year before Gt Expectns in which she made her name as the Young Estella. Just found it on YouTube. |
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03 Dec 09 - 01:22 AM (#2779210) Subject: RE: Top musical number in film From: MGM·Lion ... & let us not forget Powell & Pressburger's excellent 'I Know Where I'm Going' [1945], where a folksong, sung on track by Glasgow Orpheus Choir, actually provides the film's title. Not, once more, in itself a 'top number', but interesting in film history nonetheless. |
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03 Dec 09 - 01:33 AM (#2779214) Subject: RE: Top musical number in film From: M.Ted By the way, MthGM, Jean Simmons' first ever film appearance was in "Give Us the Moon", made in 1943. TWTTS was actually her sixth movie appearance-- |
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03 Dec 09 - 01:45 AM (#2779218) Subject: RE: Top musical number in film From: MGM·Lion Thanks, M.Ted - one lives and learns indeed... I know she attended from early age Aida Foster stage school in Finchley Road just north of Golders Green station, 3 or 4 doors along from a site used prewar for a Montessori nursery school where I took my own first hesitant educational steps [just learning to read, that's all]: & so she was groomed for that sort of career from earliest days. |
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03 Dec 09 - 02:33 AM (#2779239) Subject: RE: Top musical number in film From: MGM·Lion Re Guys & Dolls, John otSC 'Marlon Brando, feh! I understand Sinatra really wanted the Masterson role, and I believe he would have caught the spirit of Damon Runyon' Maybe: but I liked Brando's Brother·Sky in its fashion nonetheless - & what a superb Detroit Sinatra made for all that... And, returning to name of this thread, Vivian Blaine as Miss Adelaide singing "A person [or 'poyssen' in her native Brooklyn] could develop a cold" must surely be a candidate for one of top spots. & by train of thought, don't you love bit of dialog in OnTheTown: "I know a place across the Brooklyn Bridge where they will never find us"... "Oh, where's that?" ... "Brooklyn!" |
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03 Dec 09 - 04:21 AM (#2779269) Subject: RE: Top musical number in film From: bubblyrat Doris Von Kappelhoff,or whatever her real name was, singing "Whip Crack Away" in the opening scenes of "Calamity Jane" always does it for me ! " Here's a man the Sheriff watches; On his gun there's more than twenty seven notches " !! Corny lyrics,but superb music & choreography.( and Doris's belter of a voice). I also like "Bless your beautiful hide" from " Seven Brides etc"....I'm not normally a Howard Keel fan,but I think that this was his finest moment ; the scenery helps ! |
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03 Dec 09 - 04:33 AM (#2779278) Subject: RE: Top musical number in film From: GUEST, Sminky Powell & Pressburger's excellent 'I Know Where I'm Going' [1945] .... in which the superb Roger Livesey sings 'The Nut Brown Maiden'. The Liveseys' ancestral home is about half a mile from where I am right now. |
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03 Dec 09 - 04:43 AM (#2779283) Subject: RE: Top musical number in film From: Crow Sister (off with the fairies) Anything by Hoagy Carmichael! Love that stuff, the lyrics were often totally hysterical. Memphis in June My Resistance is Low with Jane Russel Old Buttermilk Sky |
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03 Dec 09 - 04:44 AM (#2779284) Subject: RE: Top musical number in film From: MGM·Lion Thanks for reminding me of that, Sminky. Tho my recollection is that he doesn't actually sing it, but hears it being played on the pipes & recites the words, "··· Oh you are the maid for me", in what P G Wodehouse [cf that thread] might have described as a 'meaningful manner' to Wendy Hiller. BTW, there is a fine NutBrownMaiden sung in Gaelic by the Scots/Canadian group the Rankin Family on YouTube which is well worth googling. |
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03 Dec 09 - 04:50 AM (#2779291) Subject: RE: Top musical number in film From: MGM·Lion Talking of Hoagy Carmichael, I always think his best song [tho he didn't do the lyrics for once, but collaborated with the great Johnny Mercer] was The Old Music Master. Not sure if that featured in a film — anyone know, please? |
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03 Dec 09 - 05:15 AM (#2779305) Subject: RE: Top musical number in film From: GUEST, Sminky MtheGM: I know the Glasgow Orpheus Choir sing it (in Gaelic), and he does the famous recitation, but doesn't he sing it (in English) as he marches to the castle to meet his fate, near the end of the film? Incidentally, Livesey never went anywhere near Scotland during the filming - he stayed in London the whole time - they used a double for location shots of him in the Scottish landscape. |
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03 Dec 09 - 06:03 AM (#2779336) Subject: RE: Top musical number in film From: MGM·Lion You may be right at that, Sminky - tho it's his meaning gleam·in·the·eye as he recites word to WH that lives on in my mind. I think I had heard before about the no-locations swiz! Can't precisely remember either about the title-song, or find anything in wiki &c — was it, as my memory tells me, sung over the opening titles by Barbara Mullen, or am I confusg with something else? |
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03 Dec 09 - 01:39 PM (#2779790) Subject: RE: Top musical number in film From: MGM·Lion Refresh, so that Sminky, who obvsly remembers this film so well, can answer above ???. |
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04 Dec 09 - 01:43 AM (#2780249) Subject: RE: Top musical number in film From: MGM·Lion ... & has anyone an answer to the ?? I asked above, as to whether Carmichael/Mercer 'The Old Music Master' ever appeared in a film? |
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04 Dec 09 - 09:35 PM (#2781022) Subject: RE: Top musical number in film From: MGM·Lion Refresh, hopefully, just once more. Don't mean to be a bore, but some answers wd be appreciated. |
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08 Feb 10 - 09:30 AM (#2832810) Subject: RE: Top musical number in film From: MGM·Lion r |
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08 Feb 10 - 09:55 AM (#2832836) Subject: RE: Top musical number in film From: zozimus The song Tammy's in Love" was sung in one of the first films I ever saw, can you guys remind me of the films title? |
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08 Feb 10 - 10:10 AM (#2832849) Subject: RE: Top musical number in film From: MGM·Lion Zozimus - I think you mean this one:— This song came from the movie Tammy and the Bachelor. It became an instant hit of the year. It tells of Tammy, played by Debbie Reynolds, falling in love with Leslie Neilson who plays Peter Brent in the movie. Movie also stars Walter Brennen and Fay Wray. Great classic movie of a young girl in love. The song earned Reynolds a gold record in 1957. |
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08 Feb 10 - 10:20 AM (#2832861) Subject: RE: Top musical number in film From: Mick Pearce (MCP) MtheGM - According to my book of Hollywood Musicals (from 1927 to the Present day - 1981 when published), which claims to be complete, it doesn't appear in any musical. That doesn't mean it wasn't used in some non-musical film of course. (As for me - give me Fred Astaire singing pretty much anything in Swing Time or Top Hat - I can't decide which I like better. After that, Can't Help Loving That Man from Showboat. But I love the musical from the 30s and 40s; if I sit and think I'd fill a thread!). Mick |
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08 Feb 10 - 10:25 AM (#2832868) Subject: RE: Top musical number in film From: Steve Gardham Yes, Love em all, but nobody yet mentioned ALL the songs in Snow White. I once sang the lot in a folk club with a ceilidh band backing. Don't tell Disney! |
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08 Feb 10 - 10:31 AM (#2832870) Subject: RE: Top musical number in film From: JohnB Always Look on the Bright Side, Eric Idle, Monty Python's "The Life of Brian" JohnB |
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08 Feb 10 - 10:34 AM (#2832873) Subject: RE: Top musical number in film From: MGM·Lion Mick Pearce: please note the title I gave this thread - careful NOT to specify 'a musical film'. Many of best songs come from films that are not, specifically, "musicals" in genre: from The Wizard Of Oz to The Snake Pit to Let's Make Love... In the last of which I will nominate Ms Monroe's performance of Cole Porter's My Heart Belongs To Daddy as worthy of recollection on this thread (I didn't specify that the song had to originate in the film, either — or none of the Singin' In The Rain lot would qualify)... |
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08 Feb 10 - 10:34 AM (#2832874) Subject: RE: Top musical number in film From: fat B****rd Cinderella 'Work Song' West Side Story 'America' Snow White 'The Silly Song' Deliverance 'Duellin' Banjos' And not to forget - the theme from 'The Vikings' |
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08 Feb 10 - 11:23 AM (#2832932) Subject: RE: Top musical number in film From: GUEST,TJ in San Diego A lot of great tunes are mentioned. The best are evocative and stay in your memory long after the show is over. That said, I think this is really much more about time, place and indelible impressions than about the songs themselves. Example: I can't hear zither music without thinking of Harry Lime and glistening cobbled streets and alleys in black and white. I can't hear "Old Man River" without seeing Paul Robson singing on the dock near the riverboat's gangplank. |
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08 Feb 10 - 11:23 AM (#2832934) Subject: RE: Top musical number in film From: Mick Pearce (MCP) Then it was used in True To Life, 1943. Mick |
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08 Feb 10 - 12:52 PM (#2833023) Subject: RE: Top musical number in film From: brezhnev Doris singing Any way the wind blows in Please Don't Eat the Daisies and Del Shannon singing You Never Talked About Me in It's Trad Dad. Teenagers in a British town unite in their struggle to be allowed to listen to rock & roll and jazz music. The mayor tries to ban the jukebox... |
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08 Feb 10 - 12:55 PM (#2833028) Subject: RE: Top musical number in film From: Mick Pearce (MCP) (My last post was answer to MtheGM, not the intervening posts!). Mick |
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08 Feb 10 - 01:01 PM (#2833036) Subject: RE: Top musical number in film From: MGM·Lion Thanks, Mick — I took it as such, I am grateful for info additional to later usage. Michael |
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09 Feb 10 - 03:27 PM (#2834370) Subject: RE: Top musical number in film From: MGM·Lion ... & Mick, talking of Fred Astaire, which you were a few posts back, my two favourite of his are not in either of the films you mention [tho they are replete with fine songs indeed], but one is in Follow The Fleet [We Joined the Navy to See the World], & the other, mentioned right back in my OP is A Couple Of Swells from Easter Parade. Mind you, I love Isn't This a Lovely Day to be Caught in the Rain? with Ginger in Top Hat. |
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09 Feb 10 - 03:33 PM (#2834374) Subject: RE: Top musical number in film From: SINSULL Springtime For Hitler in the Producers. Jimmy Cagney was amazing. I saw a tribute show, maybe a roast, for him. He had to be in his 80s and he hopped up on a table and danced like a 20 year old. Amazing. And he loved it so - that was his original career. A song and dance man. |
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09 Feb 10 - 04:25 PM (#2834423) Subject: RE: Top musical number in film From: PoppaGator I'm surprised no one has mentioned "Oh Brother Where Art Thou." Either Ralph Stanley's "O Death" or the dubbed-in group rendition of "Man of Constant Sorrow" would be valid nominations. Out of very many songs from musical films, I really love the "Triplets" song ("we hate each other very much / we hate our folks...") but can't remember the film title. I think two of the triplets were Fred Astaire and Nanette Fabray, but I'm not sure. Anybody? Anybody? Then there's Louis Armstrong's opening theme for High Society, sung with his band on their tour bus in Newport, RI, on the way to the Jazz Festival. However: My single favorite musical moment in film is the gospel trio seen briefly, and then heard at great length throughout the cemetery scene, in Easy Rider. My reasons are strictly personal: I got to meet the singers a year or two later, when I was performing on some of the same New Orleans streetcorners where they had been working for years. They may well have been the most down-home, authentically "folk," performers ever to find their way into a Hollywood movie. They were quite old and probably unaware of the larger world outside their little church community and their neighborhood. I've always wondered if they got paid; my guess is that they got something, but not nearly enough, and that whatever they were offered, 100% of it went to their church. |
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09 Feb 10 - 04:48 PM (#2834454) Subject: RE: Top musical number in film From: Mick Pearce (MCP) Poppa - the third was Jack Buchanan and the film was The Band Waggon; a clever song! MtheGM - Follow the Fleet I don't mind, but A Couple of Swells leaves me cold I'm afraid - Easter Parade was never a favourite film. Still, we can't all love the same things. Mick |
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17 Oct 11 - 02:24 PM (#3240350) Subject: RE: Top musical number in film From: MGM·Lion Train of thought has just led me back to this 20 month old thread. What a lot included then ~~ and what a lot omitted ~~ try e.g. Born In A Trunk At The Princess Theater In Pocatella Idaho, Judy Garland in the 1954 version of A Star Is Born. And Sweet Nelly Kelly from her 1942 version of the George M Cohan's 1920s show of that name. And, talking of Cohan, there is a fine youtube version of Yankee Doodle Dandy, featuring the Cagney version from film of that name with Jimmy as Cohan, followed by the 2-year earlier Rooney-Garland rendition from Babes In Arms http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=StDpLge_ITM&feature=related |
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17 Oct 11 - 02:56 PM (#3240371) Subject: RE: Top musical number in film From: Max Johnson Would it be cheating to have some of the Mills Brothers' Betty Boop soundtracks? MgM, 'Let Him Go, Let Him Tarry from 'The Way To The Stars' is high on my list and, bubblyrat, also 'Whip Crack Away'. |
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17 Oct 11 - 05:38 PM (#3240461) Subject: RE: Top musical number in film From: GUEST Lee Marvin singing "Wand'rin' Star" in "Paint Your Wagon". Not a singer, but he "sells" the song very well. |
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17 Oct 11 - 06:37 PM (#3240488) Subject: RE: Top musical number in film From: GUEST The "Telephone Number" not sure if that is the song's name but you will understand, from Bye-Bye Birdie. I Believe in you from How to succeed in business... |
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17 Oct 11 - 07:01 PM (#3240499) Subject: RE: Top musical number in film From: Joe Nicholson Y0u'l never walk alone from Carousel Joe Nicholson |
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17 Oct 11 - 07:28 PM (#3240512) Subject: RE: Top musical number in film From: Bert Oom Pa Pa from Oliver. White Christmas. Some Enchanted Evening from South Pacific. |
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18 Oct 11 - 04:16 AM (#3240635) Subject: RE: Top musical number in film From: MGM·Lion Joe N ~ below is url to the Shankly Gates at Anfield football ground, named after a distinguished former manager of Liverpool Football Club. You'll Never Walk Alone, as you will see, has broken free of its Rodgers & Hammerstein roots and entered folklore as theme song of this leading club with its distinguished history or championships and cups. The story of how this came about, via a hit recording by Liverpool-based group Gerry & the Pacemakers in the 60s, will be found in the Wikipedia entry on the song. http://www.flickr.com/photos/andynugent/76672246/ ~Michael~ |
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19 Nov 12 - 04:45 AM (#3438504) Subject: RE: Top musical number in film From: MGM·Lion Often an idea to refresh an old thread to see if any further ideas have come to anyone. I have discovered the following website regarding the still-extant, tho now a cinema, Princess Theater in Pocatello Idaho, birthplace of Judy Garland's fictional stage persona in A Star Is Born http://cinematreasures.org/theaters/4821 ~M~ |
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19 Nov 12 - 04:50 AM (#3438505) Subject: RE: Top musical number in film From: MGM·Lion ... in fact, no longer a cinema, but since 1920 part of a retail complex: see the website. ~M~ |
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19 Nov 12 - 09:43 AM (#3438616) Subject: RE: Top musical number in film From: Bert Buttons and Bows from Paleface. |
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19 Nov 12 - 10:41 AM (#3438666) Subject: RE: Top musical number in film From: Stringsinger There are so many. Astaire absolutely. He knew how to interpret a song. Another potent song that worked in movies but not as well on stage was from Cabaret, "Tomorrow Belongs To Me" about the rise of Nazisim in Berlin. I think Cabaret worked much better as a movie than onstage. I saw the original New York production. Also, Jewison's "Jesus Christ Superstar" worked better on film although it was intended to be a recording, an oratorio. The scene of the dancing Acolytes was remarkable with freeze frames. An important number is Astaire and Eleanor Powell doing "Begin the Beguine" in Broadway Melody of 1940. The two were amazing together and each a bit shaky by their company as dancers. It sizzled and popped! I loved "Raghapati Ragava Rajah Ram" from the film Ghandi when the historic march to the sea took place to protest the salt restriction by the Brits. One of my favorites was Nielsen singing Fred Neil's song "Everybody's Talking" from the opening credits and scene of Midnight Cowboy. Also, although I didn't care for the movie, the opening sequence of Born Free showing a panorama of the Serengeti Plain, the wild animals with the John Barry tune "Born Free" playing over the sequence was effective. I liked "Luck Be A Lady" with Brando from Guys and Dolls. The ending of Member of the Wedding which worked well as a stage play but the movie version featuring Ethel Waters at the end singing "His Eye is on the Sparrow" was lovely. Also, the last scene of Kubrick's epic Dr. Strangelove with the melancholy "We'll Meet Again". There was Hoagy Carmicheal doing "The Hong Kong Blues" in To Have and Have Not with Bogie. Also, he never said "Play it again, Sam" in Casablanca but the song worked really well. It was Herman Hupfeld's one hit wonder. |
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19 Nov 12 - 11:10 AM (#3438682) Subject: RE: Top musical number in film From: frogprince Just re-skimmed this; since I was "here" last, my wife and I attended the memorial service for Doris Eaton Travis. She last danced on broadway weeks, perhaps days, before her death at 106. We saw a video of that last appearance; she danced just briefly, holding the hand of one young man on each side, but she was 106 years old . One other "top" musical moment, in an otherwise badly botched movie: Dylan's singing of "Knocking on Heaven's Door" over the scene of a dying Slim Pickens in "Pat Garrett and Billie the Kid" |
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19 Nov 12 - 02:47 PM (#3438795) Subject: RE: Top musical number in film From: Jack Campin According to this soundtrack video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u3geiAxyZqU the music for "Manon des Sources" was arrangements of Verdi's "La Firza del Destino" made by Jean-Claude Petit. |
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19 Nov 12 - 03:01 PM (#3438801) Subject: RE: Top musical number in film From: dick greenhaus "Once In Love With Amy" frpom "Charlie's Aunt"----one of my all tim favorites. |
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19 Nov 12 - 03:24 PM (#3438807) Subject: RE: Top musical number in film From: fat B****rd Flying Home in Malcolm X Saturday Night Fever in Saturday Night Fever. Por Una Cabeza (Thank you Google) The tango scene in Scent of a Woman. It's Gonna Take Magic from Play It Cool. |
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19 Nov 12 - 08:11 PM (#3438952) Subject: RE: Top musical number in film From: ChanteyLass La Marseillaise in Casablanca always stirs my emotions. |
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19 Nov 12 - 08:58 PM (#3438967) Subject: RE: Top musical number in film From: kendall I've never cared for musicals, but You'll never walk alone is one of the greats. Of course, my favorite movie music is Lara's Theme from Doctor Zhivago. |
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20 Nov 12 - 04:47 PM (#3439460) Subject: RE: Top musical number in film From: fat B****rd One I came across whilst researching the other night is "Eternally" the theme from Chaplin's 'Limelight'. |
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20 Nov 12 - 05:45 PM (#3439491) Subject: RE: Top musical number in film From: RoyH (Burl) I forget what film it was in,nor can I remember which member of the Huston family sang it, BUT, 'September Song' was beautiful. Mention of 'Singin' inthe Rain' reminds me of the great performance by Jean Hagen as Lena Lamont,talentless but vain silent movie star. She delivered a marvellous line to the director who threatened to fire her from his movie, 'You can't fire me. I'm a star! I make more money than Calvin Coolidge.Put Together!' |
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21 Nov 12 - 08:14 AM (#3439771) Subject: RE: Top musical number in film From: GUEST,Desi C Probably one of the most obvious, but for me Singing In The Rain from the musical of the same name. And as another contributor below gave Meet Me In St Louis |
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22 Nov 12 - 06:50 AM (#3440333) Subject: RE: Top musical number in film From: GUEST,Dave Illingworth Getting down to basics, how about WC Fields rendition of "The Fatal Glass Of Beer" from film of same name (1933). "Once upon the sidewalk he met a Salvation Army gal And wickedly he broke her tambourine. All she said was 'Heaven bless you' and placed a mark upon his brow With a kick she'd learned before she had been saved." The film also contains one of my favourite WC Fields lines:- My Uncle Ichabod said, speaking of the city, "It ain't no place for a woman, gal, but pretty men go thar." |
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22 Nov 12 - 09:24 AM (#3440413) Subject: RE: Top musical number in film From: deepdoc1 Louis Armstrong's "What A Wonderful World" in "Good Morning, Vietnam" has seared itself in my memory. |
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09 Aug 13 - 10:12 AM (#3547247) Subject: RE: Top musical number in film From: MGM·Lion Has just come back to memory ~~ wonder why? They filmed the Broadway compilation show 'New Faces of 1954', with the incomparable Eartha Kitt singing Uska Dara. What a unique voice and style she had! ~M~ |
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09 Aug 13 - 10:51 AM (#3547254) Subject: RE: Top musical number in film From: GUEST,gillymor One of my all-time favorite songs But Not For Me by Judy Garland in Girl Crazy. |
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09 Aug 13 - 11:24 AM (#3547258) Subject: RE: Top musical number in film From: Nigel Parsons "Let's get together" Hayley Mills duetting with ... Hayley Mills. |
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09 Aug 13 - 01:29 PM (#3547299) Subject: RE: Top musical number in film From: GUEST,eldergirl Song by Cat Stevens as he was then, sung by Ruth Jordan(?)as Maude in 'Harold and Maude', then again at end of film by lad playing Harold.. can't remember his name just now. That was an odd little film.'If you want to be you, be you, and if you want to be me, be me...' Song was kind of an antidote to sadness of film content. |
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10 Aug 13 - 01:46 PM (#3547622) Subject: RE: Top musical number in film From: GUEST,eldergirl Having said that, I do agree with MtheGM about Brush up your Shakespeare, and Always true to you, darling in my fashion. Superb numbers both. |
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10 Aug 13 - 02:10 PM (#3547629) Subject: RE: Top musical number in film From: GUEST,Tunesmith I haven't read through all the above, but I do like this one. The Water is Wide used as movie theme |
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11 Aug 13 - 03:44 AM (#3547798) Subject: RE: Top musical number in film From: GUEST,Guest from Sanity Pirates of the Caribbean' Klaus Badelt, composer Especially towards the end! 'Somewhere in Time'--John Barry, Composer ..and there's some other really good ones.. but for now.............. GfS |
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11 Aug 13 - 03:45 AM (#3547799) Subject: RE: Top musical number in film From: GUEST,Guest from Sanity and this one: 'Exodus' , Ferrante and Teicher, pianists, Ernest Gold, composer GfS |