tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7092350404895325373.post8336523972913165561..comments2024-03-24T21:42:48.278-04:00Comments on Another Old Movie Blog: Kismet - 1955Jacqueline T. Lynchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11047941886908178350noreply@blogger.comBlogger15125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7092350404895325373.post-36014267594284050832019-01-04T20:29:36.022-05:002019-01-04T20:29:36.022-05:00Thanks for stopping by bobbymo51, and I'm glad...Thanks for stopping by bobbymo51, and I'm glad this movie continues to have its fans. Regarding your quibble about my referring to Keel and Gray as middle aged, I think my playful habit of referring to the characters by the actors' real names -- just because I think it's easier to identify them and keep plot descriptions straight -- created an impression I didn't mean to make. I don't mean that the real-life Keel and Gray are middle aged, but that their characters were supposed to be. They are the generation above the younger couple and they represent mature, confident, more sophisticated lovers. I agree that they "project a sly and knowing energy." Jacqueline T. Lynchhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11047941886908178350noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7092350404895325373.post-1155528731541675852019-01-03T12:01:50.294-05:002019-01-03T12:01:50.294-05:00I liked this review very much, having just last ni...I liked this review very much, having just last night watched the blu-ray of Kismet for the second time, and having enjoyed it even more than my first viewing of it. But I have one quibble: You characterize both Dolores Gray and Howard Keel as "middle aged." Mr. Keel was 38 at the time of this filming, and was - and still is, in some quarters, considered too young for this part, and certainly impossibly young to be Ann Blythe's father, being only 12 years her senior. But, yes, he is pushing forty here. Dolores Gray, however, had just turned 31 when filming began on Kismet, making her slightly more than four years older than Ann. Both she and Keel project a very sly and knowing energy, a proper foil for the very innocent lovers, but it seems to me that that is just what the story requires, and hardly makes them "middle aged." bobbymo51https://www.blogger.com/profile/00460596691790109665noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7092350404895325373.post-87516943275002395902014-03-27T21:13:54.136-04:002014-03-27T21:13:54.136-04:00Thank you. I loved your post, and wanted to make ...Thank you. I loved your post, and wanted to make sure my readers saw it.Jacqueline T. Lynchhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11047941886908178350noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7092350404895325373.post-48456868759037739962014-03-27T20:56:38.267-04:002014-03-27T20:56:38.267-04:00Loved your review! Wonderful research and brillia...Loved your review! Wonderful research and brilliant writing! Thanks so much for linking to mine, too!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7092350404895325373.post-42511732558907031692014-02-03T07:32:28.201-05:002014-02-03T07:32:28.201-05:00Thank you so much, Laura. I think somehow "K...Thank you so much, Laura. I think somehow "Kismet" requires the contemplative patience of maturity to really appreciate it, maybe because for us, the setting is so exotic, the color palette is not cartoonish, and the characters' punishment for failure is so high. <br /><br />I loved reading your experience at the TCM festival last year.<br /><br />Vienna, thank you. I agree, a fabulous score, and I really don't know why Ann didn't produce a string of albums. A shame.Jacqueline T. Lynchhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11047941886908178350noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7092350404895325373.post-41361953415682330242014-02-03T03:27:51.726-05:002014-02-03T03:27:51.726-05:00Great review. Seems to be an overlooked musical. ...Great review. Seems to be an overlooked musical. But what a fabulous score.<br />Incredible that Ann, didn't have a recording contract.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7092350404895325373.post-32909122922830362072014-02-02T21:49:10.954-05:002014-02-02T21:49:10.954-05:00Hi Jacqueline! Mentioned on Twitter how much I en...Hi Jacqueline! Mentioned on Twitter how much I enjoyed this post but wanted to leave a note that's a little more permanent here. :) You do a great job capturing the film's magic. Like a couple other commenters above I didn't think that much of this film when I saw it years ago, other than the singing. Revisiting it at the TCM Classic Film Festival was a transcendent experience -- it might have been my favorite of the 11 movies I saw that long weekend, and it much deserves the detailed attention you give it here. Thank you very much for sharing the link to my post!<br /><br />Best wishes,<br />LauraLaurahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09626109831176745957noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7092350404895325373.post-8674424462534394952014-01-30T22:15:38.056-05:002014-01-30T22:15:38.056-05:00Thanks so much GOM, and I agree the duet with Damo...Thanks so much GOM, and I agree the duet with Damone on "This is My Beloved" is 'heart-meltingly lovely' as you say.<br /><br />To my knowledge, Ann Blyth did not record any other stage musicals, and we'll be talking about this down the road. For the life of me, I cannot understand why she never had a record deal, not beyond a couple releases. Jacqueline T. Lynchhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11047941886908178350noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7092350404895325373.post-75703570431158601662014-01-30T21:48:54.106-05:002014-01-30T21:48:54.106-05:00Just love your enriching analysis of Minelli's...Just love your enriching analysis of Minelli's use of color in this film - I will certainly take note next time I watch it. And Ann Blyth sings SO beautifully. Her duet with Vic Damone on 'This is My Beloved' is heart-meltingly lovely. Did Ann ever record the songs from the stage musicals that she did later, that you mention? I think she must have been a natural for Rodgers & Hammerstein.grandoldmovieshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10773085288675763855noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7092350404895325373.post-7778225730550080942014-01-30T17:56:56.372-05:002014-01-30T17:56:56.372-05:00CW, I never thought of Mike Mazurki as sweet befor...CW, I never thought of Mike Mazurki as sweet before, but I guess somebody could look at it that way. Especially if somebody was you.<br /><br />(Also according to the Damone memoir, he confronted Minnelli about the bullying many years later, and Mr. Minnelli apologized and they shook hands. And peace was restored.)<br /><br /><br />Yes, the music is lovely. Such passion between Damone and Ann Blyth. And Mazurki.Jacqueline T. Lynchhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11047941886908178350noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7092350404895325373.post-59578120229123643672014-01-30T17:17:56.079-05:002014-01-30T17:17:56.079-05:00"Kismet" is one that I usually rush thro..."Kismet" is one that I usually rush through to get to the songs - oh, the glorious songs! Next time I shall sit back and enjoy the colourful ride.<br /><br />Love the story about Mike Mazurki offering to punch Minnelli. Is it wrong that I think that is really sweet?Caftan Womanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05936895555808823221noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7092350404895325373.post-86094995491912707452014-01-30T14:58:56.514-05:002014-01-30T14:58:56.514-05:00Thank you, Kevin. Your 1950s operetta revival sou...Thank you, Kevin. Your 1950s operetta revival sounds like a good idea for a post. I confess, I hadn't considered it before. <br /><br />Is it only still January? Then I guess we've got a long way to go. Fortunately, there's plenty more to discuss in Ann Blyth's career.Jacqueline T. Lynchhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11047941886908178350noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7092350404895325373.post-67215203471115683782014-01-30T14:08:11.070-05:002014-01-30T14:08:11.070-05:00Your post makes me want to watch this one again. A...Your post makes me want to watch this one again. A tough admission for me, as this is probably my least favorite M-G-M musical. Love Delores Gray in it, but don't give a hoot about the story or the characters. But your comments on the staging of some of the numbers and the color tells me I'll give it another look one day.<br /><br />I've long wondered about that operetta revival in the 1950s, what with those "Desert Song", "Rose Marie", "Vagabond King" remakes, etc., along with a Sigmund Romberg bio pic. And "Kismet" of course. Hope to read some musings from you about this curious phenomena. Another great post in a fabulous series. And its still January!Kevin Deanyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07697597405552599370noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7092350404895325373.post-91159944500810147832014-01-30T11:19:54.472-05:002014-01-30T11:19:54.472-05:00Thank you, Moira. It's nice that Ann Blyth...Thank you, Moira. It's nice that Ann Blyth's last film musical was one that gave her songs to really showcase her vocal range and depth. I've always liked Howard Keel, and should have perhaps mentioned in the post that they paired up again for a TV segment on "The Bell Telephone Hour" in 1959, which I'll cover in a later post.<br /><br />I'm still kicking around the book idea.Jacqueline T. Lynchhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11047941886908178350noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7092350404895325373.post-67847903799706663372014-01-30T10:30:55.791-05:002014-01-30T10:30:55.791-05:00"He’s the Persian Mr. Darcy and she is the se..."He’s the Persian Mr. Darcy and she is the sensible and mocking Elizabeth Bennett of the Fertile Crescent" was a great turn of phrase, Jacqueline! <br /><br />Reading your account of this film made me appreciate the beauty of this musical all over again. I always liked Blyth, but was greatly impressed with her singing in this role. Howard Keel has definitely grown on me over the last few years after discovering his little-known non-musicals (The Hideout (1948) & Desperate Search (1952) are two that impressed me). I think that Minnelli fans (i'm one!) will definitely appreciate your analysis of the color and staging of certain scenes too. <br /><br />This is a great series and I hope it leads to a book about Blyth too. Moira Finniehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12626493736940699514noreply@blogger.com