Friday, March 12, 2010

Ready to Swoon?

I had so much fun bringing you my Gene Kelly clip the other day, that I decided to share another of my favorites to jump start your weekend!!

This is one of Frank Sinatra's first films, called Anchors Aweigh.  He'd just signed with MGM studios after many years of performing with the Harry James and Tommy Dorsey Orchestras.  The "Bobby-Soxers" (the "Clay-Mates" of the forties!!) were going crazy for Frank at this time, and  he was enormously popular.

The big wigs at MGM were anxious to see if Frank's popularity would extend to the movie viewing public, and made the ridiculously smart move of pairing him with Gene Kelly.  The combination of Gene's dancing and Frank's singing made the pair untouchable, and the film was an instant, huge success.

This movie was made in 1945,  long before Frank's swinging, cocky "Rat Pack" years.  In fact, in this role he portrays a young (SKINNY!), innocent kid from Brooklyn, trying to learn "the ropes" of picking up girls from the much more suave, experienced Kelly.

Frank masterfully croons many songs in this picture, but this one is my favorite.  At this point in the movie, Frank is sitting on a bare stage at the Hollywood Bowl, there is no one in the audience.  It's simple, quiet and, in my opinion, perfect!  I hope you agree!  It's a really short clip, so my wish is that you'll press "play," roll down your bobby socks, rest your chin in your hand, and sigh deeply!!

Have a great weekend, everybody!

40 comments:

Unknown said...

Heavenly.

Bossy Betty said...

Very nice. I was never a Sinatra fan, but this could change my mind.

just call me jo said...

Do you think he was really playing that piano? I love young Sinatra. Epitome of cool--ol' Blue Eyes. They don't make em like that any more.

Sylvia K said...

Well that one started the memories rolling!! What fun! No one like him and he was definitely one of the best! Thanks, Joan, that was terrific!! Hope you have a great weekend!

Sylvia

ReformingGeek said...

"Those were the days."

Wait. Were they?

;-)

Kellyansapansa said...

That's just gorgeous - you've launched my weekend beautifully!

Gucci Mama said...

I love it. I love movies from that era, I love Frank Sinatra, love it love it love it! I'm glad I took advantage of this little lull in the migraine to catch up on some blogs because this just made me feel all fuzzy. That, and the vicodin is kicking in so I can do a little more than curl in the fetal position in the darkest part of the house. Anyway.

Miss Go Lightly said...

I love this movie :)

Lori said...

What a crooner! I love those old movies. Gene Kelly and Jimmy Stewart are my favorites.

Anonymous said...

Awwwww- "i've been fooled in the past" had me feeling really bad. Very soulful singing, i thought. THaNk YoU for showing me this- very different from stuff i've seen.

Brenda Susan said...

Love this clip! I have a cd of Sinatra with this song on it, it was fun to be able to SEE him singing it! Thanx!

Jaime said...

wow. it's been ages since i saw this one!

ilovepink1078 said...

I love this movie very much. I can see myself partly in the situation. By the way, Frank Sinatra is a good singing. In fact, I recommend this to my class in their Broadway presentation. Exactly, they’ll present this afternoon in our culminating activity.

Thank you for visiting my blog. Hope to hear you soon.

Have a great weekend.

Jen said...

Keep these posts coming please :) you are educating me on an era that I missed when younger and giving me movies to hunt down and fall in love with! :)

starnes family said...

I'm so behind on old movies......need to just devote a year to them and catch up!

CentFla said...

This is so beautiful - thanks for posting it honey. Fun to read your stuff and hear this kind of song while I am on the road away from you.

It was easy to fall in love with you too - but no foolin'! Love you babe!

Unknown said...

Wow! Wasn't he ever young in that one! Wonderful! Thanks so much for sharing!

dustinnikki said...

Following back..thanks for stopping by!

Nicole

SM said...

I love Frank! My brother who is 10 years younger than me, always goes around singing Frank songs.
I love old movies, they were cleaner than the hardcore you get now. I make my kids watch them with me.

Betty Manousos said...

Love it!. I am Sinatra's fan.
Have a great weekend!
Betty xx

Alice in Wonderland said...

I was never a Sinatra fan, until this guy bought me a C.D. of "The Very Best Of...." and we would dance all night! Very funny, but very sweet!
Brought back a lot of memories, although I've never seen him in a movie, I enjoyed this clip!

Writing Without Periods! said...

I fell in love with a man over Frank Sinatra songs. I really dig him...Frank that is :-)
Mary

lifeshighway said...

I love Anchors Aweigh and I have already shared my obsession with old movie musicals. Keep those clips coming, I never tire.

Velvet Over Steel said...

Wow.. this post brings back memories. Sigh.... Have a Great weekend! ~ Coreen

Sassy Salsa girl said...

I am so movie and musically uneducated, now I want to see Anchors Aweigh. :D

sitting on the mood swing at the playground said...

Gene Kelly is my favorite thing about that movie.

Lori said...

Me again - passing on this award to you because I really enjoy your blog:
http://tinylittlereveries.blogspot.com/2010/03/blog-awards.html

:-)

Anonymous said...

He was a cutie! How about that "piano playing" though...wouldn't get away with that anymore.

Sorry I missed it yesterday...I guess I wasn't following you??? Well, I'm following now...or following again...whatever. I do not wish to miss more of your posts.

Anonymous said...

I was following. Thought so. I'm not always this ditzy, just most of the time. Sorry.

Brian Miller said...

nice. great movie...

Kristi Maloney said...

Hi there. I am here from FF. I am glad I found your blog.

Kristi from Moms Own Words.

citymouse said...

I love listening to Frank but I have had a crush on Gene Kelly since I was a little girl. This movie and The Pirate were always my faves. (He sports a mustache in Pirate... I've always been a sucker for facial hair.)

iheartbowheads.blogspot.com said...

oh I love that movie! I need to go on an old movie kick :)

Heatherlyn said...

It's been a very long time since I've seen that movie. I wish that they still made movies with that much art to them, more art and less digital. :)

Anonymous said...

wow.. If I could travel back in time would I?

hell yes....

Leeuna said...

Sigh... Thanks Joan. I enjoyed the clip.

ilovepink1078 said...

Thanks for dropping by and for following. I just to keep in touch and hope to learner more from your site and you as well.

Again,Thanks for sharing...
Looking forward.

Sara @ Domestically Challenged said...

Yay!!! Thanks for sharing!

Just Be Happy said...

Lovely!
Thank you for sharing!

:o)

Rianna said...

Yeah I LOOOOOOVE the oldies!!

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