222. On The Town (1949)

Directed By Stanley Donen and Gene Kelly

Synopsis

Three sailors have a 24 hour shore leave. They want to have sex. They get girls and have it. Well, except for Gene Kelly, who doesn't have the chance.

Review

OK, that synopsis is considerably more racy than the film itself. You never actually see anyone have sex, but there are so many double-entendres that it is hard not to get it.

Basically that is what the film is all about, not much of interest in terms of plot, there's this story with Miss Turnstiles, which serves to move the film on but that's nothing to write home about.

There are however, pretty interesting things about the film, firstly it is one of the first musicals to film on location, which gives a different dimension to musical acts, it is also very well photographed in glorious Technicolor. And here we can see directly the influence of Red Shoes including a little set-piece which recounts the film through the medium of Dance. Also kudos to Bernstein for a great score, even if the lyrics are not always the smartest things, or in the best of taste, you can really see Bernstein shine in the set-piece which is not sung.

Final Grade

7/10

Trivia

About New York, New York:

The song was parodied in the first issue of Sam and Max in which Sam sings the song with the third line "and the mimes are food for the bums underground," identifying it as from a musical "about a quaint French circus that comes to town and is immediately cannibalized by the local mole men."

New York, New York: