I love lobby cards from old theatrical films. My first experience from them were from actual Looney Tunes lobby cards.
These are extremely appealing and worth checking out. I grabbed these from MovieStillsDB.com. They literally have every movie worth exploring the cool pictures.
Here's a ton of lobby cards from movies I watched that I definitely enjoyed!
When I first heard about It's Always Fair Weather (1955) it was that one scene with Gene roller skating. That scene honestly makes me cry happy tears because of how sweet and normal society really was back then. Those people smiling at Gene's talents was just beautiful. But when I saw Baby You Knock Me Out, it was one of the most powerful dance numbers I ever saw.
This movie is a masterpiece. I would highly recommend it!
Gene is outstanding in every single movie he's in whether it would be a musical or something different. Look at his joyful expression. Love it!
Here's another movie he's in. I pretty sure everyone knows this gem.
You can't say no to Singin' In The Rain. It's iconic because it's funny, really well-written and also tear-jerking but in a good way.
Another great dancer is Fred Astaire, the colors in this card are unique to me. Easter Parade is also a one of a kind classic.
I suspect this is what Hellzapoppin' would've looked like if it was in Technicolor since the previous cards I showed you had accurate color styling.
I keep on coming back to this movie, it's simple and the introduction is one of the best. Should I watch more of Olsen and Johnson's comedies? Maybe. I also think Mischa Auer is an underrated and overlooked actor. He was in East Side of Heaven (1939) a movie I also remembered watching, he was funny in that film.
Now onto Crosby's films. I remember watching Anything Goes (1936) after I finished my first day of 12th grade. Good times, pretty solid movie entirely. The card is gorgeous.
I also wanted to watch White Christmas so badly and thankfully I bought a DVD at the flea market, it was a great film. All of the songs were outstanding. I also felt secretly inspired by this movie.
I don't know why but the way Danny dances in some of the music sequences, keep getting in my mind after watching this film for the first time. They hired the right actors for this film and to be honest, is the true christmas movie for it's time.
I found the story especially the introduction and final act to be impeccable and mature to watch. So much emotion yet entertaining all on it's own. It's not trying to get right into high spirit until it really wants to.
I was originally going to only post live action movies, but ey Old Disney is just awesome. You all know my love for both these films. The advertising for Ichabod and Mr. Toad was insane back then. You can notice the quote on the top left.
"BING and WALT wake up Sleepy Hollow with a BANG!"
I think it's funny and an amusing way to promote your movie in my opinion.
This is one of my favorite of the Three Caballeros lobby cards. This is adorable.
I started to like Crosby's work back in April of 2023, but my first movie I ever experienced from him was a somewhat public domain movie Road to Bali (1952). Just looking at the lobby cards from that movie already gives me nostalgia. It's a hilarious movie. It sucks I haven't watched all 7 of their movies. I only seen Bali, and Rio that's it. I had a huge influence on these movies because the humor and scenarios were easy to appreciate.
I recently re-watched Road To Rio and it feels so weird that it's in B&W considering how gorgeous Road to Bali looked in Technicolor but I still enjoyed alot of the comedy.
I knew little about Lassie, besides actually having an illustrated book of the character. I didn't realize they made feature films of her. I actually really liked the 1943 movie. It was wholesome.
The last lobby card for now. An American In Paris is a movie I'm planning to watch this week as of writing this. It looks like a movie I'll definitely enjoy!
This is what I like about old hollywood musicals, the sequences can be creative and really fascinating instead of a person just randomly singing out of nowhere.
They are sure fun, we got Gene Kelly dancing with Jerry in Anchor's Aweigh, Fred Astaire dancing on the ceiling in Royal Wedding, Kelly dancing with his alter ego in Cover Girl, and Ann Miller's Too Darn Hot dance.
I love alot of old entertainers, they feel more easy-going, and casual in their movies.
About two weeks ago, I finally got the chance to watch It's Always Fair Weather because it was on Max, and it was genuinely breathtaking and exciting. I loved it, it was a masterpiece.
The Baby You Knock Me Out song I could not stop listening to, it's easily the most inspiring songs of them all, but one of my favorites throughout the film was the split screen "Once Upon a Time" dance. My goodness, this was absoutely phenomenal. You really have to see this.
To me, this scene warmed my heart the most. You can tell how beautiful and extraordinary this is. You can see three of the men all by themselves singing out the song, it's timed impeccably, and comes to show you how you don't always need a deep complex, and dramatic moment in order to be magnificent.
As somebody who is continuing their journey on experiencing and expanding the creativity of these movies, this film alongside the songs I would highly recommend for viewers. I think at least one movie like Singin' In The Rain, and other grandiose movies Kelly, Astaire or Charisse star in should consider a must watch.
What I absolutely love about old movies is their timeless appeal and continuing influence on cinema itself, but what's especially so great about them is their certain vibe they're going with, you could get a simple action packed film, a genuinely interesting comedy and best, people dancing with their partners or a group of normal healthy living people.
Last week and this week I've been countlessly watching old hollywood sequences from movies I'm destined to watch in the future. If you were going to tell me what studio has the best films to date it would easily be MGM, all throughout the 30s-60s. Some of my favorite movies are produced by that studio and their color schemes are all gorgeous and creative. I recently watched The Band Wagon and despite some really talkative and interrupted sobbing here and there, this film was absoutely great with a masterful third act.
This is a screencap from that movie. This is what I'm talking about, the visuals. Nowadays I get kinda sick of movies being on that boring 2.55:1 aspect ratio. The 4:3 aspect ratio is my type of appeal.
Technicolor was also at it's best in the midst of the late 40s and 50s. I'm sure this film wouldn't overstay it's welcome if it was B&W cuz I love how films look when it looks real and alive, seriously when I watched some of the scenes in the old MGM films especially On The Town and Easter Parade, the colors looked handsome like I was sucked into the past real world.
They also hired some of the most flawless, fascinating, talented people ever. We got Judy Garland, Gene Kelly, Fred Astaire, Cyd Charisse, Ann Miller, Frank Sinatra, you name it.
I especially love it when the people I mentioned, two of them are paired together, it makes it even BETTER!
I live with these people, they're influential to me for a reason. I can describe these movies in a few words, they're just sweet, full of joy, and full of spirit, impressive.
This is a picture that perfectly fits with what I said. Look at the people in the background, Don't look directly at Gene, people are just casually walking, experiencing life itself, no phones, just a normal, exciting environment.
Look at these posters, when you look at them, you'll definitely be able to experience some fun, enthusiasm, and creativity.
MGM was also known for it's best cartoons, Tom and Jerry and Tex Avery.
It must've been a sensation to watch an amusing animated short film filled with slapstick, gags and comedic witty energy before a beautiful, eloquent movie starts playing and everyone is smiling.
There's alot of reasons as to why I admire dance scenes in old and especially newer movies, they fit into that spirited, enjoyment style.
I love seeing anyone dance, I love it's graceful movements and adds a layer of action.
Gene Kelly, Fred Astaire, Vera Ellen, Ann Miller, and much much more appreciated actors and actresses are big influences of mine, not because I want to dance just like them, I suck at dancing, but I love their artistic ability to just move in energetic and original fun ways, this scene from Three Little Words (1950) looks gorgeous. That's another thing, I don't mind B&W musicals, but technicolor is even better and full of more personality.
Whenever I watch any group of characters dance, I really glance through the timing and motion, the instrumentals in these also make the scenes alot more fun.
Just like animation, I can state what principles are used in these dance scenes, these people have lively energy in their soul, and so does most iconic cartoon characters.
It tends to have alot of timing and motion, making it easy to focus.
As well as exaggeration, which is my favorite of the principles.
I look into random clips myself by going onto Youtube playlists even though I didn't watch the feature film it was taken place. For example, I adored Ann Miller's Too Darn Hot segment. It would've been impossible for me to react to something like this if it weren't for good ol' YouTube. It's a great place to watch some classic clips for less than 5 minutes.
In this scene, Ann Miller strikes the screen with her pink glamorous outfit and swings her fan from time to time. It's such a beautiful scene in particular and if your wondering which movie it is, it's Kiss Me Kate (1953).
I would like to acknowledge about my other top favorite artistry and that's traditional 2D animation, do you ever see animated characters dance like real people do? Not a ton, but some can.
In most cases, it's what I'm striving for.
I love the appeal of animation like this.
The truth is I heard that Disney is bringing back 2D animation.
This is great news honestly, and it might be a comeback rise to Disney as a whole. While I do like the 3D animated films, they honestly have had countless sequels, and more complexity to them, now like I was saying, not bad at all in the slightest, but I'm definitely impressed that people are still caring about that good vibe and nostalgia in older Disney films, like I do. This also reminds me of other modern films this decade like Looney Tunes The Day The Earth Blew Up which was a masterpiece.
Anyways I'm back talking about dancing!
In rare scenarios, there has got to be a scene, that looks impossible to do, but is so gratifying, it's honestly alot of hard-work and professionalism to pull it off, this is from one of my favorite films recently, Hellzapoppin' (1941) as I previously written a small review on it, this is by far the most iconic part of the film, and I can definitely see why.
You don't get this much exaggeration and wild energy anymore, this stuff really interests me immediately, it's distracting yet, the second or few times I watch parts like this again, it's so smooth and pleasing.
Finally to end it off, here's a perfect example of studying the basics of good dancing. This is from the movie, Me And My Gal (1942) starring Judy Garland and Gene Kelly, 2 incredible and truly legendary people.
1 - Walk
This type of walk I could say has been done in almost every musical stage performance, it's genuinely flawless, and quite a cycle.
2 - Tone
The scene now focuses more on both Judy and Gene, that's only because it's matter of the staging principle.
3 - Flow and Posing
Now Judy and Gene take off their hats, this gives the entire performance more personality.
And there you have it. Here's the full video for a better view and experience.
I'll definitely be able to talk more about dance scenes I enjoy in old movies.
I was originally going to make something different this time but I wanted to focus more on Line Of Action, and that's my own influences of it. The previous post I was talking through the whole technique.
Here's a character that has alot of personality and great posing, Pecos Bill from Melody Time.
There's alot of vividly wacky stuff going on in the film, and this is one of the best segments, I especially really enjoy the action involved but this few seconds of astounding drawings really drew into me the most.
As he's ready to punch, he has a set of these scrawny arms and fists and to me I really love it.
Pecos has to be one of the most badass Disney characters I've ever seen in my life, this is him lighting a cigarette using a lightning bolt, uh that's just absoutely goshdarn cool.
Pecos Bill alongside other casts of expressive animated characters really fit Line Of Action extremely well, if they were stiff, they would be soulless.
Here's another stunning shot from an MGM cartoon you may all have heard of, Red Hot Riding Hood (1943). This has alot of anticipation and exaggeration, definitely lots of drawings of the same pose to make it stand out as something really cartoony.
Dancing is a key to using Line Of Action, it's so terrifying to see it badly-traced and floaty. It must be magic to animate a dance scene in a similar vain to old musicals and swing music videos.
I'm unsure if there was any sense of Line Of Action in some aspects of this scene in Donald's Crime (1945) but it's flawless nonetheless.
I'm striving to make something like this someday.
Great backgrounds and style choices!
This dance is re-used from Mr. Duck Steps Out by the way, it still works decently though.
Besides using Line Of Action in my drawings, it's still useful when it comes to other influences besides animation.
I have a love for dancers like Fred Astaire, Michael Jackson, The Nicholas Brothers, Mikhail Baryshnikov, Vera Ellen, and of course Gene Kelly.
I admire Gene's usual jump kick.
These are 2 of his genius poses to explore or practice drawing on your own!
I always would like to draw simpler shapes first to observe the overall static detail of the pose in order to make it look alive.
Here's another one of my favorite art influences that has a great sense of static but alive ability and Line of Action, the legendary Norman Rockwell.
I can thank Preston Blair for introducing me to this principle, I wasn't fully aware or interested in it until recently so it was very cool for me to be talking about it.
