The Band Wagon (1953) + Other Movies

 

Well, it's that time of month, Happy Holidays everyone! 

Anyways, I want to start fairly normal right now. It's officially been a year since I did a series of posts that were ideas for an Artmania Christmas Special and to be honest, I'm not exactly sure about the whole thing. I changed my style a little more and became less keen on movies without a coherent plot whatsoever.

Recently I went on [FILMGRAB] and was inspired by pictures online, they felt like the best bits from the actual movies. 

It's been exactly 5 months since I last watched The Band Wagon (1953), it's still mostly phenomenal work to this day despite some of the characters. 

MGM musicals. While there isn't too much structure, their Technicolor movies are beautiful and have the best songs in cinema, that's why I easily like them especially when they create novelty sequences most of the time. 

This movie is well-known for the third act. It's like nothing you'd ever see in older movies, so much effort and creativity, yet it moves at an equitable pace. Look at the red staircases and the camera angle. It's satisfying.

 

Here's another example from The 39 Steps, I bought it on DVD and it did not look like the scenes above mostly because I bought it at the flea market and expected it to be somewhat decent. 

This movie has great cinematography. However, I just wasn't too amused by the rest.

I was slightly disappointed after watching the movie because I expected something more cruel, and frightening, it's mostly mellow and doesn't have too much storywise which is why it didn't really do anything for me.

Now am I judging or criticizing these films harshly? No. These were products at the time, and it's fair for me to express my opinions on a certain film. I have not once ever watched a film that ruined me ever, none of the films I watched wasted my time because why is that a considerably good thing to say? Nothing is a waste of time, it's part of learning and knowing your perspective.

I honestly like experiencing new things almost all the time. I would never know whenever I like a film or not. Here's another B&W movie, Winter Light (1963). It's a better paced film than The 39 Steps (1935). Realistic dialogue, a story that expresses real situations and events and more focus. It's a great film with a mix of Christian imagery.

Now if you mixed Winter Light and The Band Wagon simultaneously, it's something I would equally be interested in creating the most.

The Band Wagon (1953) has magnificent color schemes while Winter Light (1963) has phenomenal acting and pacing.

I don't remember everything from The Band Wagon, but this reminds me of Fantasia (1940) I have no idea if this was supposed to be animated, not gonna lie I doubt it but I could imagine it like that. The two-tone colors are incredible, it could give a more abstract meaning on what's behind the situation or thought just like with Gene Kelly's fantasies with films like An American In Paris, and Anchor's Aweigh.

I wouldn't change everything with my Christmas posts from last year. I felt like some of the concepts would work perfectly.

Dredd The Moose at the start would come along and sing White Christmas to homeless men. 

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Leftovers

 

Been busy these past few days, so here's some drawings I done recently.

Since I love simple plots, real characters and good music, I decide to make something similar to what I admire, titled Dance of The Red Heels. 

Most of the musicals I tend to enjoy the most feature more creative and original ideas. Stuff like the alter ego dance in Cover Girl (1944) are true masterpieces, couple more mentions are the disembodied hands with Ann Miller in Small Town Girl (1953) and the ceiling dance in Royal Wedding (1951). 

No one could dare touch scenes like those ever again and to be honest with you, it's kinda disappointing. People could make stuff like that happen with the use of technology, and it's getting more advanced and visually stunning, so we're just not gonna care and only use A.I, explosions, inappropriate content and unnecessary cuts? 

I remember liking fairytales and Mother Goose fables because they were straightforward and endless. Goldilocks and The Three Bears is easily the most iconic of them all. Looney Tunes, heck MGM made a cartoon around the fable. I designed Goldilocks already, here's concept art for the three bears. 

If you seen my post of the Bonjour Paris scene in Funny Face (1957), you probably seen this image. But I'm gonna show it the second time anyway.

I thought about a hot-headed self-controlled character like Ox Fisher to create, I had fun with this.

Here's some information of Szac's hillbilly family. I included some outlandish text for entertainment purposes. 

Here's some sketches I did on my old sketchpad. I've been looking into old animation drawings lately and I use those for inspiration. Been loving it. So here's my favorite characters to draw. The Wolf alongside Cauliflower.

This is a drawing I really like that I made a few years ago.

And finally some Szac sketches.

Bonjour Paris Scene In Funny Face (1957) + Art-Mania Tour

 

Funny Face (1957) is one of my favorite movies. After re-watching a few moments, my favorite is easily the musical sequence titled Bonjour Paris. It's a beautiful song that has a ton of gorgeous and massive camera angles. 

I missed when movies had more of an unlimited approach at showing nature, and different areas to explore. Nowadays what I'm seeing is movies that barely show us atmosphere and natural schemes, plus overwhelming bored characters and cashgrab sequels and remakes, not saying that all movies have that but it's been more common.

I know that the 30s-50s movies were not perfect either, alot of the trends would be predictable love stories or other over-used genres, but when some movies are good and creative, they go a long way to become masterpieces like Singin' In The Rain, and the overlooked Hellzapoppin'.

But what I think is missing from that excellence of creativity is expression not limitation. I never believed that creating something will lead to restrictions until I was fully grown to critques and reviewers on YouTube.

I imagined Art-Mania to be an entire universe. I listed land areas and locations, giving you more information about what it truly holds. 

Split Screen Technique in It's Always Fair Weather

 

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.

Funny Face (1957) Opening

 

I recently watched Funny Face (1957) and it was such a glorious and beautiful film. I would recommend you watching it. This movie was made by Paramount and it felt like an MGM musical. I admired all the songs and the aesthetic was memorable.

This movie was truly 50s. Everything about it feels like that decade alone.

I find the opening really unique and interesting so here's some screencaps.

Recognize these names? 

This feels abstract but in an appropriate way. It feels like the opening to films like One Hundred and One Dalmatians and how they used surrealistic patterns and textures throughout it. 

This movie especially the first and second acts uses alot of photography and effects. I never experienced something like this before. They even showed a scene of Astaire in a dark room similar to the ones we painfully experienced in school when I was in 10th grade. Thanks movie.

This is pretty cute. I like their hats and the camera angle choice.

This is stellar. Probably my favorite one.

I like this bit. The magnifying glass is quite satisfying here.

Gotta love Technicolor.

What's extremely minimalistic...

Turns into something simply exquisite fast. 

I love this type of stuff. It's old cinematic magic at it's finest.

The rest of the movie is filled with emotion, experience and great characters. I was fully invested in what was going on in this film. My favorite moment was in the He Loves and She Loves sequence when both Hepburn and Astaire slowly walk in a garden. Its about half a minute long and it feels like a dream. I also loved the Bonjour Paris song.

Louisiana Hayride

 

While I watched The Band Wagon (1953), there was this one musical number I remember being amused by the most.

All the songs are great but this in particular is often overlooked. 

In my opinion, this is high spirited cinematic energy done at it's absolute finest. Have a watch.

I adore it. I love the brashing colors, the energy and the people are seeming to have fun with it all. It's great natural cinema for the 50s.

You can already tell that the song is going for an upbeat mood, I love the environment they chose here.

People are skipping to the beat, this style of music, I don't know what to call it but it's extremely nice and beautiful.

Every background character has a distinctive personality by the way they walk and greet each other, great selection of fashion too.

Now everyone is about to join in on the hayride. 

I also have to mention some of the background characters having actual names and each one of them has a unique manner on saying "Here". I love this part, it's so goofy.

Things start to get faster, and more energetic, this is my favorite part of the entire thing. Everyone has momentum force in each and every dance they pull off. 

The final few seconds ends with the stage lights fading away, and mainly focusing on all the hayride members, they still shine the mood though by raising their hands until the song is officially over. 

As of writing this, The Band Wagon (1953) is available to watch on Max, which is where I watched it from, I don't want this gem to be removed off the service. I would highly recommend you watching it if you haven't, at least the more amusing bits like the dancing and third-act.