Monkey Business (1952)

Sorry for the long delay. I've just had surgery and I finally feel well enough to just sit down and write. 

One of my pet peeves right now is seeing classic movies being packaged with huge pictures of Marilyn Monroe and she really doesn't carry that much weight in the movie. Sigh. This was the victim of such packaging. The main force and comedy power is Cary Grant and Ginger Rodgers.

Yeah, Cary Grant was pretty funny in this one. He did some great comedy stunts and was pretty likable. I will credit all that to the amazing Ginger Rodgers. Not only can she keep up the dancing guru Fred Astaire but she has amazing charisma and comedic timing.

"Monkey Business" is a simple,comedy movie. Grant plays an absent-minded scientist intent on finding the solution for youth. Rodgers plays his loving wife  who puts up with him. Monroe just plays a secretary...

Anyhoo, a monkey mixes some chemicals together that actually becomes the tonic for youth. First Grant drinks it and becomes this crazy youthful guy and then it wears out.Rodgers then drinks it for good measure and then they both drink. The movie follows their silly regression into youth and what they learn from it.

It's such a romantic movie. The antics that this married couple endured should have broke them apart once they come into their senses. But they still find reason and come to love each other even more. That's a huge comparison between "Youth and Old Age" that the movie makes. Youth does stupid things, adults are more reasonable. That's too simplistic and definitely begs alot of arguments but sometimes it's true. Sometimes.





This movie is littered with wonderful lines and scenes.The regression begins slowly and then wham! They're crazy teenagers! Grant is driving like a maniac and dressing stupidly. Rodgers is jealous and overly emotional.Combined,they chase each like little kids all over the board room.


This movie was just so much fun to watch. A simple, comedy between two great stars.


I would write more, but i'm starting to feel some more pain coming on. Toodles!

Follow the Fleet (1936)

Something about watching a Fred Astaire and Ginger Rodgers movie after a long day is just right. I figure it's because the films were meant to be made with a light edge because of the depression and all.

Whatever it is that makes watching the dancing pair a delight to watch, I admit to being exposed to only three out of the ten movies they made together.

The first I watched was due to a volunteer gig at the Aero theater. It was a double feature of "Follow the Fleet" and "Roberta".

The thing about most of these movies, is that there isn't really a story. It's just a backdrop for the main event, the tap dancing. These are amazing tap dancing moves. Long tap dance numbers. But amazing nonetheless.

"Follow the Fleet" was the first one I watched. It didn't have the greatest story but from what I remember, there is a sailor, Astaire, who tries to rekindle a romance with his old dancing partner played by Rodgers. Rodgers has a frumpy sister who she makes over. Once made over, Astaire friend begins to romance her.

A semi-romantic, comedy, with beautiful dance numbers would be the best summary for this movie.

Fred Astaire makes up for his un-Hollywood looks for his irresistible charm and phenomenal dancing. You just can't stop staring at his feet. I keep wondering if he ever twisted his ankles...

Ginger Rodgers is what makes the pair dazzle. She plays her characters with a sassy and sharp attitude. She's beautiful and fun. And the fact that she was able to keep up with Astaire is a pretty big feat.

Every time Astaire holds Rodgers as they glide around in circles, it just sends chills down my spine. Anyone who knows anything knows that dancing requires coordination, grace, and above all else, strength. Doesn't matter that Astaire wasn't the suave Hollywood leading man. He had the strength to twirl a girl around and make it look effortless. Sexy.

When Irene Dunn (another favorite classic actress) sang "Smoke Gets In Your Eyes"I was floored.There are no words to describe the deep emotions I felt when I watched that scene.



The song and dance number that really, really lift me away from reality was first watching "Lets Face the Music". It starts off really depressing as they glide across the dark floor. Little by little, you can see the pair lift their dark mood to a determined and strong moves. Something about the whole thing is powerful enough for me to chin up, buck up, and fight on!


Another cool tidbit about this movie?
Seeing a young Lucille Ball play a showgirl!

The Major and The Minor (1942)

I have no idea why I love this movie.

Ok, maybe I have just a few teensy weensy reaons why.

Brace yourself, it's another "aww-shucks- the hero-is -broke" movie.

A young woman named Susan played by Ginger Rogers(huzzah!) is completely, completely broke. She decides to go back home on the train to Iowa from New York. Except she only has enough money for the pre-inflation fare.So she comes up with a scheme to dress like a young girl to get half fare ticket.

(Pssst.....Ginger Rodgers was thirty in this movie.)

She's discovered by the train conductors and rushes into the nearest compartment. There she meets a nice young man named Major Kirby. He believes her to be a young girl and allows her to stay in it.

(Pssst....she's a thirty year old playing a young girl in pig tails....pig tails...)

She falls in love with the Major and decides to accompany him to the boys military school where he works. There she meets the Majors fiance and begins the odd love triangle.

The more she pines away for the Major, the more obstacles that get in her way. Obstacles like every single male student wants to date her. Everyone believes she's just a little teenage girl. Riiiiiiiiight.

Seriously, if this is the product of military school then I fear for national security.

She gets found out not by the Major but the fiance. The Majors fiance tricks Susan into revealing her true age by having her wear a beautiful ball gown.In what has to be the most awesome dramatic non violent cat fight I've ever seen. It's so simple but you feel the intense showdown between the two women.

Evil but understandable on the fiances part. Your essentially watching the point of view from the girl who steals the boy away. You should really be hating on this character, right?

Instead it is by the actinng power and charm of Ginger Rodgers that makes this movie a niche favorite. You can't help but cheer for her when she successully dupes a person. Rodgers is not only talented with dancing but also for her comedic powers. The part where she's a phone operator at the military school cracked me up.

There are a lot of clever sexual innuendos throughout the whole movie. There is the obvious pedophile nods but that is the just scratching the service.

I really scratch my head in this one. By all intents and purpose this movie is weird and disturbing. Plus, the story is very silly and unreal.Yet I really love this one.


Sometimes you just can't explain why you love somethings.

I think I'll blame the heat in rattling my head.