Reynolds and Maclaine, still on the go

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stuart.uk
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Reynolds and Maclaine, still on the go

Post by stuart.uk »

of all the female all round entertainers of the 1950s, the only two i can think of still performing are Debbie Reynolds and Shirley Maclaine.

in movie terms Shirley Mac is mainly known as a great actress, which is a pity because i think she's been one of the great song and dance girls of modern day entertainment. i have mixed views about her two musical movies The Can Can and Sweet Charity. however, while apearing alongside Bob Hope, Julie Andrews and Cleo Lane at the 1977 Royal Command Performance she stole the show from all the other artists singing from SC her theme song If The Could See Me Now in a black three piece trouser suit, which saw the pants ripped of at the end of the number so she could dance The Hustle with a male chorus. it was a breathtaking performance.

it's very easy to underrate Debbie Reynolds. in movie terms she had a quite time in the 70s, even though IMO she was at her most beautiful. however, by the 90s she started making some half decent movies again. while her most famous film is Singing In The Rain, i think she gave her greatest all-round performance in How The West Was Won, playing a farmer's daughter Lily Presott, who loses her parents on the trek west. so she returns east and makes a living on the American music hall stage. however, she returns twice to the west, once looking for gold with future hubby Gregory Peck, then as an old widow going to live with her nephew George Peppard and his family. Debbie was also outstanding in The Unsinkable Molly Brown
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Sue Sue Applegate
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Post by Sue Sue Applegate »

The Unsinkable Molly Brown is one of my favorite Debbie Reynolds movies.

I enjoy the songs so much, plus Harve Presnell was kind of cute!
But Debbie is always great in a spunky role!
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JackFavell
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Re: Reynolds and Maclaine, still on the go

Post by JackFavell »

I just recently saw How the West Was Won, and I was very impressed with Debbie's performance. She was thoughtful, underplayed throughout, unlike some others in the cast. Maybe I'm showing a lapse in taste here, but I really like her in Divorce American Style too.

Shirley MacLaine was excellent in a series of musical specials in the 70's, I still remember them fondly, along with those by perky Mitzi Gaynor and Ann Margret.
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