Thu 4/7 @ 7PM
While movies from World War II might seem like dispatches from another world to us today, there’s a certain off-kilter charm in period pieces like 1943’s The Gang’s All Here, the next selection in The Musical Theater Project’s Movies at Home.
When you see that it was directed by Busby Berkeley, famous for his extravagant choreography that arranged dozens of chorus girls in eye-popping formations and that one of his stars was the “Brazilian Bombshell,” Carmen Miranda, famed for her fruit chapeaux, you know we’re going way over the top here. And in fact, one of its most memorable numbers is “The Lady in the Tutti-Frutti Hat,” featuring Miranda in one of her signature hats, backed by 60 chorus girls waving oversized bananas.
Meanwhile, the “plot” is packed with staples of the era: New York nightclubs, deployed servicemen, a war bond rally and even a Fred Astaire/Ginger Rogers type identity mix-up that leads to romantic happiness. With Miranda as the bombshell, sweet Alice Faye as the romantic lead who gets the guys, and even an appearance by bandleader Benny Goodman and his orchestra as themselves, along with songs such as “You Discover You’re in New York,” “(I’ve Got a Gal in) Kalamazoo,” “The Polka Dot Polka,” and “A Hot Time in the Old Town,” this one is sheer fun.
As usual, TMTP artistic director Bill Rudman has posted an introductory video for you to watch on YouTube to share some things to look for when you watch the film. Then go rent or buy the film on YouTube, Amazon Prime, Google Play, Vudu or Apple TV. Then join Bill on Zoom on Thursday April 7 @ 7pm for a spirited discussion of the film’s qualities. It’s free and no registration is necessary.