HIGH SOCIETY - 1956

ARIES3032 · #**181** 04-11-2010, 10:49 AM

Especially the song "True Love". Would rather have heard FAS sing it. I have a DVD also of this movie and watch it quite often. I love the people, the music and the fun!

Barry · #**182** 04-11-2010, 11:43 AM

Nancy mentioned the "Tender trap". I seem to remember Sammy Cahn talking about how Frank altered the way it was written a little bit to make hitting a high note on the word " LOVE"...is the tender trap to highlight the word "love"...you know ...right at the end of the song :- " and LOVE.....is the ten er der trap"...then the music finishes it off..do da do da do da.....I can hear it now.
That's the magic of a master at work. He reads the lyric...interprets exactly what the story is telling you and alters things around to make it a statement of fact...musically.
Magic only happens when a magical guy creates it. Thanks for the memories Frank.

Nick_Bradley78 · #**183** 04-11-2010, 11:52 AM

Did Frank ever cover "True Love" on TV for example? I don't think so but wonder if so.

Set Avatar · #**184** 04-11-2010, 12:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nick_Bradley78

Did Frank ever cover "True Love" ?

No (see here). Nancy sang it (Sheet Music and see here).

Edwin · #**185** 04-29-2010, 06:24 AM

TCM offers "The Tender Trap" at 12:30 and "High Society" at 2:30 today.

voice1 · #**186** 04-29-2010, 06:54 AM

And I'll be working. Let me know how they turn out, Edwin!

SinatraFan · #**187** 08-09-2010, 01:00 AM

Anniversary bump: August 9, 1956

sschweiger · #**188** 08-09-2010, 05:07 AM

It's a great combination of Porter score, technicolor, and cast, but I enjoy "High Society" much more than the Kate-Cary-Stewart original.
And if anyone ever received an 'undeserved' Oscar for an earlier Academy oversight -- he should have won it for "Mr. Smith Goes To Washington" -- it is Indiana, PA's own great gift to the movies, Jimmy Stewart!

I'll take Porter, Crosby, The Princess, Frank, Celeste, Satch, & Louis Calhern, any day over Mr. Barry's sophisticated comedy!

**Marty** · #**189** 08-09-2010, 09:27 AM

High Society is a great entertainment to be sure, probably the high point of MGM's musical event movies and a peerless showpiece for the talents of its two male leads and the sophistication of Cole Porter's genius.

But on the down side, cinematically, its higher definition Vistavision format with the depth of field and clarity of pallete it's larger print size brought to technicolor stock is almost criminally wasted by a journeyman director on the mostly studio bound interiors and static stage bound action, save the luxurious library set which is vibrant and full of kinetic interest during the famous Crosby/Sinatra duet, the true highlight of the film. Though the film will certainly look beautiful when Warner Bros. get around to remastering the print for a Blu-Ray release.

Grace Kelly is fine but one can't help but feel her delivery is simply Hepburn by numbers and I can never watch the delivery of lines such as "English history has always fascinated me. Robin Hood, Cromwell, Jack the Ripper" without instantly comparing Grace to Kate's far more subtle delivery.

It sounds like i'm really down on High Society but truly i'm not, as a remake of one of Hollywood's true comic masterpieces it can't really compare favourably to an almost perfect original, however as a showcase for a host of late career Cole Porter words and music presented by two of his greatest interpreters, High Society rates in a class of its own.

Lourdes · #**190** 08-09-2010, 09:33 AM

One of my favorites films of all time.
Love the songs of this film.

gbb1288 · #**191** 11-17-2010, 04:45 PM

Turner Classic Movies will be showing High Society Sunday, Nov 21, 06:00PM Eastern Time...Enjoy!

CraigHochscheid · #**192** 11-24-2010, 09:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SinatraFan

I agree! Frank and Bing performing Well, Did You Ever! is the highlight of the movie. Another favorite scene of mine is when Frank sings You're Sensational to Grace Kelly.

Not only is Well, Did You Ever! the musical highlight of High Society, but, IMHO, it is perhaps the finest musical performance ever captured on camera!

ARIES3032 · #**193** 11-25-2010, 03:26 AM

Turner Classic Movies so good!! I also watched Esther Willliams.

sschweiger · #**194** 11-25-2010, 04:24 AM

As much as I love the "Well, Did You Evah" sequence, it isn't the finest (in my opinion) captured on film! Let's call it "ONE OF THE FINEST" and be thrilled with that! Here are a Baker's Dozen musical turns that might be grouped with the wonderful Bing-Frank-Porter moment:
(1) Frank & Gene's "I Begged Her" in 'Anchors Aweigh'
(2) Frank's 'Old Man River' at the end of ''Til The Clouds Roll By'
(3) Fred & Ginger's 'Cheek To Cheek' in "Top Hat"
(4) Fred & Ellie Powell's 'Begin The Beguine' in 'Broadway Melody of '40'
(5) Gene, Deb, & Donald's 'Good Morning' in 'Singin' In The Rain'
(6) Donald, himself, doing 'Make 'Em Laugh'
(7) Barbra's 'My Man' in 'Funny Girl'
(8) Michael Kidd's 'Wood-Chopping' dance sequence in "7 Brides..."
(9) Bing & Fred's "Couple of Song & Dance Men" from "Blue Skies"
(10) Fred, Nan Fabray & Oscar Levant's "That's Entertainment!"
(11) Judy & Fred's 'Couple of Swells' from "Easter Parade"
(12) Renee & C Zeta-Jones' 'Nowadays' from "Chicago"
(13) James Cagney's 'Yankee Doodle Dandy' from the great picture!

Frank & Bing's "...Evah" is deservedly right up there!

**Marty** · #**195** 02-08-2011, 06:00 AM

Coincidentally, Steinways produce a replica special edition of Cole Porter's original 1907 model B piano which has pride of place at the Waldorf Astoria, which is called the "High Society" I've heard tell one is on its way over here for repair in the next month or so, an opportunity to get a few pictures for those who'd have an interest. In the mean time here's our promo shot of the beast..