Jo March. Which is pretty much a given....if you take Professor Bhaer out of the equation. Which I never will. It's a bugbear that I can't relinquish. (More here.)
The other person was also fictional but from a television series. She was a character I loved from the beginning despite being a dictator who no sense of humour and a penchant for over sized cardigans, short flouncy skirts and tights. Her name was Lynda Day and she was a pocket rocket on a power high. I adored her. The editor of The Junior Gazette, she was my role model as a tween onwards. A girl who was smart, driven and wouldn't take no for an answer. She was a bulldozer in Doc Martins.
Press Gang was a British television show that ran from 1989 until 1993. It was broadcast on the Australian Broadcast Company (ABC) every afternoon as part of the children's programming block. The premise of the show was a famous investigative journalist starts editing The Gazette and sets up a junior publication. Students managed the paper in the hours before and after school. The staff was made up of a mixture of the highly academic (Lynda, Sarah, Kenny) and the delinquents who were forced to use their time productively (Spike, Frazz, Colin). The running arc was the day to day operations of the newspaper plus the Lynda/Spike relationship with self contained investigations each episode.
While I adore Spike...I will watch Dexter Fletcher (the British actor who spoke with an American accent the entire run of the show) in anything - it was also the Lynda show for me. While she was on occasion called a bitch, not undeservedly at times, she was a compelling character. Brittle, feisty and completely lackingthe ability to socialise. She was fascinating in her sheer power of will.
The show was smart and well ahead of the times. I still remember their episodes on teen suicide and huffing with clarity. The idea for the show was formulated by an Glaswegian head master and pitched to ITV. The head master was Bill Moffat. When the pitch was picked up, he recommended his son (Stephen Moffat) a twenty-five year old English teacher write the script. Stephen wrote it, they LOVED it and the rest is history. Twenty years later that man is the head writer for the BBC's Doctor Who, Coupling and the upcoming movie The Adventures of Tin Tin.
Today I read that Sawalha and Moffat continue to talk about a reunion and it is my fervent wish that this happens. I want to see where Lynda is today, with or without Spike. She's compelling enough on her own!
Being able to break out in song ....in key has been a dream of mine since before I could see over the kitchen table. So watching people express their emotions through song has always been a two edged blade - one that cut and made me smile.
Here are some of my favourite musical moments in cinema:
Easy A - Knock on Wood
Didn't make a huge amount of sense other than you should always break into song if you can. A great tribute to John Hughes and female empowerment in this snarky tale.
Ferris Buller's Day Off - Danke Schoen
Only this movie could have made a Wayne Newton song cool. While the whole parade scene is fabulous - I am much more fond of Danke Schoen lip syncing for some unknown reason. Matthew Broderick's commitment to singing those lyrics is a joy to behold.
"Thank you for Central Park in fall".
Mary Poppins - Feed The Birds
Such a melancholy song that just tugs at you. Always loved it even as a young tucker. After looking it up on wikipedia I read this "Walt Disney himself made the unusual request that the bird woman, though a non-speaking part (except for one line, stating the first line of the song's chorus), be a cameo by one of his favorite character actresses, Academy Award winner Jane Darwell. In her mid eighties and semi-retired from acting (she took episodic guest appearances about once per year in television shows), Ms. Darwell had recently moved into the Motion Picture Country Home due to her advanced age and feebleness. Needing neither the money nor the screen credit she declined the role. Walt Disney, still insistent, personally drove to the retirement home to plead with her. Charmed and flattered that she was so wanted, she agreed to take the part. Walt later sent a limousine to bring her to the studio. It was her last screen appearance or acting role." Beautiful considering it is a story about giving.
The Hangover - Stu's Song
Why the heck not?
Meet Me in St. Louis - The Trolley Song
Judy Garland...heaven
Oklahoma - Surrey With A Fringe On Top
This musical was my introduction to show biz. I was in grade one and the high school was recruiting for their production of Oklahoma. I got to dress up as a chook to dance around the surrey for two nights at the Burra Community School production in the town hall. Ahh memories. I honestly can't remember all that much other than wearing black gloves with sequins on them....that and having a ball amongst all the older kids.
It's a musical I've always loved (but FF'ed through the ballet section). I believe my love of the bad boy might have started with Jed - I was always quite taken with him and I have no idea why. He's kind of gross and depressing. My favourite character was always Ado Annie!
10 Things I Hate About You - Cruel To Be Kind
"...in the right measure". Oh boy. This plus Heath Ledger's serenade of "Can't Take My Eyes Off Of You" = swoon-ville.
I can't NOT put Heath Ledger up now -
My Best Friend's Wedding - Say A Little Prayer
Just makes you wish you were sitting at the table joining in! I love how low and ridiculous Rupert Everett starts and how bad pretty much everyone is at singing. This is what a family singalong is traditionally like - tone deaf.
Mamma Mia - Waterloo
I am sorry but seeing Colin Firth singing in lyrca just has me in fits. He committed so wholeheartedly to being atrocious that I could help but love him more. Don't believe me, look at his high stepping entrance - brilliant! Unlike hearing Pierce Brosnan singing which has me clawing at my ears.
Fame
I've watched this one since before it was appropriate. I had no idea why Coco took her shirt off or what happened to Raoul's sister but I loved two songs more than life itself. Body Electric - it's just bliss, everything in my body relaxes when I hear this song. The opening singer looks scarily like Anna Kendrick as well.
But my favourite is 'Is It Okay If I Call You Mine?" the actor Paul McCrane (who became the armless and bald Dr Romano on ER) wrote this song and it's just filled with yearning and sadness. Very close to my heart.
Beaches - Otto Titsling
For some reason this tune has been popping into my head at the oddest moments of late. Very catchy!
As someone who is devoid of rhythm, I've always been oddly fascinated by those who can dance. Part of it was my formative years watching the simple steps of the Young Talent Time gang, part of it was the impact of watching musicals from an early age. That being said, if I were to be granted an ability right now - singing or dancing - I would go the former.
But dancing seems so far away from what I am capable of and so transformative that it is almost magical. This might explain why I will see pretty much an dance movie that is released on the big screen.
Here are a couple of my favourite dance routines from many years of watching :)
Seven Brides for Seven Brothers - Barn Dance
I love how dorktastic the acting and storyline is. I love the painted background canvas. I am weirded out that it's based on an Ancient Roman legend called (and I am not kidding) The Rape of the Sabine Women. I love that it's nearly so awesome that it's wonderful. Starting off with a traditional line dance it becomes increasingly athletic, daring and much much less about the gals. I also find it hilarious that it took two failed group thinks before they figuring out how to wrest the gals free of the town's gents! They totally get my respect back by using a leap frog to up the blandly dressed dullards.
As a kid I had a terrible crush on the red shirt brother (Frank played by Tommy Rall). I never remembered his name, just that the red dye didn't take as well on him as the others. After listening to the audio commentary (yes, I am one of those people) I found out that the reason we don't see the classically trained, exceedingly tall Julie Newmar dancing much is because her brother (the tallest dude they could find) wasn't a dancer but a basketballer!
And Mr Rall, I know you're 81 but I totally love you!
* Random fact - Blue shirt is the father of Joan of Arcadia's Amber Tamblyn.
Footloose - Prom Dance (apologies for the Italian version)
I LOVE this dance scene. The first reason is the finger crooking of the unknown extra at the beginning. The second is for Ren and Rowdy doing their little dance and thirdly everyone genuinely looks like they are having a blast. You can't help by laugh by the confetti smudging effect on the camera, Rowdy's bake and shake moves to impress SJP and how impressed Ren/Kevin Bacon is with his cocky moves (and stunt dancer flip). It's shameless, it's self-impressed and it's purely 80s. I adore it (and still loathe Ariel, even though Ren's a bit of ick-fest anyway.)
While the fish eye lens and streamers can be distracting, it makes the simplicity of the footwork shots that much more brilliant. I love the sound of many feet hitting the floor in the same rhythm (just as long as it isn't river dancing). The brilliance of this scene is that most of the dance moves are completely within the capabilities of a normal person (except rubber dude and break dancer dude). Lastly, the 'everybody cut' sashaying in unison is classic.
Anyone else wonder where all that glitter is falling from?
Singin' in the Rain - The Rain Dance
It horrifies me to think that most kids introduction to 'Singing in the Rain' will be via Glee. It is an arts education in a poorly devised, inconsistent narrative barren forty minute episode. Matthew Morrison is NO Gene Kelly. Kelly might not have had the strongest voice but he danced with athleticism and panache. This is a classic.
I was tempted to add many more Kelly dances but there are only so many hours in the day. Good Morning is a favourite (I used to sing that to my class every morning in Japan) as is everything else that man/dancer/choreographer/director did on film. He was a genius.
West Side Story - Opening
Finger snaps all round! Brilliant choreography combined with brilliant direction combined to set the scene for the animosity between the Sharks and the Jets. While I never really cared for Maria and Tony I totally invested in the opening of this film. The co-directors Jerome Robbins and Robert Wise won an Oscar for their efforts and hired blue shirt (aka Russ Tamblyn - also wearing a blue shirt with mujacket in this scene) as the character Riff in this movie. Unfortunately, gangsters do move this gracefully in real life.
Mary Poppins - Step in Time
Are my musical roots showing? I recently saw the production of Mary Poppins and their depiction of this routine was phenomenal but I do love the original. Life isn't complete before a) you've heard Dick van Dyke's horrible cockney accent and b) you've seen chimney sweeps dance in unison. On re-acquaintance it is interesting to see the darkened dancers against a marginally lighter background, the contrast really works to show off their physicality. I do wish Mary hadn't joined in. I love Julie Andrews (she's up there with Noni Hazelhurst goddess status for me) but she's not a great dancer. Having seen this routine back to back I see many similarities with that of Seven Brides for Seven Brothers
If you could dance like this wouldn't you have joined the circus instead of sweeping ungrateful British sod's chimneys?
Dirty Dancing - Mickey and Sylvia
This movie came out when I was seven though I didn't see it for many years after. I made up for that during grade 11 when my boarding school housemates watched the finale dancing scene on repeat for a good term. No exaggeration, ten full weeks. I would complain more but the term prior was Titantic-themed.
There's just something so undeniable awesome about people writhing on the floor and lip syncing (this does not apply to anyone who ever was a Disney employee).
(500) Days of Summer - You Make My Dreams
It comes out of nowhere and I loved it. Halls & Oates + blue costuming + Joseph Gordon Levitt = sigh. Also, I am partial to a nonsensical marching band.
Centre Stage - Finale
Like whoa. Doesn't matter that I was in love with the bland Charlie (I was a teen, cut me a break), I LOVED this entire routine.
A Knight's Tale - Golden Years
In context it doesn't work but I love it anyway. It looks fun and easy so why not?
The Breakfast Club - The Molly Ringwald
I am fluent in both the Ringwald and the Allison shake down. I wish I could retain my balance on a ledge enough to do everything they do on theirs :)
I have missed many but what makes you want to dance?
