Old time dazzle

[Deleted]

I'm not as old as some people might think, so I saw all of the following sequences only on television, when they were already considered to be vintage kitsch.

I could not disagree more. I think that Busby Berkeley and some of his contemporaries did some of the most dazzling sequences ever seen on film, and he did not have CGI animation or3D technology or even color film to do it.

It is suprising to me that nobody has made a remake of any of this stuff -- but maybe they just know that they will never top it.

[bixaorellana]

About your age -- I know you told me not to post your picture, but you're so cute here: click!

I have read that much of that glamor was offered as an antidote to the grimness of the great Depression. Also, audiences at that time were probably not jaded by special effects.

However, I agree with you that the yen for that kind of dazzle still exists. That's probably one reason for the enduring popularity of Michael Jackson's videos, which in their stylization and costuming hark back to that earlier era of lush production.

[Deleted]

Well, that has always been the whole point of Indian and classic Egyptian cinema as well -- to make people forget the misery of real life.

This celebration of the end of the drought in Lagaan is much more magnificent than what happens in real life.

[Deleted]

Egyptian star Shadia had some very serious "come hither" action in her hit song "Moment of Serenity." However, there is a bizarre bit of fowl play at the end.

[bixaorellana]

I can't get the last one to play. The one in Reply #2 reminds me greatly of 1950s Hollywood Bible extravaganzas, which never did it for me. Also, I can't help but think how it would have been improved by Buffalaxing. (www.youtube.com/user/woodbulb)

Do small moments of personal fantasy fulfilment count? I love seeing that in the movies, as here:



Now that I'm all educated on the subject, I can say with some authority that there is shocking transgression of urinal etiquette in that clip.

[bixaorellana]

Oh my goodness! If this isn't the most wonderful bit of serendipity, I don't know what is.
I was searching for something entirely unrelated to this thread, when I found this jewel:

[lola]

I agree those are great. Ginger's closeup scat in the Goldiggers is just almost too wild, but I love her outfit. I read that Fred hated that feathery dress in Cheek to Cheek.

I think Bollywood dances come closest nowadays. Love this stuff.