Blue Skies

source: Blue Skies

Fred Astaire plays a disc jockey telling the story of his career through a bunch of old Irving Berlin recordings. It appears he was once a great Broadway star in love with a chorus girl (Joan Caulfield) but that relationship ended once crooner pal Bing Crosby won her heart and married her. Astaire, now spinning records on the radio for some mysterious reason, has a secret motive for his tale, which you have to wait until the last record is spun to find out. This is a tale involving alcoholism, major egos and fatherly neglect. To see Astaire getting tipsy and then going on stage to do a musical number is strange to say the least. It's one of the most disturbing images in films. The songbook is mixed with familiar tunes ("Blue Skies", "Heat Wave", "Puttin' on the Ritz", even a bit of "White Christmas") and obscure songs that hadn't been pulled out of Berlin's sheet music trunk in years. There's probably a reason why those songs aren't classics today. For my taste, "Easter Parade" was the best of the Irving Berlin songbook films, while "There's No Business Like Show Business" comes a close second. Astaire's dapper "Puttin' on the Ritz" is the best known routine from this film. "Young Frankenstein" fans won't be able to resist adding their Peter Boyle impression (as I didn't). All in all, I felt the film overlong and a bit dull, although Crosby's rendition of "Blue Skies" (and its filming) is quite lovely. Billy DeWolfe's portrayal of a housewife visiting a nightclub for the first time is embarrassing, and the Crosby/Astaire vaudeville routine is extremely dated, even by 1946 standards.

... but thankfully it was not. Having worked since he was a child, Astaire decided that he was tired and wanted to retire. He announced that Blue Skies was going to be his last hurrah. Fortunately for us, Gene Kelly had to bow out of Easter Parade and he managed to coax Astaire out of retirement to take over. Astaire's career was revitalized and he went on to perform into his 80s. At any rate, here both male stars are in love with the same woman (Joan Caufield in this case). I like the pairing of Astaire and Crosby. Their respective talents play well off each other, especially in their "A Couple of Song and Dance Men" performance. There are so many songs that show up in Irving Berlin musicals that I didn't even realize were Irving Berlin songs. Crosby performs "(I'll See You in) C-U-B-A." I must say that I prefer Desi Arnaz' rendition. Crosby sang it too slow for my tastes. One of the supporting players, Billy deWolfe, was funny enough. However, I wasn't a fan of his shtick when he was performing sans Crosby or Astaire. He had one bit that went on for quite some time. He was portraying "Mrs. Murgatroyd." I was surprised that his routine was allowed to go on so long since it was just not that amusing. I did some research and found out that deWolfe was a popular comedian in the day and "Mrs. Murgatroyd" was one of his popular characters. Knowing that information, it put his performance into context and it helped make sense out of the attention his act is given in the film. The showstopping number was Fred Astaire's "Puttin' on the Ritz" number. The rest of the film is average, but Astaire's number makes the entire film worth watching. It is fantastic and a complete joy to watch. The filming and special effects involved in this routine are excellent when considering the production date. There was also another rendition of "White Christmas" which is always enjoyable. Oh, do notice that the lyrics to "Puttin on the Ritz", which was written for the 1930 film of the same name, have been changed to remove any perceived racial elements. The original lyrics talked about well dressed African American servants out on their night off. The version sung here mentions people who are "dressed up like a million dollar trouper trying hard to look like Gary Cooper". Not many people in 1930 would have known who Gary Cooper was. He was not a big star yet. At any rate, this film is where the change is first made. I'd recommend it, but just don't expect "Holiday Inn".

First off, this movie is not that great. Fred Astaire is the only standout, and the rest of the cast is just vanilla. However, one scene makes watching the entire film worth it. Anyone who does not know who Fred Astaire is should watch this movie for, most likely, his most famous dance scene. "Puttin on the Ritz" is performed spectacularly through amazing tapdancing and mirror effects and makes you wonder exactly how they did this scene. I suggest you watch, purely for this scene.

Even in something as dire as Second Chorus Fred Astaire lights up the screen so when Paramount re-teamed him with both Bing Crosby and Irving Berlin he wasn't going to do a lot wrong. Actually Paramount re-teamed him with Crosby, Berlin AND the same screenplay they shot in Black and White as Holiday Inn shrewdly betting that lightning would strike twice. Had they retained Marjorie Reynolds and deep-sixed Joan Caulfield we may well have been talking classic. As it is Fred Astaire is just about the only thing worth watching. Crosby has a few half-decent moments, Billy de Wolfe and Olga San Juan do their best but Caulfield just didn't turn up. Given how well they worked with a score by Berlin we can only dream of how sensational they would have been in a movie with words and music by Cole Porter.

This film starts off with Fred Astaire addressing folks over the radio. Oddly, he begins to tell people about his life with his two friends and there is a long flashback scene--where Fred looks EXACTLY the same age as he does when the film begins. It's also odd, as his character seems almost like it was inserted into the film late in the production--as the main story concerns Bing Crosby and Joan Caulfield. It seems that the three are Vaudeville friends. Fred is head-over-heels for Joan--and Joan is in love with Bing (who is reasonably indifferent for a while). Eventually, Bing and Joan marry--and you see VERY little of Fred through much of the rest of the film. It's a shame, as I really watched this movie for him more than anything else. Eventually, the new marriage goes on the rocks because Bing is too focused on success--much to the detriment of family life. Can these folks somehow make a go of it? Now considering it's a Hollywood film, I'd say the chances are pretty great they will--though if these were real people, you'd advise to Joan to get a divorce and be done with the louse! And what about poor Fred?! What will happen with this really swell guy? Well, what REALLY happens took me aback--as it appears as if she got BOTH of them by the end of the movie! "Blue Skies" is a film weighted very heavily towards singing and Crosby's talents. So, if you love his singing, the film will no doubt be more enjoyable--especially when he sings an abbreviated version of "White Christmas" (who could dislike that?!). However, I do think the film has one or two too many musical numbers and could have used from a bit more plot. As for me, seeing Fred get to play the #3 man and only dance a bit was sad--though his number "Putting on the Ritz" was terrific. One or two more of his numbers might have made the film a bit better. As for the story, it's pretty clichéd but enjoyable. A decent film but it could have been better--particularly if they'd made Bing's character more likable.

Wrong, "Blue Skies" lays an egg that would do a Kiwi proud. What went wrong? Simple, Joan Caulfield as "Mary." Don't get me wrong; Joan Caulfield was my first TV crush, even before Annette Funicello. However, "Mary" is a woefully underwritten part; and, as Caulfield plays her "barely there." Better to have the luscious Olga San Juan play Mary and eliminate Olga's character entirely. Perhaps given race relations at the time (Olga San Juan is Puerto Rican), the studio cowered away, and split "Mary" into two characters. Stupid, because both characters are two-dimensional. If race were the problem, why not save Olga for another movie and borrow Rita Hayworth from Columbia, Betty Grable from Fox, Ann Miller from MGM, Jane Russell from RKO (yes: she also sings), or even entrust the role to the studio's Betty Hutton? Further, why not flesh out the female character rather that waste several seemingly endless minutes of screen time with a pathetically unfunny Billy DeWolfe routine? Now for the good stuff; Crosby's singing, Astaire's dance, Irving Berlin's songs, Billy DeWolfe's short bits, Caulfield's beauty and sweetness, Olga San Juan's EVERYTHING, glorious Technicolor, beautiful sets and costumes. By the way, I once planned to update "Blue Skies" with Madonna songs, and have Madonna, John Travolta and Patrick Swayze play the leads. My biggest twist (and maybe why I found no interest in Hollywood), was to have the lovers' triangle revolve around TRAVOLTA. It's not too late, Hollywood! Kenny Ortega, are you listening? You've proved there's lot of young talent out there with "High School Musical". I give "Blue Skies" a pathetic "5" out of "10," based entirely on the musical numbers and visual splendor. Otherwise, sadly, it's a waste of talent.

I agree with most of the other reviews: This is not a great movie, story-wise. In fact it's quite a dumb story about a girl who can't make up her mind which guy she wants to marry. And I agree that Joan Caulfield adds nothing to the movie. Too bad they didn't use someone with more appeal. But it's fun seeing Bing and Fred together, and some of the songs are pretty good. But by far the main attraction is the Puttin on the Ritz tap number in which Fred Astaire once again out-does himself! This time, literally, with mirrored images... And the magically jumping cane had me going "Huh?! How'd he DO that???!!" I wish someone could take all of Astaire's dance numbers with Ginger AND with all the others and put just those on a DVD! Now THAT would be a great DVD to own! And would prevent us from having to watch some of these so-so movies just to get to the "good parts" where Fred dances and/or sings! All in all, though, this isn't that bad of a movie. Not nearly so bad as some of the other later Astaire movies. (Again, Fred was always good, but sometimes the supporting cast and/or the scripts were just plain bad.)

This is a film which takes you back in the late 40's when musicals where starting to fade from Hollywood Pictures. This film has many great film actors like Bing Crosby, Fred Astair, Joan Caulfield and Billy DeWolfe. Bing Crosby plays the role as( Johnny Adams) who is a night club owner and sings and dances on the side. Johnny is good friends with Fred Astair,(Jed Potter) who visits Johnny at his club and brings along his girlfriend Joan Caulfield,(Mary O'Hara) who seems to fall immediately in love with Johnny. There is plenty of great old time musical tunes by Irving Berlin and if you like to see Fred Astair dance all over he place, this is the picture for you. Gene Kelly was originally scheduled to perform in this film but was taken ill and Fred Astiar was called to take his place.

Sure it's the same old story of two showbiz guys fighting over the girl, but that's just an excuse to have fun with Fred and Bing. The two dance and sing several fine numbers throughout the film. And there's the added treat of music by one of the legendary composers. Irving Berlin provides his beautiful songs, including the Oscar-nominee "You Keep Coming Back Like a Song." Fred Astaire does his famous "Puttin on the Ritz" number, while Bing sings the title tune. The duo work well together as they did on "Holiday Inn" four years earlier. Billy De Wolfe has some funny moments in songs and sketches. Overall, a colorful and entertaining musical. Don't listen to those who'd turn you away just because the plot is kinda thin. What more could you want?