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dammit! forgot to record folies bergere!

Was well worth recording--just watched it: Ann Sothern unbearably gorgeous, & Merle Oberon, other-worldly exquisite. Songs unmemorable, but Chevalier (to whom I'm ordinarily luke-warm) in top form.

Hard to believe Chevalier's "dancing' in the rain" number was not the inspiration for Gene Kelly's! Different songs, but the "splash-dance" with umbrella seems just too similar to be coincidental.

I love this film. Chevalier in the dual role is great fun, and even Merle Oberon, who wasn't a natural for comedy, does OK. The musical bits are enjoyable and yes, I can also see the parallels between the Chevalier and Kelly numbers in their respective films, surely not a coincidence?

didi-5 wrote:... even Merle Oberon, who wasn't a natural for comedy, does OK.

Perhaps not a natural (like Sothern), but my two favorites of hers actually are (refined) comedies: That Uncertain Feeling & Divorce of Lady X. However, she needn't do much more than stand before the camera to please me.

The credits on the print read "Folies Bergere De Paris."
Don't know if this was mentioned in the intro,
This was one of those at the time made in an alternate, French version with Chevalier repeating opposite
Nathalie Paley. Barbara Leonard who was fluent in several languages also repeats

filmnotdigital wrote:The credits on the print read "Folies Bergere De Paris."
Don't know if this was mentioned in the intro,
This was one of those at the time made in an alternate, French version with Chevalier repeating opposite
Nathalie Paley. Barbara Leonard who was fluent in several languages also repeats

Osborne related the tale of Zanuck's efforts to include topless showgirls in the French version...until beaten into submission by implacable Joe Breen.