Hello Friday: Seven Brides for Seven Brothers

this is a toughie. there are some that i can still watch from ye olden days, and some that make me vomit in my mouth a little bit. carousel is one that makes me throw up. i call it "domestic violence: the musical."

beautiful music makes these shows tough to rally against, i think, cause folks want to hear the songs and not really engage with what they're saying. i include myself in that for some musicals. example: i love the song "baby it's cold outside," but when you listen to the lyrics, it's totally distressing.

even liberal women's college graduates are allowed their olde-timey misogynist entertainment. everyone draws their own lines in the sand.

The same argument about misogyny is often made of the ending for KISS ME KATE (and it's Shakespearean inspiration.)

As for favorite musicals, give me SWEENEY TODD or A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC any day. People should wander around all day humming Sondheim. And THE FANTASTICKS is such a beautiful little show, too.

I love Gypsy and Three Penny Opera the mostest, but ETC, there is nothing wrong with loving 7B47B…you could have said something REALLY horrible like Cats or Spamalot and then we would have to talk.

I directed a production of Kiss Me Kate (which I love) onstage & found a way to soften the impact of the misogyny that was quite moving.

I think my fave movie-musical is Cabaret. And Singin' In the Rain is pretty amazing.

I love 7 Brides — and I thought Jane Powell's character helped soften the misogyny a little. I have a lot of guilty pleasure movies. If we're sticking to old movies and musicals, I would have to say Holiday Inn with Bing Crosby. I loved it as a kid and watching it as an adult I now realize it is incredibly racist and even includes a black face routine, but I still love the music and the Fred Astaire/Bing Crosby rivalry stuff is hilarious.

I came late to 7 Brides, but it's so enchanting that it's hard not to love (even with the kidnapping, sexist stuff)

The most ridiculous movie that I always watch when they play it on TBS is "Save the Last Dance" It's ridiculous and over-acted and the plot is banged out with a hammer. It is nothing like most movies I love and similar to many movies I mock, but it always gets me. How embarrassing!

I love love love Christmas Story, but as an adult, I am torn about the scene in which Ralphie frames his friend Schwartz for having taught him the F-word then over the phone we hear Schwartz being beaten by his mother. What I'm most bothered about is that it didn't bother me until someone else pointed out how offensive it is.

The Fantasticks also has a lot to answer for, with its Rape Ballet. I was in The Fantasticks in high school, and during rehearsals we were constantly second-guessing. "Really? It's called the Rape Ballet?" It's the same kind of rape as the Sabines, but it still rubbed us wrong, even as teenagers who were otherwise enjoying being in the musical.

Secretary.
it goes against everything i hold true.
from the chronic need for humiliation, to the desperate wedding dress scene…
it makes me want to knock peoples heads against walls with frustration.. arent we women stronger than that??

and yet.. i watch it and watch it and watch it.
fascination on my face and social disintegration in my heart.

Re: A CHRISTMAS STORY – it isn't a musical, so its inclusion in this discussion perplexes me.

Also re: THE FANTASTICKS and the "rape" scene/ballet – as explained in detail by the characters in the show, they mean the classic/traditional meaning of "rape" as in "to carry of" – even in the "Rape Song" El Gallo details exactly what will happen, all non-sexual. Remember, Matt is supposed to interrupt Luisa's abduction and save her in order for the two to be united – that's the whole point of the first act. And to appease the squeamish, the creators even wrote an alternative version of the number called "Abductions" which is set to the music of the rape ballet.

Face musical (and no guilt) hands down bar none: Jesus Christ superstar. Easter tradition for my wife and I. The fly girls and judas in white fringe singing title song at end not to be missed. Much great music and actually a somewhat profound take on that great myth.

Frankly, I get sick of all this "sexist" nonsense about SEVEN BRIDES. Nothing could be further from the truth; the whole movie is about Adam (Howard Keel) learning what a jackass he's been. Milly (Jane Powell) says "He's got to learn he can't treat people that way," and from the moment he and the boys get home from their raid, Adam knows he's in the wrong and is just too proud and embarrassed to admit it — you can see it plainly in Keel's performance. And as for that "Stockholm Syndrome" nonsense, gimme a break. The girls are clearly in love with the boys and have chosen them decisively at the end of the barn dance; it's just that the kidnapping sets all six courtships back, along with Adam and Milly's marriage, for which the boys and Adam must all atone — which, in the end, they do.

Milly is the obvious heart and soul of the movie, a strong, no-nonsense woman who knows what she wants, goes after and gets it, and doesn't take an iota of crap from anybody. When she's right, she stands her ground and says so, even when she's outnumbered by men twice her size, and she gets them to back down every single time. Misogynistic? Good God almighty, PAY ATTENTION!!! Now look at SEVEN BRIDES again without your silly academic blinders, enjoy it for the wonderful movie it is, and stop feeling so damn guilty about it.