Part of what Donen did was assisting a dance director named Jack Donohue, and from what I've seen of his work (Best Foot Forward, which Donen definitely worked on), a lot of choreographic elements that Donen and Kelly used were developed in part with him. Donohue was also the dance director of a number of early Kelly…

My point is that Minnelli directed Brigadoon and the dance numbers really suck (much like many of the ones in The Band Wagon), which is why Brigadoon flopped and Seven Brides for Seven Brothers got a Best Picture nom.

I don't necessarily see Donen as the audience surrogate. Donen's contribution to their collaboration was extremely important; Kelly could dance, but Donen made the camera dance with him. No other director in movie musicals at the time (or since) could make a number as compelling as Donen.

I reckon the story of Carousel would make a more interesting movie than the story behind Oklahoma! With more of a Topsy-Turvy vibe, it would look at what happens after you make a great success. It could open with Rodgers conducting the 1000th performance of Oklahoma!, and go from there through to the opening night.

Maybe some of them are Kiwis pretending to be Aussies.

This week I watched Quick Change and The Texas Chainsaw Massacre.

Yeah, though he does say there are elements of Yvonne DeCarlo's career in there as well in Finishing the Hat.

One of the strong points of MacLaine's "I'm Still Here" is that she sings it mostly in time, unlike the talk-sing interpretations most "saucy" old broads do.

Actually, I think he may have watched the 1934 original, not Sirk's remake (which is a really good movie).

This week, I watched chilly, detached art movies with L'Avventura and The Piano Teacher.

I looked him up afterwards. He wrote "Up Where We Belong", so he's definitely among the best at what he does. I just thought it was a little unnecessary.

Does your bard have a Scottish accent too?

This week, I watched Starman.

That's one of my favourite parts about re-watching the Simpsons as I get older and know more film stuff. Entire episodes sometimes click into place.

It's been a busy couple of weeks, so I haven't watched too much. To Be or Not to Be and Cats Don't Dance are it, so I'll write about both.

Funnily enough, this means they'll both be regulars on CBS shows this year.

I didn't know we could do that…

This is pretty belated, but I listened to the Adding Machine recently, and quite liked it.

I always find that reaction interesting. I find the story to be very moving, and not particularly insulting or misogynistic. Certain dialogue choices could be quibbled, but to me, it doesn't play that way.

I'd put Carousel as one of my top three musicals (along with Sweeney Todd and She Loves Me/Porgy and Bess), while I find South Pacific a bit of a slog through the second act. However, with crappy singers I could see Carousel being boring.