There are two basic options for family television viewing during the holidays, as everyone who still ventures back to their various heartland knows all too well. There's football -- sure! if that's your thing! -- or movie musicals. (I am not counting made for TV Christmas movies as a viable option for avoiding domestic altercations.)
I have the musical taste of an old queen -- my hands-down favorite of this ilk is Danny Kaye doing anything possible to avoid having to kiss a girl in White Christmas -- and way up on my list of ridiculous, improbable, totally offensive musicals is Seven Brides for Seven Brothers. It's a story based on the mass kidnapping of unwilling wives! It's hysterical!
It also has some of the best dancing to ever grace a big screen (and seven hot, hot brothers ready to throw down for the affections of said stolen women). The most famous of them is this barn raising sequence, and in honor of Michael Kidd, the choreographer, who died this past Sunday.
Watch it here:
That twinky, acrobatic boy in bright blue, by the way, is a fresh-faced Russ Tamblyn. And if you want to hear the raunchy outtakes from the musical recording sessions -- all of which are even gayer than the scenes where the boys learn how to court a girl by dancing with each other -- check out the special edition soundtrack.
Previously > Mel Brooks loves innuendo
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