Musical Watch: It's Always Fair Weather (1955)

Watched:  03/27/2025

Format:  TCM on DVR

Viewing:  Second

Director:  Stanley Donen/ Gene Kelly

It's Always Fair Weather (1955) is a weird and wildly uneven movie.  It's either having an astounding number like the whole sequence in the boxing gym where Cyd Charisse seems like magic, or its three dudes boring me to tears with their individual issues.  And, yes, I'd seen it before.

I get that the movie is trying to replicate the trio of guys from On the Town, and, according to IMDB trivia, that was the original plan, but Sinatra was having his studio issues, and Munshin was on the outs with Hollywood.  

But I think if this movie had just been about Gene Kelly's character, it would have worked a heck of a lot better.  Or if it had been able to bring back all six of the characters - sure.  Instead, we get this weird "men in crisis" story that just kind of lacks charm and even feels depressing.  

As a highlight reel, it's worth recording and fast-forwarding through to when Cyd Charisse shows up, and all of her scenes as that's when it seems like they know what to do with the movie - this part makes sense.  And it's kind of a neat look at men reacting to a career-minded woman in 1955 and appreciating her.

Gene Kelly's rollerskate number is insane, and a lot of fun.  

I will be honest and admit the only thing I really remembered from this movie was Dolores Gray and that the film is absolutely making fun of television - which movie people found beneath them until, really, HBO invented prestige TV.  

It's Always Fair Weather is one of a very small number of movies in which Dolores Gray appears.  She was a showbiz baby, and performed on radio and in clubs from a young age - kind of the opposite of a nepo baby when mom and dad are like "we sing and dance in this family if we want to eat".  Apparently in 1943 she was having coffee somewhere and got caught in a drive-by shooting, taking two in the chest.  Two months later she was back performing.  That is a work ethic, pals.

Apparently *I* may like what Dolores Gray is doing here (she's funny, sings and dances like crazy, and I like a good Colgate smile), but she didn't really get a career in Hollywood, winding up on Broadway.  She also was on variety shows and had multiple appearances on the Ed Sullivan show.  But she's mostly forgotten, I guess.

For some reason, my YouTube algorithm decided I needed to see some of the Ed Sullivan videos,* and it's how I wound up watching this movie.  When the clip of Gray from this movie came on, I couldn't really remember the plot and was like "it has Cyd Charisse?" forgetting this was the movie with the boxing sequence.

The plot basically hangs on the idea that Cyd Charisse is a producer for a late-night show in which Gray's character sings, dances and shills soap and soda pop.  She finds three ex-GI's who have returned to New York for a 10 year reunion since they were discharged after the war.  They find they no longer get along, but she needs a surprise guest for the show as Gray's character does a little "this is your life, have a coupon" bit, and they need to wrangle the three guys til showtime.

I am unsure, but it sure felt like they basically cut a whole part of the movie with Gray and one of the guys, either for run time or it just didn't work.  But you can feel the snobbishness in how TV is treated, but that doesn't mean Gray isn't funny as hell.  Apparently she's doing a pastiche on Dinah Shore.  

According to IMDB trivia, Kelly was a jerk through filming (something he had a reputation for, I've gleaned), and this marked the end of his co-director relationship with Stanley Donen.  I do guess this impacted the quality of the film.

Anyway, I don't recommend the whole movie, just clips.  So here you go.

Charisse in the gym

Kelly on skates

Midnight with Madeline

*my algorithm is inscrutable