Um, ok, this is a bit embarrassing but while we were hoping to discuss “Singin’ in the Rain” as this week’s entry in our “Didn’t Win. Didn’t Win. Didn’t Win” series, we, well I’ll just say it, we couldn’t afford the licensing fees (it’s very complicated; it would take an economist to explain it) BUT don’t despair, because we’ve got something even better: the 1954 Soviet Union. . . homage to this great musical, another great musical called “Make Song During Bad Weather For Praise of Glorious Soviet State.” Oh, it’s a delight! We’ve got Genikoff Kelski, the Dancing Tractor Mechanic, Danilov Conzokoff, the legendary singer/beet farmer, and the lovely, sturdily-built Devrachav Reynavek, former tank commander and Olympic silver-medal winning power-lifter. What a cast! And the songs! So catchy! In addition to the toe-tapping title song, there’s “Induce Happy-Making Laughing in Service of the State,” “It is a Good Morning in Glorious New Russia,” and of course, “You Are Required to Dance”! Who needs that Oscar also-ran from that hack outfit MGM? I mean, that turkey didn’t even get nominated for Best Picture! The only reason “Make Song During Bad Weather For Praise of Glorious Soviet State” didn’t win in ’54 was clearly blatant favoritism on the part of the bourgeoisie capitalist running-dogs of the Academy. Give a listen and find out what did win! [Ok, I wrote what you wanted; you’ll “take care” of Bumpy now, right?]
Poll question: do you like to know the “behind-the-scenes stuff” for your favorite movies or does that spoil the magic?
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I like to know the technical stuff and have no interest in behind the scenes drama, usually. As a kid i was fascinated by special effects and editing – two things i have done for for work now and then. I had a paperback book called “ Movie Magic” about special effects from the silents i think until the 70s. It disappeared but i found the hard cover for next to nothing and its still fascinating to me. While computers have made things more complicated and put movie making in the hands of practically anyone, i still find the hand made look amazing. I have pissed off a few people when i see a great practical effect and point out who thought it was real and did not want the illusion shattered. For me that knowledge adds rather than subtracts but i get no everybody feels that way!
Like you, I was really into SPX when a kid and loved “Cinefantastique” magazine, “Cinefex,” and basically anything about effects I could find. I remember when I found out that there’s a little R2D2 in the details of the mothership from CE3K and I always went looking for it, even though that ‘ruined’ the magic. Watching documentaries about effects still interests me though usually less so with CG unless it’s used in interesting ways, like the face shields in “The Martian.” Thanks, Vince!