Oscar Got It Wrong!: Best Original Screenplay 1955

The Contenders:

The Court-Martial of Billy Mitchell
Interrupted Melody (winner)
It’s Always Fair Weather
Mr. Hulot’s Holiday
The Seven Little Foys

Ten Year Reunion

Films: It’s Always Fair Weather
Format: Turner Classic Movies on rockin’ flatscreen.

When I started this blog, I was a dedicated musical hater. My position has certainly softened in that respect over the last six-plus years. There are plenty of musicals that I like these days, but it’s still a genre that is more likely than most to leave me cold. When I think of a musical that doesn’t work for me, one like It’s Always Fair Weather is the kind that I tend to think of. And yet there are aspects of this film that really work for me. Does that mean I’m conflicted? Kind of.

We start in 1945. The war is over and a trio of soldiers has returned to New York. Ted Riley (Gene Kelly), Doug Hallerton (Dan Dailey) and Angie Valentine (Michael Kidd) show up at their favorite bar for a final night before going their separate ways. As it happens, Ted gets a “Dear John” letter that very night and goes on a bender accompanied by his two friends. They hit club after club and eventually wind up where they started at closing time. When the barman (David Burns) tells them that they’ll forget about each other, they make a pledge to return to the same bar ten years to the day at noon to reunite. The highlight here is a dance number the includes the three hoofing with a trash can lid attached to one foot.