Movies

”Can’t sing. Can’t act. Balding. Can dance a little.” This inauspicious quote about Fred Astaire’s early foray into Hollywood has been talked about for years. Fred, himself, said the quote was “Can’t act. Slightly bald. Also dances.” This obviously was not a good beginning for this extraordinarily talented man who helped lift the spirits and rescue the world from the …

Movies and music have always gone together.  Just think Flashdance and Saturday Night Fever.  But back in the 40s and 50s most of the popular music came from either Broadway shows or movies.  Some of these songs are as recognized today as they were when they first came out. When I’m in my art room, I play a mix of …

I was a little girl when I first heard the Peter Gunn theme.  I fell in love with the work of composer, conductor and arranger, Henry Mancini.  This successful collaboration between the producer of the Peter Gunn series, Blake Edwards, and composer, Henry Mancini, inspired them to work together for the next 35 years on 30 films.  Henry was so …

When I was very young I thought that Leonard Bernstein and Elmer Bernstein were related.  They were two of my favorite composers and conductors.  In my childish imagination they even looked alike.  As I matured I learned that, although they shared the same last name, they were no relation to each other but boy, were they both two of the …

My passion for movie soundtracks and Broadway songs began when I was a very young child.  It is a passion that has lasted a life time.  It makes me so happy to be able to share this music with those who love it as much as I do. I also began collecting movie memorabilia when I was very young.  Oh, …

As I put this show together, my greatest regret was that I only had two hours for the show.  Last night, in my art room, I listened to John Barry’s The Dove and I thought, I need to put that one on the show.  Then I remembered . . . that boat had already sailed. Some of my favorite music …

On Wednesday, April 9th, Friday, April 11th and Sunday, April 13th, Movies Broadway Singers and Beyond will salute Hans Zimmer’s soundtrack to the production of First Born, as well as many other magnificent  soundtracks.  I will play some Max Steiner, Alex North, Alfred Newman, Elmer Bernstein and many, many more. In response to a recent list of all-time best composers, …

Some nights, all I listen to are movie soundtracks.  Some of the best soundtracks are from western films.  In my youth, there were over thirty western shows on television.  My favorite western character was Adam Cartwright from Bonanza.  My best friend’s favorite was Sugarfoot.  I could sing all of the theme songs.  My best friend learned the theme to Davey …

Beautiful, melodic, passionate, powerful.  These words describe the musical soundtracks to biblical movies.  The stories deal with the most basic human emotions. . . . love, hate, greed and kindness. The music to movies like Ben Hur, Samson and Delilah, Demetrius and the Gladiators, The Robe, and the gorgeous The Ten Commandments, match the majesty of these films.  Today at …

Gigi is like a deliciously decorated cupcake.  This musical romantic film was created by the genius team of Lerner and Loewe, creators of My Fair Lady, Camelot and Brigadoon. Alan Jay Lerner wrote the screenplay and the lyrics to the songs.  When he first asked his partner, Frederick (Fritz) Loewe, to write the music, Fritz declined because he did not …