Is there anything Gene Kelly can't do? This is a 3 star movie that I am going to give 4 solid stars to instead - unorthodox yes- but easily explainable none the less. The last star is for the lasting impression the movie had on me- it wasn't entertainment washing me over like a warm shower. It stuck. It made me think. It was applicable to life. It is what a movie should be and sadly just isn't anymore.
Natalie Wood delivers what you would expect from her at this time in her life (20 years old and already a Hollywood star). She is beautiful and a very believing actress. The story is fabulous. Natalie Wood plays Marjorie Morgenstern- a typical debutant who falls in love in high school but decides rather than get married she needs to find herself first. She needs to explore yet keep her Christian values including remaining a virgin until marriage.
She heads off to college and then her best friend convinces her to be a drama teacher at a kids summer camp. Enter Gene Kelly who plays Noel Airman. Gene is a 33 year old who has already plateaued with success. He is what he is. He is a song writer and a hopeful playwright. He can dance, act and direct. Every 18 year old girl who wants to go into theatre would love him, and Marjorie is no exception. Noel works as the camp theatre director. He didn't follow the life his parents wanted him too, in fact he changed the spelling of his last name so that people wouldn't know his father was a respectful Judge. He sees Margorie and immediately sizes her up for his next love affair and nothing more than that. He calls her Marjorie Morningstar and the name sticks.
The rest of the movie is about real life. Can a person really change who they are in order to please the other person? How many times can you fall in and out of love with the same person? When we love someone do we really love them for who they are or do we love them for who we think that they are, or who we really want them to be. Is it true that two people in love may not be good for each other? Can you accept someone for what they are even if it is less than what everyone wants for you?
This is actually a great movie because there is a lot to think about after the show ends. If you are a Natalie Wood or Gene Kelly fan then you should watch this. It was fun to see Ed Wynn in this movie, you will recognize him from Marry Poppins.
Attached is the best dance scene from the movie.
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