evanston_dad The 1950s were a fascinating decade in film for their schizophrenia if for nothing else. Exhibit A: the same year, 1955, produced both "Kiss Me Deadly" and this dull musical that has no reason for existence.I'm not opposed to musicals by any means. The year before had produced "Seven Brides for Seven Brothers" and the same year produced "Oklahoma!", two of the most joyous movies I've ever seen. But there is just nothing going on in "It's Always Fair Weather" to keep a modern day viewer engaged. I suppose to audiences at the time, the theme of buddies who bonded during war but find that they have little in common off the battlefield inspired a certain melancholy nostalgia that gave this film some power. But without that there's not really even a reason to watch this. If you want Gene Kelly and Cyd Charisse, go watch "Singin' in the Rain" or "The Band Wagon" instead.Unbelievably, "It's Always Fair Weather" brought Betty Comden and Adolph Green an Oscar nomination for their wisp of a screenplay, and Andre Previn received a nomination for his musical scoring.Grade: D+

TheLittleSongbird 'It's Always Fair Weather' had so much potential from the get go, with the amount of talent involved. And on the most part, while all have done better it lives up to it.There are better musicals generally out there than 'It's Always Fair Weather', and outside the dance sequences and dancing it's somewhat of an uneven film. However, it does boast some of the best choreography and dance sequences in film musical history, and they are the film's main attraction. Despite its faults though, 'It's Always Fair Weather' is enjoyable as an overall film too.Not perfect by all means. The script has many great moments of a witty satirical edge and remarkably dark cynicism unusual in musicals at that time, but some of it is sappy to the point of making the toes curl and occasionally it's ponderous. Pacing also slackens in scenes where dancing isn't featured, and the more upbeat, slapsticky ending with the fist-fight is overdone and silly, also not quite fitting with the tone of the rest of the film and it isn't as funny as it should have been. Michael Kidd is underused, and comes over as a bit bland.From a more subjective point of view as well, Cyd Charisse did deserve more than just one dance, that is superbly choreographed and one of the film's highlights but too short, and she and Gene Kelly were seriously robbed of a dance duet together, as they were a fantastic partnership which should have been more obvious here. Both instances were featured in outtakes, and to be honest the film would have been even better if they remained intact and were included.However, it is dazzlingly filmed in CinemaScope and costumes and sets are very lavish. While there isn't a hit or timeless classic among the songs, they are still very pleasant to listen to and there isn't a bad egg among them at the same time. Stanley Donen and Gene Kelly direct with an assured touch and avoid being too overblown or heavy, while the clever and sardonic satirical wit, in its poking fun at television, advertising and sports, contrasts well with the darker and more cynical edge 'It's Always Fair Weather' has.Kidd aside, the cast are great, Kelly is charismatic, Dan Daily shines in his scene-stealing drunk dance, Cyd Charisse dazzles with her dancing (and legs) and Delores Gray is a sheer delight with the best singing voice out of everybody.What really captivates here, as aforementioned, are the dance sequences and the dancing. Kelly's roller skate dance in "I Like Myself" has been described as his last truly great solo dance number and it is easy to understand why, he makes something that is so difficult to do, almost impossible, and intimidating, look so easy and while the dance is closely indebted to the routine in 'Shall We Dance' Kelly's is perhaps done with more abandon and more daring. The number with the bin lids is also incredibly clever, while "Baby You Knock Me Out" and "Thanks a Lot But No Thanks" showcase Charisse and Gray's talents to show-stopping effect.In conclusion, a good if uneven film worth seeing for the spectacular dance scenes. 7/10 Bethany Cox

higherall7 Everything people say about the world is true. Granted it can be a dark place filled with viciousness and brutality, endless pain and unimaginable suffering. IT'S ALWAYS FAIR WEATHER, the little musical that could, makes its point resoundingly with comical numbers of song and dance. Somehow, the one anchor that you can always hold onto amidst all the cynicism and chicanery and corruption, is FRIENDSHIP. Friendship on any level, high or heavy-handed, soft pedaled or sold with Klenzrite, has the power to dispel the darkness and recharge the human condition with the zest it needs to keep on truckin'.That's it. Yes, it should be more involved that this and more complex, but it really isn't. Doug, Angie, and Ted sing their praises to friendship with no intention of keeping in touch in the intervening years, but vow to the doubtful bartender Tim that even ten years from now they will be as good a friends as they are now.This is a great film; not so much for its technical virtues, though the dance numbers are exhilarating; especially the garbage can number and the number Gene Kelly performs on roller skates, but because of its unabashed optimism about life. An optimism that is as quixotic as it is true to life. Right now I can see almost every scene in my mind's eye with the same sense of hilarity I felt when I first saw IT'S ALWAYS FAIR WEATHER. I love Cyd Charisse in this movie, taking the initiative away from Gene Kelly in the taxi cab by laying one on him and while he recoils in confusion getting a little work done. Doing her JEOPARDY contestant thing with the pugilists in Stillman's Gym and dancing her way into their hearts. Misquoting Shakespeare and being corrected by Kelly as he strolls coolly away. Manipulating Ted and his buddies onto the television show IT'S ALWAYS FAIR WEATHER with Ted's gangster pals in tow.This film has everything going for it and at the same time nothing at all. It is a walk through memory lane in triplicate for three devoted war chums who have nothing in common except when it comes to ducking for cover and standing up for each other in scrapes. It's about dreams that go up in smoke and reappear suddenly in a fist fist and a brawling free for all. It about wearing garbage can lids on your feet and a lampshade on your head while you're toweringly drunk and finding out you can't stand the guy you used to jump into foxholes with and you may need another ten years just to get over his revolting presence.Besides, we all got homes to go to so help Tim put the chairs up so that he can mop the place out one last time while he sings your favorite theme song about friendship to show he's finally got religion. Look around, boys, because it's Deja vu all over again, only this time Ted gets the girl to walk out into the darkness with him where the gangsters are waiting to settle old debts. It's still MIDNIGHT WITH MADELINE, but this city of little gray men really has a heart because IT'S ALWAYS FAIR WEATHER somewhere somehow in this crazy old world spinning and dancing to the throb of Manhattan and beyond.

cocomariev "It's Always Fair Weather" is based on three GI's who are returning home after WWII. After everything that they have gone through, the three friends are certain that they will remain friends forever. Before going on their merry ways, they promise to reunite in ten years at the exact bar that they are at. The bartender who works there disagrees and comments that they won't even remember each other and a bet is made. Stanley Donen and Gene Kelly present a great montage sequence following this scene. The montage highlights the important events during this time and I was able to see how each character differed from the others. I really enjoyed the dance sequences and thought that all three actors did a great job throughout the film. I've never really invested enough time into musicals so I'm not able to compare it too specifically, but it did remind me of 'Singing in the Rain.' It was a playful musical that was easy to like. I thought Gene Kelly, Dan Dailey, and Michael Kidd did a great job on acting. I thought Gene Kelly did a fabulous job on the dancing. I noticed that there were some references to television at the time, and it's competition with film. I found it funny that it poked fun at the television industry, I thought that was really interesting. I do think that the musical was too easy to follow and rather predictable. It wasn't hard for me to keep focused, but I wish that it hasn't so simple. I liked that there was a nice balance between dancing and the singing, it wasn't overbearing. Overall, this musical was enjoyable and entertaining, but not excellent. It was a bit too simple for me. If you aren't too familiar with musicals however, I do recommend seeing this because there is the perfect amount of dancing and singing without getting obnoxious.