atlasmb Co-directed by Gene Kelly and Stanley Donen, "On the Town" is a glorious celebration of the musical form. Adapted from the stage musical, this film features some of Leonard Bernstein's songs from the original show as well as some tunes from Roger Edens (all with words by Adolph Green and Betty Comden, who wrote the screenplay).The film is also a celebration of New York City, where three sailors (who have never been to the city) have one day of leave.Spectacle and talent are on display throughout the film. It would be nearly impossible to give tribute to all of it, so I will concentrate on the first few minutes of the film.First we hear the plaintive voice of Bern Hoffman on the docks, where he sings about the sleepy early morning hours. It sets a tone that tells us this film is, perhaps, classier than the average, showy musical. And it serves as a contrast to the activity that 6:00 AM brings.That's when hundreds of sailors storm the gangplank and pour into the city, wanting to release pent up energy after weeks at sea. Gene Kelly, Frank Sinatra, and Jules Munshin emerge with glowing faces and big voices, singing "New York, New York". There should be an exclamation mark after that song title. And the energy never flags.In short order, their well-laid plans for seeing all of the sights of the city are sidetracked, but not before a wonderful montage featuring the Statue of Liberty, Central Park, Rockefeller Plaza, and the view from the Top of the Rock, among others.On a subway ride, Gene becomes enamored with the new Miss Turnstiles (patterned after the real Miss Subways campaign), Vera-Ellen, who he briefly meets soon after. Frank becomes the target of an aggressive taxi driver (Betty Garrett) and Jules meets Ann Miller (a scientist), while Gene is determined to find Vera-Ellen in the city.Production values are excellent and the on-location settings make their New York City adventures wonderful to watch. Seeing Columbus Circle as it existed in 1949, for example, is a bittersweet bonus.With Kelly at the helm, it's no surprise the film includes a musical staple--the dream sequence. Choreography throughout the film is confident.As Kelly would say later, these performers were at their peaks during this filming. What a joy to watch them in a production that pulls the best from each of them.

gkeith_1 Observations: Loved this movie. Three couples dancing. Frankie a hoot. Sightseeing in New York City.I had one day there, myself. Thought of this movie. Took a sightseeing bus and saw several famous places. Marveled at all the characters did in this movie, in just one day. Meadowville. Nostalgic town. Liked the dance performed in this scene by Kelly and Vera-Ellen. Liked her costume. Both smooth dancers. Florence Bates great in her part; secret alcohol imbiber -- hilarious when she threatened Vera-Ellen. More observations. Great song sung by construction worker in the hardhat. Aggressive Brunhilde cabdriver. Betty Garrett a former Martha Graham dancer. Ann Miller a terrific tap dancer, and great green costume in the anthropological museum. 10/10

gavin6942 Three sailors on a day of shore leave in New York City look for fun and romance before their twenty-four hours are up.You have to love any collaboration between Gene Kelly and Stanley Donen. I am a little less impressed by the singing and dancing of Frank Sinatra, but he is alright in his own way. Vera-Ellen's terrifying waist makes an appearance, and this is a good showcase for her, even though she is now better known for "White Christmas".The Breen Office of the MPAA refused to allow the use of the word "helluva" in the song "New York, New York", and so it was changed to "wonderful". That seems pretty strange, even for the 1940s. Though, I have to wonder, what sort of movies would we have today (2015) if the censors still had this kind of power?

mark.waltz Broadway purists have debated this for over 60 years. But it was obvious that the ballet heavy original could not be done on screen as it was on stage. What remains are the choice bits of music and dance plus a few great new songs. The basic storyline remains of three sailors on leave in the Big Apple and the three women they fall in love with over a 24 hour period. Gene Kelly and Frank Sinatra return into their sailor suits from "Anchors Aweigh" and are joined by the comical Jules Munshin and three of MGM's top singing and dancing beauties. Betty Garrett stands out as the flirtatious taxi driver ("A lady cab driver, how revolting", she cries in one hysterical comic moment) who makes it her ambition to get Sinatra all alone at her place. Ann Miller adds her usual enthusiasm and fiery tapping in an amusing if somewhat silly museum set musical number, "Prehistoric Man". The dubbed Vera-Ellen has the least showiest role but stands out in the dance sequences. A hysterically funny Alice Pearce steals her brief scenes with her squeaky dead pan delivery as Garrett's lovable plain Jane roommate, and when she joins the leads for a comical production number, it is a moment of pure joy. Another scene stealer is lovable Florence Bates as a dipsomaniac dance instructor.There is one ballet moment left for fans of the Broadway show to enjoy, plus a few of the original songs which includes "New York, New York". Up until Kander and Ebb wrote the same-titled song for diva Liza Minnelli in the 1970's, this was probably the definitive song about the Big Apple. How many people have gone to Manhattan and not gotten lost because of those lyrics, "The Bronx is Up, and the Battery's Down!"? That lyric was even used comically in Tim Burton's adaption of "Sleepy Hollow". When Sinatra and Garrett duet "Come Up to My Place", the lyrics are slightly different than the original version, but they are just as witty. Ironically, Garrett would star in another altered version of the Broadway musical "Wonderful Town" with songs by Bernstein, given back its original title of "My Sister Eileen", where all of his songs were dropped in favor of a new score by Jule Styne. Unfortunately, the decision to drop the beautiful "Lonely Town" from the original was a mistake, as well as "Lucky to Be Me" and the totally profound "Some Other Time" which could have been the anthem for sailors on leave during World War II. "Lonely Town" could really have been a great solo for Sinatra as he had the perfect pipes to sing it. Otherwise, this ends up being perhaps the best movie musical of a hit Broadway show with tons of changes only slightly affecting its impact.