Movies

I had forgotten how good Seven Brides for Seven Brothers really is until I rewatched it the other day.

Jane Powell is adorable as the (at first) lone woman among seven rather uncouth men. I especially like the scene where the brothers wake up and find that, while they still have their underclothes, their shirts and pants have been laundered. When their new “big sister” sweetly requests that the boys hand over their long johns, the boys are aghast. When she opens the door to come in and *take* the underwear, they are even more shocked.

Cute as Ms. Powell is, however, it is the dancing in this movie that steals the show. Yes, Howard Keel can sing, and yes, it’s cute to name your children both for the Bible *and* letters of the alphabet (though poor Frank sure got gypped on that one), but whoo boy can those fellas dance.

It makes me want to watch West Side Story again to see Russ Tamblyn all grown up and romancing Natalie Wood.

It also makes me want to see if I can jump over a board the way they did.

Barn raisin’ anyone?