High Society: The End of The Golden Age

Films were so much simpler in the golden age of movie musicals. In this review, we're waltzing our way through 1956's High Society that's packed with superstar performances by Bing Crosby, Frank Sinatra, Louis Armstrong and the wonderful journey of Grace Kelly's Tracy Lorde.
Executive Producer: John Fogg
Best in the Biz (Patreon): Clarissa Wee
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Music from Thematic in order of appearance:
Music by Singto Conley - La Tristesse de Rísa - thmatc.co/?l=E...
Music by Clueless Kit - Rooftop - thmatc.co/?l=F...
Music by Jennifer Zhang - Love You Like Me - thmatc.co/?l=0...
Music by ninjoi. - Acceptance - thmatc.co/?l=B...

[@WaitintheWings]

Hey all! This is my favorite movie musical and I was a little hesitant to make a video on it because I wasn't sure if anyone would care lol. I'm happy you've made it here though and hope you enjoy!!

[@bigbori8716]

Wait in the Wings oooo could you make a video on what went wrong with “I can’t sing”

[@roccoc2089]

Hey Brenden, I binge some of your Channel, loved it, and I was wondering if you ever going to make a video on your relationship with wrestling and if that's not in the plans a reply to this would be much appreciated. 👌🏽

[@WaitintheWings]

@@roccoc2089 Oh man, the wrestling rabbit hole is a deep one to go down haha. We'll have to see what happens after I go see AEW live in March lol

[@orlandocordova8670]

Well Done! So enjoying your channel. I actually own a copy of this musical film! 🤗

[@appletree6898]

I love High Society!! Super excited to see this!!! 🥳

[@chibiktsn3]

Oh man, hearing that intro in 2021 is just... sweet summer child.

[@totallynotjeff7748]

THIS IS THE VOICE OF DOOM.

[@HaydenofEverything]

Brendon: 1927 was a glorious time to be alive A substantial amount of people from 1927: -_-

[@gracehoracek5008]

Fun little musicals are highly underrated. One of the reasons I love Guys and Dolls so much

[@katecastreviews4639]

This is probably the most traditional review you've done since our video, and it is very interesting. I love me a good golden age musical, and it's nice to see one of the less talked about ones highlighted and recommended, since there were so many musicals produced during this time and it's tough to find the "diamonds in the rough" so to speak. I'll have to check this one out. Also a duet between Bing Crosby and Frank Sinatra?? All Of My Yes!!

[@rmarkread3750]

One thing you might have gone into in more detail is that Frank Sinatra had supplanted Bing Crosby as America's heartthrob male vocalist. There is a great Warner Bros. cartoon in which (as chickens) a Bing-like crooner ("bum-bum-bum-bum") gets into a battle over the adorations of an audience of "chicks" who turn from "Bing" to "Frank" swooning, "Ooooh! Frankie!" Putting them in the same movie not only cashed in on their popularity with different audiences but, as you point out so well, showed how entertaining and enjoyable they are as a team. Thanks for another great video!

[@katherinealvarez9216]

I might need to watch the movie to understand but... the father blames his daughter for cheating on his wife? Because her standards are too high? I’m sorry, staying to your wife and mother to your children are not high standards. Also, screw him for blaming his kid.

[@FeministCatwoman]

Yes you're entirely correct. The father in this is an awful human being who mistreats his wife and daughter. Tracy, his daughter, is treated like the bad guy for not wanting to excuse her father's indiscretions, in fact they treat Tracy as if she is being unreasonable and her father's cheating is treated as a "whoopsie daisy" normal human mistake that anybody would make. He doesn't apologize, he just makes excuses for it and feels entitled to forgiveness. The worst part is that Tracy is expected to empathize and relate to him in the end because she ends up in a similar situation... except in her case, it would not have been cheating because she was drunk and didn't remember anything, so it would have actually been assault if anything happened. This movie is a morally flippant mess that is fun to enjoy if you ignore all of the ethically questionable characters and situations.

[@mitzymoo3151]

Great movie and adore Bing Crosby, who made everything look so smooth and easy. The lovely Louis Armstrong was fabulous as well.

[@HitchhikingHatbox]

I'm so excited someone else finally made a video about High Society!

[@hpfan]

This is the best thing I've come across during quarantine. Thank you for diving into this insanely underrated treasure! :) Also, it doesn't matter how many times I watch this film, Uncle Willie's "Shut up, you fool" to a robin cracks me up every single time!

[@ajmalaika1287]

URGHHH I just love their use of colour especially Singing in the rain with all these simple block colours that pop when they need to, simple but effective colour theory

[@ItsBeluyall]

That musical looks AMAZING. Her wardrove, stunning! I never heard of it, im not north american, but sure i will see it now. Great video, very nicely done.

[@jeremymartin1957]

This was one of my favorite movies as a kid too! Even then, I always thought the House graveyard scene was a reference on how this could be Grace's future (ruin) like so many before her unless she learned to change (like the boys school), playing on the whole overall theme of the movie.

[@EthalaRide]

I haven't seen high society, but I have seen Philadelphia Story, and it seems like the same thing plot-wise, just with songs, But the scene that always really bothered me was the explosion between her father and her. I thought it was horrible to have her big wake-up-call would be for *the Father to blame his daughter for driving him to have an affair.* That is *fucked up.* Maybe there's some truth to it, if he would admit his insecurities and that she shouldn't demonize him so much to the point of erasing him for a human failing. But that's not what happens, it's played completely straight as fact that She, being this bronze statuesque figure, didn't love her father enough and drove him to have an affair. For a husband and wife, that would make sense, but a *father and daughter relationship,* FUCK THAT DUDE. The weight of emotional responsibility should be on the shoulders of a parent, and it is the child's coming-of-age ability to realize that parents aren't paragons and any failures they may make are that of human beings, because people are complicated and stupid. and She realizing through her own lust/love triangle that some of the responsibility of her actions is on others, some of it is just an inebriated accident, but a lot of it is her own doing and her own flaws, and a more powerful and realistic message/wake-up-call would be her realizing she is just as flawed as her father, and holding him, and others in her life, to such an insane standard, is *just as unfair* as when people hold *her* to that standard. BUT NOPE. She's just the ice queen and drives everyone away and needs to shift her perspective to be nicer to people. UUGH THAT'S JUST GROSS. It's not your children's responsibility to love you to your satisfaction. Your children can be saints, little demons, or in-between but it is *YOUR responsibility* as a parent to *Try* to do right by them regardless, and if you fail (or you can do everything right and the child could still get hurt anyway) the only way to grow and heal is for everyone to realize that they are all human and susceptible to the same errors of judgment/behavior. UGH If I were every to redo the movie, that's something I would alter anyway. Recognition and/or forgiveness of one's self and others.

[@jg2783]

I'm completely with you! It's a grating, repulsive message in the middle of a film I otherwise loved. I've always wondered how it played to audience of it's day. Did no one bat an eye at the father's blame shifting? Did they accept Tracy's "snottiness" as the one and only root of everyone's problems? Also, in the Hepburn film, we're told Dexter had a drinking problem. While she may have reacted wrongly when he needed help, I think that detail makes her more sympathetic for freaking out that she was going to end up like her mother, tied to a weak man who doesn't take responsibility and rips her heart out.

[@EthalaRide]

@@jg2783 I would love to see this movie remade *again* while still maintaining the overall lighthearted and loving, healing feeling, while some family drama laid in, but with actual understanding and kindness towards people's actions rather than just bizarrely making it all Tracy's fault.

[@okay5045]

This is the musical of The Philadelphia story

[@gg79139]

Whoa 😮

[@okay5045]

I love this movie. Memorized all the songs as a kid my favorites were Did You Ever and everything Louis Armstrong sang

[@rachelf5466]

It made me so happy to see this semi-forgotten gem getting some love! The Philadelphia Story is one of my favorite movies, and I love the musical adaptation as well! My only qualm is that Gigi (1958) is more widely considered to be the last of the Golden Age musicals. I'm no expert, but having seen it I would tend to agree. Gigi is another great one

[@charlesrabb5568]

As this is a remake , I'm not sure if you know they remade this movie into a broadway musical. It's still called High Society. They moved the location back to 1930s Philadelphia. It only ran a few months but not bad. They kept most of the songs and added more porter trunk songs. I saw in pre broadway in San Francisco. Not a bad show.

[@silke4913]

My knowledge of theater is incredibly limited. I only watch the bad ones for the laughs. But since I stumbled into this channel, I'm incrediby invested in what the hell is going on behind stages. These videos are so well written, they're educative and hilarious at moments! Thank you for making these, I mean it!

[@Sleepingsparklegirl]

Bing Crosby makes me cringe. I prefer the original story film the Philadelphia story. Bing Crosby is no Cary Grant.

[@TheCinder24]

You might have convinced me to give this a watch. I loved loved loved the 'Philadelphia Story' so much that I never gave this version a chance.

[@carltrotter7622]

Please make more classical movie musical videos! This is the best video I've ever seen! You're amazing.

[@JaneFokster]

I'm from the Netherlands and I remember watching this movie on tv several times when I was growing up in the late 70s/early 80s. This was always one of my favourite old musicals. Wonderful!

[@toric6005]

I saw some footage of Bing and Frank on a war bond tour and they sang People Will Say We’re in Love to each other haha

[@Theturtleowl]

I have never felt so connected as I feel to uncle Willy telling a bird to shut up.

[@jalaluddinahmadshaharudin1106]

What I love about the 50s is people value their interaction with each pther more than material wealrh!

[@bckagan1708]

This movie is in my ten 'most flawless movies' list. I enjoyed your video although you are a "Theater Guy" and I am a film person...you did an excellent job. If I may add a few things: I believe we are looking at Louis Armstrong's Tour Bus, before tour buses were invented. There is a greyhound on the side of the bus - who else would they have bought it from? Not an actor but Armstrong opens the film, has a crucial role in moving the plot line and does some incredible numbers with Crosby. Also notable...this is Armstrong's actual band! All those guys in the background are Jazz Greats! Wish you had identified the younger sister Lydia Reed and mother Margalo Gillmore. imagine being a child actor on a set with those heavy hitters? Reed does an admirable job at the 'horrendous French' piano scene. Gillmore's role is small-is but she doesn't overplay it and you 'get' what she's going through. Thanks for this. I will watch the film again tonight... for the umpteenth time.

[@davis0730]

I dig the Frank Tatoo man I also dug your view of this movie

[@WaitintheWings]

Thank you! I'm still waiting for someone to comment it's stupid lol

[@carlvu7]

Great review. I was going to watch it in the theater but miss the opportunity. Thanks for the plot. Beautiful story.

[@divinefemininee]

What brings me here..Grace Kelly 💗

[@CalTxDude]

The movie musical had not been forgotten In 1955, it was still going quite strong it wasn't until the late 1960s when it was out of fashion. Just look at films like Sweet Charity and Hello Dolly!

[@MiraiNoka]

"a post Next to Normal world" has to be my new favorite expression!

[@michaelhayden5264]

I think I have seen this film at least 3, maybe 4 times and I have totally missed this part of the plot. Thanks

[@thomasbradley4505]

True Love is one of my favorite Cole Porter songs.

[@acecosmonaut5559]

This video makes me want to rewatch High Society.

[@l.a.gothro3999]

And everything Eleanor Powell ever appeared in.

[@MrShaun42088]

wonderful breakdown and analysis. I never watched the movie, but i feel like i did now. great movie.

[@Spetia]

hahaha I did not except to see a Chris Jericho reference in this video but I'm glad I saw it

[@sillytabby1]

mY ALL TIME FACVORITE MOVIE!!

[@jonahfalcon1970]

You should do "Face Value" and how it led to "Yellow Face". Or "Anyone Can Whistle", considering Stephen Sondheim's recent passing.

[@anthonylucero4182]

I think you should do once on this island next. It’s not the most popular show but I think you can do it justice like you did for bloody bloody Andrew Jackson.

[@shinysugardrops]

This might get ignored,but could you check out the musical "The Grinning Man"?

[@ayindestevens6152]

Oddly this is my least favorite movie musicals and now that you mentioned that Louis Armstrong was barely in it now I know why. But I love your puns. It makes this video and analysis great!

[@deanc9195]

What a beautiful man. Enough said.

[@1marilynable]

This is the era I love. P.s. I love the new a star is born. It's not the best but not the worst

[@leadingblind1629]

I don't suppose you might ever cover Nelson Eddy???

[@WaitintheWings]

I don't think I've ever heard of that One! What's it about?

[@leadingblind1629]

@@WaitintheWings I mean the actor/singer. Movie musicals of the 30s and 40s. Crap that's 80 years ago!!!! Maytime Rosalie Rose Marie The Phantom of the Opera and I Married an Angel to name a few

[@WaitintheWings]

@@leadingblind1629 oh he's an old performer! I'll have to look more into him for sure!

[@leadingblind1629]

@@WaitintheWings if it helps I most recommend Maytime with Jeanette McDonald and John Barrymore. They have marathons on AMC on Nelson's birthday sometimes. Jeanette's, too

[@zachkubish598]

Think it’s high time you took a look at The Country Girl. I’m no intellectual, I wanna make that clear, but it appears that the movie is something you can do an analysis on par with this one.

[@cornishpasty4344]

Her true happy ending of marrying a man 20 years older than her. Swoooooon!

[@FrankSinatraTheSecond]

Hearing that intro in 24 is weird

[@cookiecat2168]

you could make a video on any musical and I would love it

[@abrahamruiz111]

Y'all should do an analysis of Pippin

[@stepahead5944]

So could we say Will Smith has a star system persona? Overall, regardless of movie or character it's still 'Will Smith'.

[@michaelweber8724]

The Philadelphia Story premiered in 1940, not 1939.

[@CalTxDude]

Uhh you omitted Celeste Holm and Louis Calhern!

[@dillonohlemiller9027]

Did you say Zeusical or Seussical?

[@Nunyo-Bizznez]

It strikes me that high society is *literally* just philidelphia story....

[@CalTxDude]

I like and appreciate your comprehensive explanation of the film...but the intercuts of wrestlers and Peter Griffin?!? No no no!! LoL I'm just giving you a hard time because you have interjected Modern material far far far far less than others. Well done!!

[@l.a.gothro3999]

This is one of my faves, and I don't particularly like Kelly or Sinatra.

[@petrino]

*whisper* trilbies, porkpies and fedoras. look it up.

[@This1sS0Stup1d]

Screw themes, GIVE US CHARACTER ARCS.

[@petrino]

"well have you ever" is the perfect song for right now. corona and trump are fighting it out to see who gets to end the world first. might as well collide with mars.

[@melenatorr]

Thank you for this lovely review and discussion. Just a little sad that you weren't able to fit in a mention of the "Now You Have Jazz" number with Crosby and Armstrong, which is my top favorite of this movie, right next to "Swell Party".

[@WaitintheWings]

Here's a read through of the section! The video was running a little too long and didn't really add to the argument of Tracy's transformation so I had to cut it sadly :( "In between the festivities, Dexter takes to the stage to remind us that he’s a jazz composer and with it comes an understated and powerful number. Looking at it with 21st century eyes, it may just appear to be a Jazz musical number but back in the 1950’s it had to be earth-shaking. The Newport Jazz festival, the main reason for bringing Louis Armstrong and his fantastic band to Newport, was initially met with resistance by the wealthy members of the community. The festival presented the threat of a cultural clash. The film attempts to grapple with this in a played-down style through the musical number “Now You Has Jazz”. Turner Classic Movies has a fantastic article highlighting this scene in which they bring up how over the course of the film, jazz is constantly sneered at by a majority of the upper-class characters. They can’t believe that C.K. Dexter Haven, one of their own, would stop writing meaningful songs only to compose, uncivilized jazz. In the 1950’s, segregation and racism was still abundant in America, but for this moment, in this major studio film, there is a beautiful moment of unity amongst the performers and the crowd, brought together by the power of good music. "

[@melenatorr]

@@WaitintheWings Thanks for you reply! I figured that was the main reason the number wasn't mentioned: it's worth a discussion on its own and would have both distracted from the purpose of this one and been a disservice to its own discussion. Crosby and Armstrong had collaborated before. One of my favorites is "Gone Fishing", charming and wonderfully harmonized: kzbin.info/www/bejne/j3XIgq2ggK2Um6c.

[@DarkAvengerVIM]

I love this movie so much. Thank you

[@WaitintheWings]

Me too! I'm so happy I'm not the only one lol

[@DarkAvengerVIM]

@@WaitintheWings I will say that I didn't know that High Society was a retelling of Philadelphia Story, so thank you for that too.

[@WaitintheWings]

@@DarkAvengerVIM I didn't either! I guess remakes have just always been a thing lol

[@DarkAvengerVIM]

@@WaitintheWings It's why I roll my eyes when people complain about Hollywood not being original. Hollywood has *never* been completely original. The biggest movies of the day were based off of plays, adapted stories, or the bible.

[@Outatime1995]

OKAY! Your Frank Sinatra tattoo is awesome! He is one of my favorite musicians of all-time

[@theghostinthemirror8158]

Great as usual!! It was really nice to see this after watching the live that you did. I must admit that especially after not having much interest in golden age musicals this has made me want to watch one, haha

[@anamelesscat4588]

This is absolutely one of my favorite musicals!!! The soundtrack is my go-to mood-boost playlist and I totally agree that it’s underrated. I love your description and explanation of it both because it’s entertaining (I had to pause several times to make sure I didn’t miss anything while I was laughing) and because I think it’s spot on. High Society is truly the perfect escape from reality!

[@jenhaze]

I can’t wait to watch this! I’ve never heard of it and I love frank sinatra musicals ❤

[@JM-lw3nx]

In fairness, I find your use of random visual clips rather distracting.

[@michaelmoceri7360]

Loved the Chris Jericho reference. Also, when did Bradley Cooper piss himself?

[@dianakosianka5344]

It was a scene from the latest A Star Is Born, specifically the one where Lady Gaga's character accepts this music award, and Bradley Cooper's character ruins it by coming up on the stage with her completely drunk and literally pissing himself

[@CalTxDude]

It was delightful to find out that she had natural timing For comedy! It would have been wonderful to see more of her under utilized talents! However, I'm so glad that we have this Wonderful film!

[@lamine428]

This reminds me of my best friend's wedding

[@sonicmeansspeed8614]

love this movie so much

[@bobsanders9114]

As an Old White Guy lifelong movie musical fan, I confess it: I can't stand this movie, and have never been able to get through it, even as I have watched The Philadelphia Story countless times. However, your take is fascinating, even if it does underplay the intense personal dramas that many of the players were undergoing rather publicly on others: and the publication of private scandals may have equally contributed to the tarnishing of the performer brands you name. One point you miss: this was Louis Calhern's last completed film. He was a big deal. And a little odd you neither mention Celeste Holm's name (Broadway's first Ado Annie, after Lynn Riggs, that is), nor noted John Lund's previous leading man status, nor noted that mother was played by Margalo Gillmore, whose career included playing Mrs. Darling both on Broadway and in the special television production of Peter Pan. Great stuff, but as before - when you missed Gene Wilder's breakout performance in Bonnie and Clyde, which preceded The Producers' release by a few months - he was already hot - your fantastic, intelligent analyses - I'm a fan, believe me - could do with a little deeper dive into history. Suggestion: get an old culture hound on staff as a consultant. You're brilliant, but you miss stuff.

[@l.a.gothro3999]

What about "The Music Man" (1962) and "Sweet Charity" (1969)?

[@theaterkween5791]

I am just now seeing this in 2022, and I know you said this wasn't a deep musical, and it might be the incredible way in which you described it, but I think this musical is incredibly complex just based off of that description alone. I would honestly love to see a stage adaptation of this musical, but with some much needed reworking. This seems like it would be a really good stage show that is feel good and would touch a wide audience of people.

[@mollietenpenny4093]

Could you do a video on the musical adaptation of the movie Anastasia?

[@punchman1075]

I gotta admit... Great video

[@orlandocordova8670]

I actually own a copy! Thank You for this channel. A recent convert hera! 🤗

[@WaitintheWings]

Welcome to the run crew, Orlando!!! Way to jump to one of the most obscure videos on the channel hahaha

[@orlandocordova8670]

@@WaitintheWings 🙂Thank You! So glad to be here! 🙂

[@allaboutloveatyutoob2507]

I stopped watching when you said roaring 20s High Society was released in 1956. If you don't know anything about what you're presenting to people then don't bother.

[@WaitintheWings]

Roaring 20s as in we just entered 2020. Maybe you should’ve watched the rest 🤷🏻‍♂️

[@leadingblind1629]

I've never even heard of this movie... Neat-o

[@DarkAvengerVIM]

I highly suggest looking it up. It has my favorite Sinatra/Crosby duet (even above their Christmas duet), and I was so happy when I found out that Sinatra actually held the "There are rules about this sort of thing" belief.

[@leadingblind1629]

@@DarkAvengerVIM the line from the movie? Hard to believe in some respects given he was practically the og Hollywood gangsta. Kudos to him tho.

[@DarkAvengerVIM]

@@leadingblind1629 Sinatra was almost radically progressive for his time. It's really wild, when you read stories of him threatening to cancel shows at hotels because they won't let his black band members stay in the hotel too. He'd be a bit behind the times by today's standards but he's still impressive considering his contemporaries.