In my last post about Citizen Kane, I mentioned the Music Box Theatre; I want to take the opportunity now, to tell you more about this gorgeous theater which I truly consider to be one of Chicago's cinematic gems.
The gorgeous Music Box Theatre. Photo taken by yours truly.
The Music Box opened in the summer of 1929 on the North side of the city. It survived the stock market crash, the depression, and the Second World War. In the 70's and early 80's the theater found itself on hard times and was being used to show everything from Spanish to Arabic language films, and even had a brief career as porn house. The theater was restored and reopened in 1983, and, by good fortune and hard work, it retained its original design and architecture; a true blessing considering the theater's beautiful and ornate interior.
In the main auditorium you find yourself sitting beneath a starry, Tuscan night sky. The deep blue ceiling twinkles with its very own stars, and cloud-like shadows float over the celestial 13-foot dome. Meanwhile, down on the ground, you are surrounded by an Italian courtyard of backlit pillars, lavish curtains and drapery, and vined greenery that dances up the walls. As if that wasn't enough, the theater also boasts an authentic organ chamber, orchestra pit, and even its own ghost!
The organ and organist at the Music Box.
I try to visit the theater as much as possible, not just for the beautiful and historic atmosphere, but also for the great films they show. Today the Music Box is known for showing and supporting independent and foreign films, as well as having special showings of cult hits, sing-a-long shows, and, of course, presentations of classic films. For the past 30 years the Music Box has also held its annual Christmas Show. It's a double feature showing of White Christmas and It's a Wonderful Life. This year, for the first time in my 5 (almost 6) years here in the city, I was able to see this holiday double feature!
The Annual Music Box Christmas Show is great family fun, and a must for any Chicagoan during the holiday season. You sit back under the starry night ceiling and escape into these holiday classics. In between showings you sing (or attempt to sing) carols and even get a visit from the big guy in red! The audience itself also adds to the fun, as the regular Christmas Show patrons cheer for the heroes and heroines, hiss at the villains (such as It's A Wonderful Life's Mr. Potter), and jingle their jingle bells along with the songs. It's fun all around and you are guaranteed to leave the theater overflowing with holiday cheer!
"I'm dreaming of a white Christmas, just like the ones I used to know..."
"Vermont should be beautiful this time of year, all that snow."
The first film in the double feature, is White Christmas, the 1954 holiday musical starring Bing Crosby, Danny Kaye, Rosemary Clooney (yes, of the George Clooneys) and Vera-Ellen. The movie follows the smash musical duo, Bob Wallace (Crosby) and Phil Davis (Kaye), a fictional "Rogers and Hammerstein." While their hit Broadway show is closed for the holidays, they find themselves teaming up with a sassy nightclub sister act (Clooney and Ellen) to help save their former army commander's Vermont inn.
"If you ask me what this place really needs is a dynamite act!"
Like most movie-musicals, the story line is nothing special; a pretty conventional boy meets girl, boy and girl fall in love through song and dance, and, in the end, put on a terrific Broadway show. What makes this movie so great are the songs, the dance numbers, and, most importantly, the talent.
"Even guys with two left feet, come out alright if the girl is sweet."
The Abraham Number; One of my favorite dances in the entire film.
Throughout the movie, the remarkable cast keeps you on the edge of your seat! Danny Kaye keeps you laughing as the goofy best friend; Vera-Ellen and her out-of-this-world dancing keeps you jaw-dropped and speechless; meanwhile, Crosby and Clooney's smooth crooning keeps your toes tapping and fingers snapping.
In additional to their talent, the actors bring pure joy and fun to the film. You can tell from their on-screen interactions that they were having so much fun making this movie. In fact, the parody, drag-version of the "Sister Act" number wasn't actually in the script; the director saw Crosby and Kaye goofing around on set with the girls' feathered fans, and found it so hilarious that he insisted they film it and add it to the movie. It's all around a great movie that will make you smile and laugh, and put you in the holiday spirit.
"You see George, you've really had a wonderful life."
The second film in the Music Box's Christmas Show is It's A Wonderful Life. For me, this is the ultimate Christmas movie. No other holiday film captures the essence of Christmas and family as much as Frank Capra's 1946 classic. It's A Wonderful Life is the tale of George Bailey, your average every-man who has lived through his share of both happiness and disappointments. One Christmas, George finds himself at the end of his rope, thinking the only way out of a financial crisis is suicide. In his time of ultimate need, he is visited by his guardian angel, Clarence Oddbody, AS2 (Angel Second Class). Clarence shows George something we have thought about at one time or another: What the world would be like without us.
This is the aspect of the film that I think is so moving and relatable; we all hope to make our own mark on the world, and make a difference- especially around the holidays. Through George, It's A Wonderful Life shows us that we are all making a difference one way or another. Even in the most seemingly-insignificant of ways, we touch the lives of all those around us every day. The film reminds us that we aren't as small as we sometimes feel in this vast world because, to someone somewhere, we are the world.
"Strange, isn't it? Each man's life touches so many other lives. When he isn't around, he leaves an awful hole, doesn't he?"
I cry every time- can't help it!
"A toast to my big brother George: the riches man in town!"
It's A Wonderful Life wouldn't be the same revered classic without its leading man, Jimmy Stewart. Ironically enough, Stewart almost wasn't in the film and had to be convinced by Lionel Barrymore (Mr. Potter* in the film) to take on the role of George Bailey. Stewart had just recently returned from serving over seas in WWII. Like most who served, Stewart was still trying to adjust back to civilian life and move past all he had seen and witnessed. He was also incredibly self-conscious about his acting after returning and honestly didn't think he could pull the role off. Thankfully for all of us who know and love him as George, he finally agreed to join the production.
Stewart and Capra on set of It's a Wonderful Life. Via.
"Remember George, no man is a failure who has friends."
White Christmas and It's a Wonderful Life are probably my two favorite Christmas movies. I love them both for very different reasons, but they both never fail to put me in the holiday spirit. It wouldn't be a true Christmas season without one viewing (at least) of each of these films. And there's no better place to experience these films than on the big screen at Chicago's Music Box Theatre. Their Annual Christmas Show is going to be one of my holiday traditions from now on, and, if you're in the Chicago area, I highly recommend giving it a try as well! If you can't make their Christmas Show this year, be sure to visit the Music Box after the holidays! It's open year-round and always has new films and special showings scheduled!
Merry Christmas and a very Happy New Year to all my Vintage Marquee readers! Thank you for joining me this year as I started this new adventure in blogging. You can be sure there will be many new posts and movie write-ups to come in the new year!
See you in 2014!
lisa helene.
*Update: In a previous version of this post, Lionel Barrymore was mistakenly credited as Uncle Billy in the film.
No comments:
Post a Comment