Bonnets, Bunnies, Judy--Just in Time for ‘Easter’

It has less plot than a porno flick.

There is more chemistry between Nadine (Ann Miller) and her pooches than between Judy Garland and Fred Astaire. And the dialogue often makes you groan, as when Astaire, as hoofer Don Hewes, says to his favorite bartender (played by MGM perennial Clinton Sundberg), “I bet you know a lot about women.”

“I should,” the bartender replies. “I’ve been single my whole life.”

But “Easter Parade” (1948) works nonetheless. The ribbon that ties the MGM classic together is the music of Irving Berlin. Without Berlin’s 17 songs, including “A Couple of Swells” and “Shakin’ the Blues Away,” “Easter Parade” would have no shape at all. But the songs, and the playful but impeccable dancing of Astaire, Garland and Miller, make it seem to make sense.

And then there is Judy, Judy, Judy. Who else could project so much innocent despair in the mere quiver of a lip?

“Easter Parade” will be screened Saturday afternoon and evening by Glendale’s Alex Film Society. Turner Entertainment is providing the restored print, as bright as any Easter bonnet.

Film historian John Fricke, who has written extensively on Judy Garland and MGM, will introduce the 8 p.m. screening. “Easter Parade” was never a heavyweight, he notes, and a revolution or two in taste has occurred since it premiered almost 50 years ago. As to renting it or tuning into it today, he says, “With a lesser studio or cast, you might say, ‘I think I’ll make a cheese sandwich instead.’ ”

*

As Fricke points out, Berlin originally pitched the idea to 20th Century-Fox. But the studio wouldn’t give him a percentage of the gross, despite the enormous success of his “Alexander’s Ragtime Band” (1938). MGM anted up $600,000 for the songs, and the project was theirs.

According to Fricke, Vincente Minnelli was originally slated to direct. But the marriage of Minnelli and Garland had been strained during the making of “The Pirate,” and her therapist advised the couple not to work together again. Charles Walters took over as director. He hired young hot shot Sidney Sheldon to punch up the script.

Frank Sinatra was supposed to play Johnny, the sidekick who falls in love with Garland’s Hannah Brown. The role went instead to a fresh-faced Peter Lawford, who sang his single song, “A Fella With an Umbrella,” very badly indeed.

It strains credulity that Hannah would choose the distant, dance-aholic Astaire character over the charming Johnny, but who’s counting? She goes after her man by sending him a VW-sized bouquet and a beribboned top hat with a live bunny in it. Then she pulls him onto her knee and sings the movie’s theme song, “Easter Parade.”

*

It is one of the oddest scenes in mainstream movie history. But Fricke counsels contemporary audiences not to think too much about such inspired nonsense. “We weren’t making ‘The Razor’s Edge’ here,” he says.

Cyd Charisse was supposed to dance with Astaire, but, Fricke reports, she tore ligaments in her knee while filming “On an Island With You.” Her replacement wasn’t in great shape either. Miller had an injured back, so serious that she was wearing a brace and sleeping in traction. But she chose to be in excruciating pain rather than give up the chance to dance with Astaire. “I don’t know how many girls auditioned for the part, but I got it!” she crows in her autobiography. “I was 5 feet, 7 inches tall, really too tall for Astaire, but he finally agreed I should do the picture--if I would wear ballet shoes in my dancing scenes with him.”

Fricke says “Easter Parade” is one of his 10 favorite musicals. “I think I would have liked it even more if Garland’s big solo number hadn’t been cut out.” Garland danced to a tune called “Mister Monotony” that ended up on the cutting-room floor. Says Fricke, “As a result, there’s about three minutes too little of Garland.”

Fricke thinks that even people who have seen the film will enjoy watching it on the big screen--with an audience and without the phone ringing. “This is how these movies were made to be seen.”

DETAILS

* WHAT: Alex Film Society screenings of MGM’s “Easter Parade,” featuring a restored print by Turner Entertainment.

* WHERE: The Alex Theatre, 216 N. Brand Blvd., Glendale.

* WHEN: 2 and 8 p.m. Saturday.

* HOW MUCH: $6 for matinee tickets; $7.50 for evening.

* CALL: 243-2539.