Two Weeks with Love (1950)

Not one of my favourite musicals, or one of my favourite films of all time. But 'Two Weeks with Love' is just impossible to dislike and easily one of the most pleasant surprises had over the past few weeks (seeing it on an old VHS belonging to an American friend who is a fellow fan of older musicals), standing above most "golden age Hollywood" musicals seen recently.Don't let the predictability of the story throw you off or that the outcome of the film is not hard to figure out at all early on. Judging it on what it aimed to do and what was expected, 'Two Weeks with Love' succeeds brilliantly and while it is not a masterpiece of the genre or of film when it comes to how well made, performed, enjoyable and easily digestible it is 'Two Weeks with Love' can't be beat.Visually, 'Two Weeks with Love' looks beautiful and was clearly made with love and care. The set and costume designs are sumptuous and elegant, actually feeling more expansive than the studio-bound look. The film is beautifully photographed too and boasts big, bold, rich colour that is just a feast for the eyes without being overdone or overly-garish.The music and songs are lovely and fill one with joy and emotion. The standouts are "Oceana Roll", "By the Light of the Silvery Moon" and "Abba Dabba Honeymoon", while it was wonderful to hear "My Hero" from 'The Chocolate Soldier' too. All are beautifully performed and staged. The choreography from none other than Busby Berkeley is both exuberant and intimate, while it may not have the imagination and wildness of Berkeley's very best work that's in no way a disappointment because more understated Berkeley but still with his usual pizazz and musicality fits better here.Was also surprised at how good the script was, full of genuinely funny humour (the corset stuff that could easily have been repetitive and out of date inducing good amusement still) and emotion. The story may not hold many surprises, but that doesn't matter when the energy and charm were so good, the fun was non-stop and also that some of what it had to say being genuinely sincere and touching. The nostalgic and romantic qualities 'Two Weeks with Love' were similarly handled beautifully. Direction is adroit throughout.Jane Powell captivates in her charm and not only does she sing beautifully but also like it came straight from her heart. Even better is cute, peppy and feisty Debbie Reynolds ('Two Weeks with Love' was seen in her memory too), who injects so much spark effortlessly and without over-doing it. Ricardo Montalban is so handsome and suave with great comic timing and energetic charisma. Louis Calhern is amusing and Ann Harding is no less delightful. Only Carleton Carpenter is a little on the wooden side and he doesn't look comfortable playing a character younger than he.Overall, a sheer romantic musical delight and is likely to have even the most sceptical of hearts swooning. 9/10 Bethany Cox

Patti (Jane Powell) is coming of age in the early XX century. She sights for Demi (Ricardo Montalbán) and willing to wear corset, a clear sign of becoming a woman. Until then she can not allow any man put his arms around her...or they would discover she is not wearing corset and consequently is not a woman yet. But her parents prefer to wait until she is eighteen. That means waiting a whole year, a difficult thing specially if you have a friend called Valerie (Phyllis Kirk) who is already in the adult world and fighting for Demi's love. Delightful musical comedy that includes many beautiful songs such as Oceana roll, Row, row, row, Aba daba honeymoon (a huge success after film's release that lead to a tour song through the States for both singers), By the light of the silvery moon and a The chocolate soldier's fragment, all of them perfectly fitted. In brilliant Technicolor with wonderful costumes by Edith Head, an accurated set designs and mise-en-scène and great performances by all the cast this is a film not to be missed. Specially enjoyable are the lake boat dream sequence with Ricardo Montalban appearing in Patti's dreams and the tango dance finale A media luz (made famous by tango singer Carlos Gardel) where Mr. Montalbán (a great dancer) shines dancing with Miss Powell. She said this was her favorite film. Great entertainment.

This is Jane Powell's best film. It's a perfect film to lift your spirits when you are down. Every song in the film is wonderful. The best songs being By the Light of the Silvery Moon & Abba Dabba Honeymoon & Row, Row, Row. Debbie Reynolds and Carleton Carpenter sing the last two. Jane Powell has stated this is her favorite film and you can see why with all the wonderful scenes. Jane plays Patty who has just turned 17 and she wants to start dating and wearing a corset. Her mother(Ann Harding) won't let her until she is 18. Debbie Reynolds plays her kid sister and steals a lot of scenes. I think it's her best part next to her part in Singin' in the Rain. Her father(Louis Calhern) tries to help Jane, but mother wins out. Carelton Carpenter who plays Billie falls for Jane early on and Debbie falls for him. Phyllis Kirk plays Valerie a snobby friend of Jane's. She shows Jane her new corset. She runs out after they see Ricardo Montalban. Debbie continues to offer herself to Carleton, but he wants Jane. Jane finally meets Ricardo and she is responsible for dumping pudding on him. She runs off. She runs into him again and has to turn him down for the dance because she does not have a corset and she is embarrassed. She does not tell him this. She also has a young girl's bathing suit on and she hides when Ricardo walks by. The next scene has the best song of the film, "Abba Dabba Honeymoon. It is performed perfectly by Debbie Reynolds & Carleton Carpenter. Jane is rejected again when Ricardo won't take her on a canoe ride because she says she can't swim. She finds out her snobby friend is trying to sabotage her relationship with him so she can get him. Jane goes into a canoe by herself and falls in the lake. Ricardo tries to save her and she struggles to shore so he won't find out she is wearing a corset. She dances with him the next night at arms length. She is having a great time and the the snobby girl tell's all the guys she does not wear a corset and they make fun of her. She also tells Ricardo. Jane runs off crying. Her father decides to buy her a corset the next day. He buys her a surgical corset. Jane and her mother talk it over and she agrees to get her a corset. Jane then has a wonderful dream sequence wearing a pink corset. She looks stunningly beautiful. She really has a nice pair of legs. She sings and dances with Ricardo. The next night she gets to fill in and dance with Ricardo in her new corset given to her by her father. The do a wonderful dance, but her corset locks as the dance ends. The whole family comes to her aide and her mother releases her from the corset. It turns out her father bought her a surgical corset. Ricardo tells her parents of his intentions to see Jane and court her. Happy ending to a great film. I challenge anyone who loves old musicals to not enjoy this film. Jane Powell, Ricardo Montalban, Louis Calhern, Carleton Carpenter & Debbie Reynolds are perfectly cast for this film. Great, Awesome, Incredible Film.

I love this movie not just because of Jane Powell's charming performance or Ricardo Montalban's romantic looks, but for its wonderful recreation of the period and most of all for its heartfelt appreciation of the angst of growing up and moving from girl to woman. And it's so funny!- the scene where her (surgical) corset locks during her longed-for dance with Ricardo is hilarious. What more could you ask - even Debbie Reynolds is (comparatively) restrained.