Posted on 01/20/2016 2:55:45 PM PST by CharlesOConnell
I'm A Lonesome Polecat - Seven Brides for Seven Brothers
Lyricist Johnny Mercer said that the musical numbers were written at Kidd's behest, as an example "of how a songwriter sometimes has to take his cue from his collaborators." For example, Kidd explained to Mercer and dePaul his conception of the "Lonesome Polecat" number, the lament of the brothers for the women, and the two worked out the music and lyrics.
To perform the electrifying dance numbers and grueling action sequences, choreographer Michael Kidd wanted dancers to portray all six of Adam Pontipee's rough and tumble brothers. Kidd said that he "had to find a way to have these backwoods men dance without looking ridiculous. I had to base it all around activities you would accept from such people --- it couldn't look like ballet. And it could only have been done by superbly trained dancers." However, he was able to integrate into the cast two non-dancer MGM contract players who were assigned to the film, Jeff Richards, who performed just the simpler dance numbers, and Russ Tamblyn, utilizing him in the dance numbers by exploiting his talents as a gymnast and tumbler.
The other four brothers were portrayed by professional dancers — Matt Mattox, Marc Platt, Tommy Rall, and Jacques d'Amboise. All four balanced on a beam together during their famous barn-raising dance.
The wood-chopping scene in Lonesome Polecat was filmed in a single take
I knew what this was about just from reading the title! LOL One of my favorite movies.
Got it on dvd a couple of years ago. Great movie.
2 different flavors
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mL7n5mEmXJo
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A52p9jc-gOo
This is the scene everyone would remember.
Barn Raising Dance (7 Brides for 7 Brothers)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TygmMPbwfjA
I remember seeing this on TV in the 1960’s and when the baby cried, I asked my mother, why did they all say it as theirs?
I’m much older now LOL
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5qH1pBTqvc4
Another song that uses occupational equipment to produce the rhythm!
LOL - beat me to it!!
www.youtube.com/embed/n6mbW-jMtrY?rel=0"
My daughter and I were watching this just this morning- this has been my favorite film for many, many years. She went on to watch several of the other scenes- and watched the barn-raising dance several times (made me late getting out the door this morning, as I was watching it with her).
Coincidentally, our local (restored) Paramount theater in Abilene, Texas, is going to be showing this movie next month. I last saw it there about thirty years ago, and we are definitely planning to go, as all of us love this one.
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