After writing this post on Yip Harburg, I was anxious to do a return viewing of the 1968 movie musical Finian's Rainbow. Directed by Francis Ford Coppola, this was Fred Astaire's last musical lead.

So I went out and spent my $7.99 for the DVD. I'm glad the powers that be don't think much of old musicals, and price them accordingly! Ah, Fred Astaire, ah, Petula Clark, ah, Don Francks...

This musical has a special place in my heart 'cuz I was a peppy chorus member in my high school production. I tried out for the lead, and also for the role of "Susan the Silent" (I thought I was a shoe-in 'cuz I had the same name...but it actually went to someone much more qualified).

I shouldn't complain because the chorus numbers are so fun ("That Great Come and Get It Day", "This Time of the Year"). And they always played the movie version for us before we started rehearsals so we could get a feel for the show.

Keenan Wynn is also in the movie and if you close your eyes and listen to Fred Astaire and Keenan Wynn talk, you think you're watching Kris Kringle and the Winter Warlock in Santa Claus is Coming To Town! All that's missing is Mickey Rooney!

The racial tolerance subtext of Finian's Rainbow must have been considered radical when the show opened in 1947. There is an high-larious scene in the movie where Al Freeman, Jr. (the scientist who is working on getting a new hybrid of menthol tobacco to burn), goes to work for the racist senator (Keennan Wynn) and is instead hired as a butler. When he carries the mint julep "with a shuffle" I split my side laughing.

I love Petula Clark's voice. Always have. It makes me feel good when I hear it. In my opinion her voice seamlessly blends into the musical theatre score without making it sound too poppy. When I went to see Petula Clark not too long ago in concert in Toronto, she sounded amazing.

But the highlight of the evening was when she was told that Don Francks (a Canadian, who is also known by his native name, Iron Buffalo) was in the audience. She invited him onstage and they did an impromptu version of "Old Devil Moon". Don was all in denim and sported a ponytail. They hadn't sung together since the movie, but it was like 1968 all over again. Chills!

I know this movie has been criticized by some over the years, but hey, anything with Fred Astaire dancing in it is worth seeing!

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