It's Always Fair Weather (1955)

Don't listen to the negative reviews

A lot of fun.

Pretty good movie overall. First half was nothing special but it got better as it went along.

When a movie has you begging for it to end not even half way through it's pure crap. We've all seen this movie and this characters millions of times, nothing new in it. Don't waste your time.

We've been fans of MGM musicals for many years, but somehow we never got around to watching this. I'm afraid we were left wondering what went wrong, as it is a long way from MGM's best. The first half hour contains a far-too-long (and not very good) dance sequence and a lot of poor dialogue. Then the film sinks into a rather sour flavour and the second-rate song and dance routines do little to lift the mood. The stand-out segment (sadly much too short) is Kelly's 'I like Myself' on roller skates, which is a classic warm & happy MGM number with glorious, flowing music and lush orchestration. There is a happy ending, but not before a rather depressing TV show scene. I think this story would have been far better as a non-musical drama, as the bitter taste and social comment does not lend itself to the classic MGM musical style. It pains me to give MGM such a low score, but it's a 4 from me.

This is reminiscent of early Woody Allen; three half-decent numbers punctuated by a puerile storyline. Dolores Gray owns the best pipes in the movie by a country mile but never gets anything worthy of them. Comden and Green are highly over-rated lyricists even at their best and when they're mediocre as here one longs for a Cole Porter or Larry Hart to show them how the big boys do it. The dustbin lid routine is not too hard to take but Kelly's dance on roller skates has been oversold and those who do so seem to forget that Fred did it first, with Ginger yet, back in the depression. As for the plot - three GIs celebrate their discharge in 1945, make a vow to meet on the same day in 1955 to prove to a bartender that they will remain friends - this in itself is a dodgy premise because why would three guys who have bonded in four years of war go their separate ways for ten years; at worst they would meet annually, at best once a month. Inevitably when they do meet in ten years it's a bust. Clearly the movie can't end there so they have to regain their old camaraderie but this is contrived so ineptly it's embarrassing.It's okay but no more than that.

This film was definitely a feast for the eyes. I loved the dance sequences, who does not like a good Chyd Charisse dance? I also loved the roller-skating number. I am a big fan of movies like "Singin' In the Rain" but to be honest, I had never heard of this film until I had to see it for a film class. This movies differs from those classic musicals though. In "It's Always Fair Weather" the three main characters are always drinking and smoking. This is a sign of the times but I can see why it would not be considered wholesome fun. Also, it is such a bittersweet musical while others are more of a classic, "tie it all in a bow" ending. I think this might have hurt its ability to become a classic. The music was alright, nothing extremely unique but definitely still enjoyable to watch. I did some research and it seems that "It's Always Fair Weather" premiered towards the end of the musical era. So I think it is fair to say that if you are a fan of this genre, it is a must see. Gene Kelly is fabulous as always, I am sad that we do not have talents like him anymore. I also wish this phase of Hollywood cinema would come back! It is such fun to watch. In conclusion, if you are expecting a completely happy musical, you may want to reconsider. These friends realize just how much they have grown apart which is a bittersweet truth for everyone. However, I would see it for Gene Kelly alone as well as the fabulous dancing by the other actors.

It's Always Fair Weather is a light-hearted, witty, and humorous musical. The three main characters begin as war buddies and are having a drink at a local bar, when therefore they say their good byes before they go and lead their civilian lives. As best friends, they make an agreement to meet at that same bar ten years down the road to see how their lives turned out. They collect money from each of them and put it in the hanging light fixture. There is a song after this scene that shows how each of their lives progress. This scene is especially comical. Each one of the men have a distinct personality: one is a ladies man with no ties, one is a family man, and the other a business man. When they meet up, they quickly discover that they were not the same men they were during the war. The progression of their lives have separated them and made them quite different. A dramatic and ridiculous TV hostess decides to base one of her episodes on getting these three gentlemen back together as friends. It turns into a chaotic scene, including fights, chases, and accusations. In the end, the three rekindle their friendship. This movie is also a critique on television itself. There are several jabs in the movie about how phony television is compared to the movie industry. An example of this is the dancing girls that are wearing boxes as advertisements for the television commercials. This makes the television industry look silly compared to the high class world of the movies. This movie was made in a period of time where television was on the rise, and the movie industry was having to work at keeping ahead and their profits up. This was a technique. Overall, this was an enjoyable movie with a lot of laughs and impressive dance numbers.