I was thinking of "sister" themed things this morning and started searching for an old favorite. Now, I know the Irving Berlin song "Sisters" best represents our relationship, but did you remember the drag scene in the middle? I didn't, and I expect we've seen White Christmas at least a dozen times. Note how Bing Crosby is much less comfortable as a sissy than Danny Kaye, who was, actually, gay.An author at Gay Men Rule breaks it down here (also pasted below). I added in links to clips, so do click! They are great.
"Of course, the elephant in any room in which this movie is viewed is its homosexual over and under tones. Danny Kaye is oh so gay in his worshipful “buddy” relationship with Bing Crosby, in his obvious enjoyment of their drag version of “Sisters” and in his recoiling from the advances of Vera-Ellen. One never questions the fact that the General is a sexy unmarried widower who wants to re-enlist. It just seems natural that a man like him should live with other soldiers now that he’s done his civic marital duty. The housekeeper at the inn is a frighteningly mannish thing. Rosemary Clooney’s performance as a man-hater is entirely convincing. There is Vera-Ellen, a weird species unto herself (famous for having the smallest waist in Hollywood) whose mimicry of female sexuality in “Mandy, There’s Minister Handy” still makes my skin crawl a safe distance from the TV screen. Finally, those songs by Irving Berlin. “Gee, how I wish I was back in the army” includes the line “The army was the place to find romance” quickly reeling itself in to mention women in slacks. The “Choreography” number mentions “Queens with routines”. “Sisters” speaks for itself."
Check out the transgender movie guide for more old drag.
And I hope you clicked on the links for the clips. There's another youtube one with some horrible little girls on pointe. A final one to sum it up: Heat Wave
1 comment:
Oh no, the pointe shoe girls are terrible! Although that scene makes me wonder if Bing Crosby is just generally uncomfortable-looking. Kinda like a scared, constipated beagle. But it's been so long since I've seen him in anything... and White Christmas was never one of my favorites-- I knew the soundtrack better than the movie-- so all those clips felt very new!
One musical I do remember watching over and over, which I'm curious about re-viewing, is Silk Stockings, which I just realized was a remake of the wonderful Ninotchka ("Garbo smiles! And so will you!") It includes a scene where dumpy communist spies sing a song expressing their anxiety of being sent to Siberia. ("There's a most delicious bill of fare, you must try our filet of polar bear" is a line that, for some reason, has been in my head lately.)
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