"Now you got to have friends. You know the feeling's oh so strong. You got to have friends. To make that day last long!" (Buzzy Linhart, Mark Kingman, 1973).

As we come to the close of another year of blogs, let's end where we began, with a look at  Friendship in the Movie Musical.  

Welcome to the 2021 Year-End Edition~~ The Faces of Friendship

In the classic movie musical, friendship is an essential component of the story.

The best friend not only supports a blossoming romance but often becomes the fixer that brings the couple together when it falls apart through misunderstanding. (Sinjin, Orchestra Wives, Gideon, Seven Brides For Seven Brothers, Phil, White Christmas).

The "fixer" is also seen in parental characters:

• The Widow Paroo (The Music Man) when she uses the "think system" on Marian and the Professor "from the parlor!")

• Papa (Fiddler on the Roof and Meet Me in St. Louis). He supports his daughter's pursuit of love. First,  by allowing her to answer a long-distance call that begins the relationship. (Lon Smith Sr Meet Me in St. Louis,) Then offering his permission/blessing for marriage. (Tevye, Fiddler on the Roof).

The concept of a friend as a fixer reaches further than the mending of the love relationship. Often the fixer is the reality check. (Ben Franklin, 1776, Cosmo Brown, Singin' in the Rain, Jeff Douglas,  Brigadoon)  

Ben Franklin uses reality to keep John Adams' ego in check. ("John, your obnoxious and disliked; no one listens to you!" "Independence first, America -- if we don't secure that what difference will the rest make?")

Cosmo Brown does the same for Don Lockwood. ("She's the first girl who hasn't fallen for your line since you were four.”)

Jeff Douglas uses reality to hurt his friend and belittle the love Tommie feels for Fiona. ("I don't know what goes on around here, but it's got nothing to do with me or you! You want to give up your family, your friends, your whole life for this!") Jeff's anger at Tommie's feelings  ("I believe in her! I believe in this place, and I can't leave.”) stems from jealousy and fear. Jealousy that his friend has found a contentment that he has never seen and fear of losing his best friend to a rival he does not understand.

Rivalry, jealousy, and fear are common themes in Easter Parade and Holiday Inn. However, the ability of each character to deal with these emotions is vastly different.

In Easter Parade, Johnny Harrow's respect and love for his friends (Don Hewes and  Hannah Brown) outweigh his jealousy. After professing his love for Hannah ("People fall in love quickest in a rainstorm. I can prove it because that's when I fell in love with you."), she confesses, "I'm in love with Don." Johnny demonstrating grace and maturity steps aside and becomes a friend,  and a fixer, when he tells Hannah (after a fight with Don) to "put on his favorite dress and wash your face, you look horrible!"

That kind of honesty is lost on Ted Hannover and Jim Hardy in Holiday Inn. Instead, their relationship centers on rivalry and deceit. Whether it's a tug-of-war for Lila in "I'll Capture Her Heart" or trying to steal the girl after she's engaged. (Jim to Linda: "Maybe when we start doing better, you can stay out here all the time." Linda: "I guess I'm engaged!")

Upon hearing of Linda's engagement, Ted does not bow out gracefully. Instead, he confesses, "I love you too," and schemes to separate Linda and Jim. ("Two minutes ago, I would have sold my chances for a tired dime. But when a man is surprised he is going to be married, that's when I go to work with a clear conscience.”) 

As the story progresses, Jim fails to keep Linda from the Inn during the Independence Day show and watches her leave for Hollywood with Ted. By Thanksgiving, Jim's loneliness forces him to close the Inn and lament his circumstances when he tells Mamie, "I tried to keep her here!" Following a tongue lashing from Mamie ("What kinda keepin' is that? Nothin' but tricks? You could melt her heart right down to butter! If you'd only turn up the heat!"), Jim takes on the role of the rival. ("Mamie, you don't try to take a fellow's gal away from him after he's bought the ring. Or, as I recall, do you?")    

In playing Ted's game, Jim wins the girl (with a pipe on a piano and a crooner's rendition of White Christmas), but will he be a better man and a better friend in the future?

To answer that, let's consider what makes a good/valued friend. This person sees you for the extraordinary individual you are, applauds your success, lifts you in troubled times, and supports you as your life and love move you forward. In that light, Cosmo Brown (Singin' in The Rain) and Phil Davis (White Christmas) are the best friends. Each man seeks only to support his friend in his career and love relationship. Although Phil's ulterior motive is "45 minutes all to myself," and he does his share of scheming to get it, his motivation for his friends' happiness is pure.

The remaining faces of friendship may not be as pure; they keep the stories moving forward and keep the Classic Movie Musical fan coming back again and again.

Thank you for spending this year with me Focused on Friendship. I wish you a safe and happy holiday season with your friends and family.

~Lori

References: 

Yauch, L (1 August 2021). Lifelong Friends {Blog Post}. Retrieved from www.moviesandmusic.biz

Yauch, L (1 February 2021). Influence of Friends {Blog Post}. Retrieved from www.moviesandmusic.biz

Yauch, L (9 February 2020). Influence of Friends {Blog Post}. Retrieved from www.moviesandmusic.biz

Yauch, L (1 November 2020 ). Holidays in Isolation {Blog Post}. Retrieved from www.moviesandmusic.biz

Yauch, L (4 July 2021 ). Mama Knows Best {Blog Post}. Retrieved from www.moviesandmusic.biz

Yauch, L (1 December 2019 ). Get Happy with White Christmas  {Blog Post}. Retrieved from www.moviesandmusic.biz

Yauch, L (31 October 2019 ). Kindness, Gone, or Just Forgotten? {Blog Post}. Retrieved from www.moviesandmusic.biz

Yauch, L (1 April 2019 ). Happiness on the Avenue  {Blog Post}. Retrieved from www.moviesandmusic.biz

Yauch, L (6 December 2015 ). Christmas Party  {Blog Post}. Retrieved from www.moviesandmusic.biz

Yauch, L (7 March 2015 ). Believe in Brigadoon  {Blog Post}. Retrieved from www.moviesandmusic.biz