"Keep on missing each other.  Our world's out of order.  All I see is missed opportunity.  Will we ever learn?  In trouble, where will we turn?  And when you're losing the fight, who's your white knight gonna be?" (John Oates, Daryl Hall, Sara Allen, 1988)

As I begin a new year of blogs centered on twelve of the finest Movie Musicals ever made, I want to explore the classic movie musical formula: Boy Meets  Girl, Boy Gets Girl,  Boy Loses Girl, and, in the end, Boy Gets Girl.

As friends, fans, and students of the classic movie musical, we know this formula is the genre's foundation.

In the beginning, there is the "Meet Cute." (Orchestra Wives, Meet Me in St. Louis), "The Chase." (The Music Man, Singin' in the Rain, Oklahoma), and "Love at First Sight." (Brigadoon), The song (Be Careful It's My  Heart ) and dance, (The Best Things Happen While You're Dancing) that lead to romance.  (Holiday Inn, White Christmas)

The romance is glorious, filled with dreams of slender and pale grooms (Fiddler on The Roof), a home to call your own (Seven Brides for Seven Brothers), and a walk up the avenue.  (Easter  Parade)

Unfortunately, such dreams are short-lived when a third party enters the relationship.  That party's name?  Misunderstanding.  Whether it's a person (Janie, Orchestra Wives,  Ted/Jim, Holiday Inn) or a rumor (White Christmas), misunderstanding weaves its way through the story causing boy to lose girl, which leads to separation and….

Welcome to The 2024 Edition - Missed Opportunity in The Classic Movie Musical

In the Classic Movie Musical, misunderstanding weaves through these love stories because neither party stops to "read the room." If they do, (Connie finds her husband in a hotel room with another woman – Orchestra Wives,  Hannah confronts Don about his feelings for Nadine - Easter Parade, Betty discovers that "television has entered the picture" for the production of Playing Around – White Christmas), their perceptions are wrong.  When they fail to communicate their feelings of betrayal, sadness, and anger, they miss an opportunity to mend their relationships.

An inability to "read the room" can also be seen in some movie musical friendships.  John Adams (1776) relied heavily on his friend Ben Franklin to keep him in check while attempting to monopolize Congress with speeches regarding independence.  ("You're obnoxious and disliked.  Let someone else propose!") Jeff Douglas  (Brigadoon)  fails to understand the depth of Tommie Albright's commitment to Fiona Campbell and, in anger, tries to reason with him.  ("I don't know what goes on around here, but it's got nothing to do with me or you!") 

As all the guidebook stories unfold, anger and pride seep into all the relationships, causing a rift that only the men can repair.

Millie is angry with Adam for kidnapping the brides and trekking them up the mountain as if they were cattle or prizes to be claimed.  (Seven Brides for Seven Brothers)  Adam responds with a solution to the logistical problem ("We'll get a parson up here some way.”) but fails to recognize the emotional state of his wife or the brides.  In anger, he leaves and misses an opportunity to understand his wife and perhaps all women.

When Linda separates from Jim  (Holiday Inn) following a scheme to keep her away from the Inn when Hollywood comes to call, her anger leads her to a career she does not want.  Jim's disappointment in her choice makes him feel justified in his methods ("I tried to keep her here!"), but also allows him to miss his opportunity to ask her to stay.  She aptly reminds him, "You decided I shouldn't have that opportunity!  Not even the opportunity to refuse!"

Bob and Betty (White Christmas) enter a "private war," culminating in Bob's attempt to apologize at the train station.  ("If I said anything, I didn't mean.  I must have sounded so stupid!")

Although on the surface, Bob's apology may seem "too little too late," it is sincere and heartfelt, as is Adam's "When You're In Love" upon his return to Millie when his daughter is born.  For Jim, a train ride to Hollywood and an expertly crooned rendition of "White Christmas" is enough to send Linda back into his arms.

Returning to the love relationship is the goal of the genre.  The formula is only complete if Boy Gets Girl!

But there is nothing in the script that says it's easy!  In the words of Tommie Albright: "Why do you have to lose things to find out what they really mean?"

Join me all year long as we explore this thought-provoking question and how it leads to changes in friendships, family dynamics, love relationships, and…Missed Opportunities.

~~Lori