Vincente Minnelli 1962-1976 (The Old Man is Still Alive, Part 5)

whatshot 11 snips

Feb 11, 2025

Explore the fascinating decline and reinvention of Vincente Minnelli’s cinematic career after his MGM years. Delve into the creative tensions of his production of 'Gigi' and its surprising Oscar success amidst struggles. Discover the chaotic remake of 'Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse' and the personal challenges he faced, including the role of his daughter Liza. Uncover the cultural divides that shaped audience reactions in the Cold War era and how the shifting landscape of Hollywood impacted his legacy.

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ANECDOTE

Minnelli's Early Career

Vincente Minnelli, born Lester, began his career in Chicago designing windows, then costumes and sets.
At MGM, he directed musicals, including hits with Judy Garland like Meet Me in St. Louis.

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INSIGHT

Minnelli's Biggest Hit

Though known for musicals, Minnelli's biggest hit, Gigi, and his non-musical Some Came Running, both explore transactional sex.
These films, adapted from literature, subtly address complex gender dynamics within the constraints of 1950s Hollywood.

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ANECDOTE

Gigi's Troubled Production

Gigi's production was fraught with issues, including budget overruns, reshoots, and censorship concerns.
Despite this, it won nine Oscars, though Minnelli wasn't involved in the final reshoots.

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Rediscovering Vincent Minnelli

02:52 • 8min

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The Evolution of Vincente Minnelli

10:36 • 5min

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Minnelli's MGM: A Complex Legacy

15:57 • 11min

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Creative Tensions and Oscar Triumph in 'Gigi'

26:36 • 3min

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Remaking a Silent Classic: Trials and Triumphs

29:15 • 13min

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Cultural Divides and Critical Reception of a Minnelli Classic

42:43 • 6min

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MGM's Transformation and Minnelli's Legacy

48:27 • 29min

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The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse

Emmet Fox

In this booklet, Emmet Fox interprets the symbolism of the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse from a spiritual and philosophical perspective. Fox, known for his New Thought teachings, provides insights into the deeper meanings and implications of this biblical imagery, relating it to personal growth and spiritual development.

The Bad and the Beautiful

No subtitle available

No author name available.

This classic Hollywood melodrama explores the dark side of the film industry, focusing on the tumultuous lives and relationships of ambitious individuals. The film delves into themes of ambition, betrayal, and the price of fame. It features iconic performances and showcases the glamorous yet often ruthless world of Hollywood. The narrative follows the intertwined lives of several characters, highlighting their struggles for success and the sacrifices they make along the way. The film's exploration of the human condition within the context of Hollywood's golden age remains relevant today.

Switch

How to Change Things When Change Is Hard

Chip Heath

Dan Heath

In 'Switch', Chip and Dan Heath explore why making lasting changes is difficult due to the conflict between the rational mind and the emotional mind. They present a framework for successful change by uniting these two minds, drawing on decades of research in psychology, sociology, and other fields. The book provides compelling examples of how everyday people have achieved dramatic results by following this pattern, whether in personal, organizational, or societal contexts.

On the Clock

What Low-Wage Work Did to Me and How It Drives America Insane

Emily Guendelsberger

In 'On the Clock,' Emily Guendelsberger chronicles her experiences working in three different low-wage jobs: an Amazon fulfillment center in Kentucky, a call center in North Carolina, and a McDonald's in San Francisco. The book examines the broken social safety net and an economy that prioritizes efficiency and profit over human well-being. Guendelsberger details how workers are treated like machines, with their every move tracked and optimized for productivity, and explores the lengths people go to make a living in these conditions. The book offers a critical look at the modern workplace and proposes solutions to make work more humane for millions of Americans.

The Sound of Music Story

The novel begins with the memoirs of Archibald McCandless, a Scottish public health officer, who recounts his friendship with the genius Godwin Baxter. Godwin resurrects a drowned woman, Bella Baxter, by transplanting the brain of her unborn daughter into her head. Bella's journey involves her education, elopement with Duncan Wedderburn, and eventual return to Scotland, where she becomes involved in various social and political movements. The story is framed by multiple narratives, including a letter from McCandless's widow, which critiques the Victorian era and questions the truth of the events described. The book is a mix of farce, melodrama, and humor, while also being a political novel that explores Scottish national identity, Victorian gender roles, and scientific progress.

The man who shot Liberty Valance

James Warner Bellah

John Ford's "The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance" is a classic Western that explores themes of mythmaking, justice, and the taming of the American West. The film features a compelling narrative structure, shifting between the present and the past to reveal the complexities of the story. Jimmy Stewart portrays a lawyer who arrives in a lawless town, challenging the established order. John Wayne plays a gunslinger who embodies the violent spirit of the frontier. The film's nuanced portrayal of heroism and the clash between civilization and savagery makes it a timeless Western.

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Pocket Full of Miracles

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Once upon a Time in Hollywood

Vincente Minnelli was the ultimate creature of the studio system, spending twenty years working for MGM and perfecting a distinct brand of big-budget, beautifully designed, often musical entertainment, from Meet Me in St. Louis to An American in Paris, The Bad and the Beautiful to Gigi. Minnelli’s late period begins with two films he made toward the end of his run at MGM, his proto-psychedelic remake of Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse (1962) and Two Weeks in Another Town, which painted such a caustic picture of moviemaking decadence that MGM forcibly recut it. Knocked off his game, with both his faculties and his power waning, Minnelli made a trilogy of films about reincarnation and rebirth, one of which starred his famous daughter, Liza.

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