It's Always Fair Weather

It's Always Fair Weather (1955)

MGM's Gigantic and Joyous Musical

Three World War II buddies promise to meet at a specified place and time 10 years after the war. They keep their word only to discover how far apart they've grown. But the reunion sparks memories of youthful dreams that haven't been fulfilled -- and slowly, the three men reevaluate their lives and try to find a way to renew their friendship.

Date of release
1955-08-30
TMDB
7.0 / 10 (80)
Runtime
1h 42m
Genres
Comedy, Romance
Director
Stanley Donen, Gene Kelly

Casting

Interesting facts

  • Awards: 0 · Nominations: 2

It's Always Fair Weather is a 1955 American musical romantic comedy film directed by Gene Kelly and Stanley Donen. The film was scripted by Betty Comden and Adolph Green, who also wrote the show's lyrics, with music by André Previn. It stars Kelly, Dan Dailey, Cyd Charisse, Dolores Gray, and dancer/choreographer Michael Kidd in his first film acting role.

Production

Screenwriters Betty Comden and Adolph Green conceived It's Always Fair Weather as a sequel to 1949's On the Town, intending to reunite Gene Kelly with his co-stars Frank Sinatra and Jules Munshin. It was to be produced as a Broadway show. Comden stated, "While we were trying to think of another idea for Gene, by chance we told him this story. Gene liked it." Kelly instead persuaded them to re-envision their idea into a musical film.

However, MGM studio president Dore Schary refused to hire either Sinatra or Munshin. By this point, Munshin's popularity had declined, having been relegated to comedic supporting roles, and multiple reasons have been given for Sinatra's absence. Apparently, Schary did not want to hire Sinatra due to his difficult work reputation.

Ultimately, Kelly chose fellow dancers Dan Dailey, who was under contract to MGM, and Michael Kidd, who had more experience as a choreographer (having choreographed the Broadway and film versions of Guys and Dolls as well as The Band Wagon) than as an actor. Dolores Gray and Cyd Charisse were cast in the central female roles.

Kelly asked his frequent collaborator Stanley Donen to co-direct with him. Donen, who had just scored a major success with Seven Brides for Seven Brothers (with Kidd as choreographer), initially declined to direct. He explained, "I didn't want to co-direct another picture with Kelly at that point.

Principal photography began on October 13, 1954, and wrapped on March 15, 1955. Due to Dore Schary's attempts at austerity, It's Always Fair Weather was not as lavishly produced when compared to An American in Paris (1951) and Singin' in the Rain (1952). Comden and Green sensed this during the scriptwriting process. On past titles, production numbers had to be approved by producer Arthur Freed.

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