American Pop, released in 1981, has got to be one of the best showcase films of Bakshi’s unique animation storytelling style. Not only is the soundtrack great, but the film follows a family through 4 generations of pursuing the American dream, armed with only talent and perseverance. While the definition of American pop music changes with each generation, the general theme of chasing the dream using whatever tools you find at your disposal is constant. underlying struggles against poverty and political strife, pitfalls of addiction and relationship struggles in those landscapes are a constant theme. This continuity is the secret, more than the music itself, to captivating the audience, who all on some level are chasing their own American dream.

Bakshi has a realism in his creations that comes from more than the overlay of animations on real actors. He doesn’t look for the fairy tale ending but rather highlights the ongoing struggles of humanity, warts and all. He never shys from political strife and war, he shows struggles with poverty like someone who has experienced it first hand, and he doesn’t even judge the seedier lifestyle that so many of his characters (at least in this movie) find themselves while trying to eek out a living with the hand their were dealt.

Treat yourself to some Vintage Vinyl Records

American Pop begins with a Jewish widow fleeing war-torn Russia in the 1890s with her young son. They wind up in America where, still a boy, he finds work helping the music director of a Burlesque theater/brothel. Music from Gershwin, Louis Prima and Herbie Hancock cover the early piano and jazz styles. The Mamas and the Papas, and Bob Dylan give way to the Lynard Skynyrd as folk music developed a harder edge and American Pop music became synonymous with rock’n’roll. . But you’ll have to watch the movie to really appreciate this anthem to the American dream.

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Holiday Inn is a 1942 gem which showcases the talents of both Bing Crosby and Fred Astaire. It is a romantic musical to be enjoyed at any American holiday. It’s the old story about who is best to win a girl’s heart…a crooner who can dance or a dancer who can sing. Crosby and Astaire start off the film as part of a successful trio with Virginia Dale. Jim Hardy (Crosby) has plans to retire from the entertainment to run a little country hotel, his wants to start a more traditional life there with his partner Lila (Dale), but she isn’t done chasing her dreams in the entertainment world and chooses to stay with Ted Hanover (Astaire) instead. The trio breaks and Ted and Lila form a dancing duo.

Fast forward to December, Jim returns to the big city with an idea of turning his Country Inn into a holidays only venue for dinner and entertainment. He is laughed at by Ted and his agent, but the agent refers a girl Linda Mason (Marjorie Reynolds), who has been harassing him for work, to the Holiday Inn. The next day Jim introduces Linda (and the world) to Irving Berlin’s award winning song White Christmas. She is hired on and the place opens up for New Years’ celebrations.

Help Children in need with a symbolic gift

Meanwhile Ted gets dumped by Lila, who has found herself a millionaire. So he goes to see Jim at the Holiday Inn because he can relate. There he gets drunk and entertains the packed house, with Linda in tow. His agent thinks he has found a new partner, but he is too hungover to remember the previous nights events, and Jim, terrified of history repeating itself hides Linda from Ted and his agent. The film plays out in a game of cat and mouse where Jim falls in love again and does everything he can to keep his old friend and ex partner away from his girl.

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White Christmas is a classic from Irving Berlin and he did entertainment like youngsters today have never seen. Long before video games and other consumer electronics, this is an old school Christmas musical which brings together Rosemary Clooney (George Clooney’s aunt), Bing Crosby, Vera Ellen and Danny Kaye. White Christmas is an uplifting and heartwarming romance filled with dance, comedy and music and it’s in color! Subplot to the romance, is a WWII military connection which is really about goodwill and the spirit of brotherly love and loyalty, a Christmas tradition once as strong as giving Thanks at Thanksgiving.

White Christmas covers two Christmases, first is during the war. Bing plays Captain Bob Wallace who is joined on stage by private Davis (played by Kaye) who hopes to break into real showbiz. Their beloved Major General has just received orders that his tour is done and the whole unit gives him a boisterous send off in song. Suddenly the gathering is broke up as they come under attack, Davis ends up knocking Wallace out of the way of a collapsing wall, saving his life, Wallace in gratitude promises to make him a performance partner when they get home.

The pair go on to be very successful, running an entire production house. They meet a pair of sisters who are also performers and are instantly attracted. The business minded older sister and Wallace but heads a little because they are so alike, while the younger pair plot to see them married. The four share a train north where they decide to go to Vermont together instead of NY in hopes to have a white Christmas. Their Vermont host is none other than the Major General who is about to lose his shirt because it’s a mild winter and his resort has no visitors for lack of snow. Wallace hatches a plot to attract tourists by bringing his whole production house up to the beautiful location while romantic hijinks ensue.

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Originally a stage musical, Gentleman Prefer Blonds director Howard Hawks brought in choreographer Jack Cole to direct the film’s stage performances. Charles Coburn, Taylor Holmes, Tommy Noonan, Elliot Ried, Norma Varden and George Winslow star as supporting cast. Songs were added just for the movie, written by the team of Harold Adamson and Hoagy Carmichael.

The movie’s principle Blond bombshell Lorelei Lee is engaged to marry a nerdy and naive Gus Esmond, played by Tommy Noonan, but he comes from old money and Esmond Sr doesn’t think that a showgirl is a suitable wife for his son. He keeps his son from sailing away to Paris to marry Ms. Lee and when she goes ahead on the ship with a promissory note for expenses, he has a private eye Ernie Malone, played by Elliott Reid tail her.

Lorelei is partial to diamonds and the ship has a diamond tycoon Sir Francis Beekman, played by Charles Coburn, on board. He flirts with her relentlessly despite being married. He manages to demonstrate a python’s hold on Lorelei, just when Malone snaps some incriminating photos. Dorothy who is accompanying Lorelei to Paris, catches him and hatches a plot to get the misleading photos away from him before they can be passed onto Esmond Sr. She and Lorelei drug him and get the film. When Sir Francis learns that he almost had proof of his infidelity in the wrong hands, he gives Lorelei his wife’s diamond tiara in thanks.

Once in Paris, the girls have to work as the promissory note has been withdrawn by Esmond Sr. Lady Beekman reports her tiara stolen and Lorelei is accused. Ready to hand it over, she can’t find the evidence. Meanwhile the Esmonds, Jr and Sr have shown up. And Malone and Dorothy are in love, but don’t know it.

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Money is easy come and easy go in Las Vegas. And Lucky gets the cash that he needs only to lose it again, after being knocked into the pool by Ann Margret’s character, swimming instructor Rusty Martin. Unable to even pay his hotel bill, Lucky starts working as a waiter, then signs up to a talent contest, hoping to try his fortune once again at getting the money for his car’s engine.

Before the contest, Lucky sets to wooing Rusty. His competition for both the girl and the Grand Prix is Ceasar Danova playing Count Elmo Mancini, driving his Ferrari 250 GT Berlinetta. Rusty falls for Lucky, but wants to make a few changes.

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This movie, described as a “neo-noir” rock musical, is set in an alternate reality that mixes 1950s elements with 1980s themes. The acting seems weak, but it is most likely a bad script as the cast includes a young Rick Morannis, and hunky heartthrob Micheal Pare. The musical score is pretty good too, so long as you don’t take this movie too seriously, you will enjoy it.

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