LPCDreissues: Looking forward to the past

Besides being the film made immortal by Fred Astaire's dancing-on-the-ceiling number, "You're All The World To Me," Royal Wedding marked the beginning of a golden year for M-G-M producer Arthur Freed, one that would later include the musical triumphs Show Boat and An American In Paris. The story of a brother-sister Broadway team bringing its hit show to London at the time of the wedding of Princess Elizabeth and Philip Mountbatten -- each of the principals finding their own love along the way -- Royal Wedding was intended for Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers. How Jane Powell wound up in the female lead is a story unto itself. Astaire and Rogers had enjoyed huge success with The Barkleys Of Broadway, and Freed hoped to reunite the star-powered team. Rogers wasn't interested, so Freed cast June Allyson, who was at the height of her popularity at M-G-M. When Allyson became pregnant and bowed out, Judy Garland entered the picture. After a few days of rehearsals during which the star's emotional struggles interfered, Freed and Astaire had Garland removed from the production. Enter Jane Powell, a huge M-G-M star with acting, singing, and dancing talents perfect for a teaming with the larger-than-life Fred Astaire. Directed by Stanley Donen and featuring music by Alan Jay Lerner and Burton Lane, Royal Wedding dazzled with innovative camera work and top-notch tunes. Astaire and Powell had three duets: "Ev'ry Night At Seven," " I Left My Hat In Haiti," and "Open Your Eyes." "Too Late Now," written especially for Powell's range and timbre, earned an Oscar® nomination for Best Song. Then there's Astaire's other big solo turn, "Sunday Jumps," wherein the star dances with a hat rack and other items inside the ocean liner's gymnasium. Both that sequence and "You're All The World To Me" were included in the hit 1974 M-G-M compilation That's Entertainment! This Rhino Handmade / Turner Classic Movies Music release is the first to include the entire score to Royal Wedding, along with choice underscoring cues. As bonus material, we've also added a 1950 promotional interview with Jane Powell and Fred Astaire. All recordings have been remastered from original sources. Royal Wedding is available as an individually numbered limited edition of 2,500 copies.
TRACK LISTING MAIN TITLE (1:36) EV'RY NIGHT AT SEVEN (6:05) DUNE'S CAFÉ (HOW ABOUT YOU) (1:11) SUNDAY JUMPS (3:23) OPEN YOUR EYES (4:17) LONDON MONTAGE (0:35) YOU'RE ALL THE WORLD TO ME PIANO (0:43) WI' A HUNDRED PIPERS (1:46) THE HAPPIEST DAY OF MY LIFE (2:24) HOW COULD YOU BELIEVE ME WHEN I SAID I LOVE YOU WHEN YOU KNOW I'VE BEEN A LIAR ALL MY LIFE? (4:37) TOO LATE NOW (3:48) EV'RY NIGHT AT SEVEN (REPRISE) (Outtake) (1:59) ANNE'S PICTURE (1:31) YOU'RE ALL THE WORLD TO ME (4:08) I LEFT MY HAT IN HAITI (6:13) WE CAN'T GET MARRIED (2:38) WHAT A LOVELY DAY FOR A WEDDING (1:16) BEFORE THE WEDDING (2:44) WEDDING MARCH (1:36) DEVONSHIRE REGIMENT (Traditional) (1:35) END TITLE (1:02) FRED ASTAIRE & JANE POWELL INTERVIEW WITH DICK SIMMONS