OSCAR’S BIGGEST GAFFE
Legendary director Stanley Donnen danced off this mortal coil at 94. He was born in Columbia, SC, and he always wanted to be a dancer. His affection for dancing shows in most of his movies. In an incredible 10-year span he directed some of the greatest movie musicals ever made.
We begin with On The Town (1949). Three sailors have a 24-hour leave to spend in New York City. With music by Leonard Bernstein and Roger Edens, and lyrics by Comden and Green, it is a delight from start to finish. Frank Sinatra, Vera-Ellen and Ann Miller sing and dance up a storm in the Big Apple.
Royal Wedding (1951) is the fictional story of a brother and sister who go to London to witness the wedding of Princess Elizabeth and Prince Phillip. Jane Powell (cute but not really a dancer) and Fred Astaire star. The film features two famous Astaire dances- one in which he dances with a hat rack and another in which he dances up the walls and on the ceiling. 
Next comes the iconic Singin’ In The Rain (1952) with Donald O’Connor dancing up a wall, and Gene Kelly and Debbie Reynolds hoofing wonderfully. Kelly’s signature dance down the street in the rain is worth watching all by itself! It’s also a great story- about Hollywood’s switch from silents to talkies and the effect on different actors. 
Great dancing is the hallmark of Seven Brides For Seven Brothers (1954). The dancing is so athletic you get tired just watching. The story is very politically incorrect as the women all get pregnant while being snowbound with the brothers one bad winter. But forget that part- just watch the dancing! Howard Keel and Jane Powell are the stars, but the film also includes a very young Russ Tamblyn and Julie Newmar.
Audrey Hepburn plays the title character in Funny Face. Kay Thompson plays a fashion magazine editor and Fred Astaire is her photographer. The complicated plot involves convincing Audrey to become a model and Fred falling for her.
The Pajama Game (1957) is a somewhat dated comedy about workers in a textile factory, their loves and losses and especially their annual picnic and hopes for a raise. John Raitt (great singer) and Doris Day (good singer and cute) are the stars. The songs are still really good.
Are you old enough to remember when the New York Yankees always won the pennant? I sure am and so was Douglass Wallop, who turned The Year The Yankees Lost The Pennant into the stage play and movie Damn Yankees (1958). Tab Hunter plays the sincere but rather slow-witted Joe Hardy, a Washington Senators fan who sells his soul to the devil’s disciple (Gwen Verdon, the sultry siren Lola). He becomes the best baseball player ever much to the delight of Washington fans. 
Now- about that title. I didn’t write about Stanley Donnen’s Oscars because he didn’t win any. It gets worse. HE WAS NEVER EVEN NOMINATED FOR BEST DIRECTOR! And I consider that the worst gaffe ever made by the Motion Picture Academy. They did give him one of those Lifetime Achievement deals and he was characteristically gracious about it. 
All of the films in this article are available on DVD and fine for all audiences