About Helen Palmer
Find more about me on:
Google PlusWrapping Up: Gene Kelly Course at the National Media Museum (UK)
This entry is part 6 of 6 in the series Gene Kelly: National Media Museum.Helen wraps up her discussion of the Gene Kelly course at the National Media Museum… [Entire series here.] In the last session of our course we looked at Gene Kelly’s later career and legacy, beginning with his labour of love Invitation to the Dance (1956). Made in Europe but still in the MGM style, the experimental film tells three stories through dance, no dialogue. A clip of the “Sinbad the Sailor”...
Read MoreBrigadoon at the National Media Museum (UK)
This entry is part 4 of 6 in the series Gene Kelly: National Media Museum.Helen continues her discussion of the Gene Kelly course at the National Media Museum… [Entire series here.] The class’s next screening was the much-maligned Brigadoon. This musical is not one of my Kelly favourites although there are some delightful moments such as the “Heather on the Hill” number withKelly and Cyd Charisse (right) and the wonderfully fast-paced, noisy, neurotic New York scenes with...
Read MoreGene Kelly’s Style, Influence, and Techniques at the National Media Museum (UK)
This entry is part 3 of 6 in the series Gene Kelly: National Media Museum.Helen continues her discussion of the Gene Kelly course at the National Media Museum… Now focusing on Kelly as a dancer and choreographer, our class at the National Media Museum explored the star’s style, influence and recurring motifs, and the development of his techniques both in front of and behind the camera. In particular, we examined how his wartime experiences in a film unit sparked his interest in the...
Read MoreThe Pirate (1948) at The National Media Museum (UK)
This entry is part 2 of 6 in the series Gene Kelly: National Media Museum.Helen continues her discussion of the Gene Kelly course at the National Media Museum… I was excited to see a 35mm screening of The Pirate (Vincente Minnelli, 1948) on the big screen in the Museum’s cozy Cubby Broccoli Cinema, as I’d only ever seen it on TV and VHS. From the outset I was transfixed by the bright colours, outlandish costumes, Minnelli’s camera movements, and Kelly’s general swagger and...
Read MoreThe World’s His Stage: Gene Kelly at The National Media Museum (UK)
This entry is part 1 of 6 in the series Gene Kelly: National Media Museum.Whilst flicking through Twitter one evening, I spotted a tweet from @GeneKellyFans promoting a course at the National Media Museum in Bradford, UK. to celebrate the centenary of Gene Kelly’s birth. Long story short, I immediately cleared my Wednesday nights for the next seven weeks and signed up. I must confess to both a personal and academic interest here as I start a part-time PhD later this year, researching...
Read More
Recent Comments