Poster for the 1964 edition of "Happy People"
In 1964, 55 years ago, there was a fantasy song and dance film "Happy People" that sensationalized the world film industry, conquering the audience with the most gorgeous film special effects and funny song and dance at that time, receiving 13 nominations for the Academy Awards of that year, and finally winning 7 awards including Best Actress, Best Song, Best Editing, Best Visual Effects, Best Original Score and Best Picture, and the heroine British actress Julie. Andrews became famous for this, and the following year starred in the familiar "The Sound of Music", becoming an international film star familiar to the Chinese audience.
Stills from the 1964 edition of "Happy People"
Playing the male lead is the American comedian Dick Van, the film opens with his comical juggling and dancing performing on the street, exaggerated and humorous facial expressions, witty and funny body movements that bring the film to a climax at once; his passionate dance and the heroine's gentle and beautiful singing voice are in harmony, coupled with the high-tech animation and live-action mixed shooting at that time, bringing the film into a fresh, peculiar and joyful world, especially Dick's dance with penguins. It is a classic in the dance world, no less than Gold. Kelly's "Song in the Rain"; in addition, on the roof, he and the chimney workers' group dance also bring the film into a carnival feast, as if the whole world is affected by this group of energetic dirty boys, even the air will dance to a cheerful rhythm; the performance of the supporting roles in the film can also be remarkable, and the hands and feet are full of joy; the admiral who has not forgotten his military career after retirement; the maid who panics and nervous all day; the bank clerk who lives as well as the clock These characters add more comedic effect to the film, allowing the audience to plunge into an ocean of joy as soon as they enter the cinema.
In contrast, the 2018 version of "Happy People 2", although there is a british superstar Emily who has been red and purple in recent years and has a good beauty. Blunt starred, and is recognized as the world's first acting school veteran drama bone Meryl. Streep plays a supporting role, but as a comedy song and dance film, their singing and dancing skills are obviously not as good as those of their predecessors 55 years ago, and the improvements in clothing, makeup, cinematography, film special effects, etc. brought by modern technology cannot make up for the gap between the two films.
Emily. Blunt
At present, Hollywood has blind superstitious technical means to bring help to the film, but ignores the excavation of the essence of the film content, often tends to commercial means with technical means to promote and produce movies, the result is that the output of the film gives people a feeling of lack of breath, high expectations but often the last thing to get is disappointment, comedy song and dance after watching neither laugh nor feel the joy and dynamic brought by music and dance; of course, there are good examples, such as 2016's "Philharmonic City" made a good job. There are not many flashy stunts in the film, and the whole film is still filled with the common singing and dancing in the movies of decades ago, but the feelings brought to the audience are very enjoyable, both for the couples in love in the movie, but also for their eventual separation, and the audience has completely become a prisoner of the film.
The new and old version of "Full of Joy" is a typical negative example, the latter work is obviously not as good as the previous work, too dependent on modern film technology is counterproductive, so high technology is also a double-edged sword, the producer to find a balance is also a knowledge.
Poster for the 2018 edition of "Happy Man 2"