It’s Always Fair Weather Synopsis & Review: Plot Summary

🎯 Quick Overview

😅 Plot Summary – Badly Explained

Three war buddies meet up 10 years later just to discover they hate each other, only to be forced onto a weird reality TV show where gangsters show up.

🍿 It’s Always Fair Weather: Detailed Plot Synopsis

A Post-War Promise

In October 1945, as World War II ends, three U.S. Army buddies—Ted Riley, Doug Hallerton, and Angie Valentine—celebrate their return to New York City. Full of youthful optimism and wartime camaraderie, they vow to reunite at the same bar, Tim’s, in exactly ten years to the day. They seal this promise with a bet and a torn dollar bill.

Ten Years Later: A Strained Reunion

October 11, 1955 arrives, and Ted, Doug, and Angie all make their way back to Tim’s bar. However, the years have changed them dramatically. Ted is now a small-time gambler and fight promoter, disillusioned by life. Doug, who dreamed of being an artist, has become an ulcer-ridden, cynical advertising executive. Angie is a seemingly content family man running a diner upstate.

Friendship Lost and Found

Their reunion is awkward and quickly devolves into arguments as they realize they have little in common and even dislike who the others (and themselves) have become. Their contrasting life paths and failed dreams create palpable tension. They part ways feeling disappointed and bitter about their lost connection.

A Televised Opportunity

Circumstance intervenes when Jackie Leighton, a program coordinator for a live television variety show hosted by the flamboyant Madeline Bradville, learns of the veterans’ reunion. Seeking human-interest content, Jackie decides to bring the three men onto the show for an on-air surprise reunion. Unbeknownst to them, this will force them back together under the spotlight.

Complications and Undercurrents

As Jackie tries to keep the three men occupied until the show, their individual problems come to the forefront. Ted is dealing with gangsters connected to a fixed boxing match involving his fighter. Doug grapples with his unsatisfying career and strained marriage, while Angie tries to navigate the glitzy city life he’s unused to. Jackie finds herself unexpectedly drawn to Ted, despite his rough exterior.

⚠️ Spoilers and Ending Explained

🎬 Cast & Characters

• Ted Riley (Gene Kelly): The former soldier turned gambler and fight promoter who reunites with his estranged war buddies.
• Doug Hallerton (Dan Dailey): The ex-soldier who became an ulcer-ridden advertising executive disillusioned with his life.
• Angie Valentine (Michael Kidd): The happily married former soldier who owns a diner and serves as a contrast to his friends’ struggles.
• Jackie Leighton (Cyd Charisse): A sharp TV program coordinator who orchestrates the reunion on live television and becomes romantically involved with Ted.
• Madeline Bradville (Dolores Gray): The flamboyant and egotistical hostess of a TV variety show that features the veterans’ reunion.
• Charles Z. Culloran (Jay C. Flippen): A gangster who has Ted’s boxer fix a fight, creating conflict for Ted.

💬 Memorable Quotes

• Tim: “You’ll be out of each other’s minds within a week!” – The cynical bartender challenges the three soldiers’ vow of eternal friendship, spurring their bet to meet again in ten years.
• Doug Hallerton: “There must be some more dignified way to sell Klenzrite… like you, taking a bath in it, stark naked in Macy’s window.” – Doug expresses his jaded cynicism about his advertising career and the product he promotes during a tense reunion with his friends.
• Ted Riley: “I like myself!” – Ted sings this line with exuberance during a memorable roller skating dance number after starting to feel a sense of renewed purpose and self-acceptance.
• Jackie Leighton: “Baby, you knock me out!” – Jackie sings this during a dynamic dance number at a boxing gym, playfully interacting with the boxers and showing her unexpected knowledge and charm.

💰Box Office

• Budget: $2,771,000
• Domestic Gross: $1,900,000
• Worldwide Gross: $1,309,000

💥 It’s Always Fair Weather Reviews

Personal Review

Okay, so I finally saw ‘It’s Always Fair Weather’ and wow, what a trip! I’d heard about the roller skate dance, but actually seeing Gene Kelly tap dance on skates through the city streets? Mind blown. It’s just as iconic as the rain scene, maybe even more impressive! I was surprised by how… not fluffy it was? MGM musicals are usually pure sunshine, but this one felt different. The whole ‘friends realizing they don’t like each other anymore’ thing hit a little close to home and added a layer of unexpected drama. But then you get these incredible, creative dance numbers that snap you right back into musical joy. Cyd Charisse in the gym scene? Absolutely kills it – those legs! And Dolores Gray as the bonkers TV host was hilarious. It’s not perfect, some parts drag a bit, but the highs are *really* high. Definitely recommend checking it out, especially if you can see it in widescreen.

• Who would enjoy:
  • “Fans of classic Hollywood musicals”
  • “Admirers of Gene Kelly and Cyd Charisse”
  • “Viewers interested in the transition from wartime optimism to 1950s disillusionment”
  • “Those who appreciate innovative choreography and the early use of Cinemascope”
• Content warnings ⚠:
  • “Portrayal of heavy drinking and drunkenness”
  • “Characters smoking frequently (reflects era)”
  • “Themes of disillusionment, failed dreams, and cynicism”
  • “Plot elements involving gambling and fixed boxing matches”
  • “Some potentially dated portrayals and dialogue”

Professional Reviews

• Synthesized from User Reviews: “A unique and surprisingly dark musical that dares to show friendships change. While the plot can be uneven, the innovative dance numbers — especially Kelly’s legendary roller skate routine and Cyd Charisse’s gym sequence — are pure magic. A fascinating look at post-war disillusionment and early television satire, best appreciated in its original widescreen format.
• Synthesized from User Reviews: “Gene Kelly, Cyd Charisse, and the directing duo of Kelly/Donen promise much, and while individual dance moments truly shine (the trash can lids are hilarious!), the overall narrative about friends drifting apart feels jarringly cynical for an MGM musical. Dolores Gray is a standout as the zany TV host. Worth seeing for the flashes of brilliance, despite a sometimes sour tone and forgettable songs.
• Synthesized from User Reviews: “This film is far more mature and thought-provoking than its contemporaries, tackling themes of disappointment and changing lives with surprising depth. The widescreen cinematography is used inventively for the dance numbers. While not as purely joyous as ‘Singin’ in the Rain’, its darker edges and phenomenal choreography make it a compelling and worthwhile watch for musical aficionados.

Audience Reactions

Gene Kelly tap dancing on roller skates is pure cinematic joy.: Viewers consistently praise the innovative and unique dance numbers, especially Kelly’s solo skate number, the trash can lid dance, and Cyd Charisse’s gym sequence. The film’s willingness to tackle a darker, more realistic premise about friendship is noted and appreciated by many.

Overall Consensus: While perhaps not as universally beloved as ‘Singin’ in the Rain’, ‘It’s Always Fair Weather’ is widely regarded by fans as a groundbreaking, visually inventive musical with exceptional dance sequences and a surprisingly mature, albeit sometimes uneven, story about changing friendships.

Awards

🛠️ Behind the Scenes

• “Gene Kelly bought the roller skates for his iconic ‘I Like Myself’ number at a local hardware store and performed the complicated tap-dancing sequence without the skates being fixed or altered in any way.”
• “The film was originally conceived as a sequel to ‘On the Town’ and intended to reunite Gene Kelly with Frank Sinatra and Jules Munshin, but both were unavailable, leading to the casting of Dan Dailey and Michael Kidd.”
• “Innovative use of the CinemaScope widescreen format was made throughout the film, including split-screen sequences, which unfortunately made it challenging to present on standard television screens using the ‘pan and scan’ method prevalent at the time.”
• “A planned romantic dance number between Gene Kelly and Cyd Charisse was filmed but ultimately cut from the final release, as was a solo dance number for Michael Kidd.”

🖥️ How to Watch It’s Always Fair Weather?

Finding ‘It’s Always Fair Weather’ (1955) for home viewing can be done through digital purchase or rental. Search major online platforms like Prime Video, Apple TV, and Google Play, as these are common places to find classic MGM musicals. Physical media like DVD and Blu-ray are also available from online retailers.

🎥 Similar Movies

If you enjoyed It’s Always Fair Weather, you might like these similar films:

• On the Town (1949): Directed and choreographed by Gene Kelly and Stanley Donen, and written by Betty Comden and Adolph Green, this film shares key creative personnel and features soldiers on leave in New York City, providing a brighter, earlier counterpoint to ‘It’s Always Fair Weather’.
• The Best Years of Our Lives (1946): While not a musical, this acclaimed drama powerfully explores the challenging theme of World War II veterans returning home and struggling to readjust to civilian life and reconnect with their changed relationships, echoing the core premise of friendship disillusionment.
• The Band Wagon (1953): Another standout MGM musical from the same era, also featuring Cyd Charisse in a prominent role and showcasing dazzling song and dance numbers, providing a similar high-quality, golden-age musical experience.
• My Favorite Year (1982): This comedy, set in the world of live television in the 1950s, shares the film’s satirical view of early TV and features a chaotic, brawling finale reportedly inspired by ‘It’s Always Fair Weather’.

🛒 It’s Always Fair Weather Related Products

• It’s Always Fair Weather (Warner Archive Collection Blu-ray): Experience the film in stunning restored high definition and its original Cinemascope aspect ratio, essential for appreciating the unique split-screen and widescreen choreography lauded by critics and fans.
• It’s Always Fair Weather Original Motion Picture Soundtrack: Listen to the complete score and songs by André Previn, Betty Comden, and Adolph Green, featuring the memorable tunes like ‘I Like Myself’ and ‘Thanks but no Thanks’.
• The Great MGM Musicals: Hollywood’s Golden Era: A comprehensive book exploring the history, stars, and films of MGM’s legendary musical output, including analysis of ‘It’s Always Fair Weather’ and its place in the studio’s legacy.
• Classic Movie Poster Print: It’s Always Fair Weather: High-quality print of the original theatrical poster art, capturing the vibrant style and era of the film.

🎧 Soundtrack

It’s Always Fair Weather features a captivating soundtrack that enhances the movie’s atmosphere and emotional impact. Here are some notable tracks:

• “March, March” – performed by Gene Kelly, Michael Kidd (dubbed by Jud Conlon), Dan Dailey
• “I Like Myself” – performed by Gene Kelly
• “Thanks but no Thanks” – performed by Dolores Gray
• “Baby You Knock Me Out” – performed by Cyd Charisse
• “Once Upon A Time” – performed by Gene Kelly, Michael Kidd, Dan Dailey
• “Situation-Wise” – performed by Dan Dailey

You can find the complete soundtrack on Amazon Music and Apple Music.

🤨 FAQ

🔥 Bonus Content

CYD CHARISSE, the best female dancer in Hollywood history

Ever wonder why Cyd Charisse was considered one of Hollywood’s best dancers? This fantastic montage showcases her incredible grace and skill across multiple classics, including some dazzling moments from ‘It’s Always Fair Weather!’

Gene Kelly performs ‘I Like Myself’ in IT’S ALWAYS FAIR WEATHER | TCM

Dive into the magic of Gene Kelly’s famous roller skate dance with insights straight from TCM! You’ll get cool details about how this legendary number came together and why it’s so important to the film’s story.

Gene Kelly – It’s Always Fair Weather – Roller Skates

This isn’t just a dance; it’s a masterclass! Watch Gene Kelly’s jaw-dropping roller skate sequence again, but this time, get a breakdown of the incredible skill and meaning packed into every move. It really makes you appreciate his genius.

Chaplin and Kelly on Skates

Think Gene Kelly’s roller skate scene was totally unprecedented? You might be surprised! This video takes a fun look back at the history of skating in movies, showing how Kelly’s iconic moment fits into a tradition going back decades. Super interesting stuff!

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