I'm so grateful to Tom Minton and John for introducing me to this song: It's "Thanks a Lot but no Thanks" from MGM's "It's always Fair Weather," sung by Dolores Gray.
I'll put up a few snapshots and a small sample of the lyrics.
Dolores throws her arm up and a big, brassy orchestral blast kicks in.
There she goes, right into the De Chirico background as the curtains part.
Her sidemen drop from the sky, somersault, and slide into scene...
DOLORES GRAY (ALTERNATES SONG AND SPEECH)
...until she's surrounded by them. They freeze in place...
...then they leap to their feet and do a manic scramble exit.
Three rush back and strike a cool pose. They're hoping she'll dump her old boyfriend and go out with them.
On the line "Thanks a lot but but no thanks" Dolores banishes the men with a flick of her arm.
Three new sidemen rush in and strike immensely cool poses. I'll dispense with the lyrics so I can concentrate on the visuals.
These guys make a great counterpoint to what's going on in the song. Seeing this reminds me of my promise to myself that if I become rich I'll have a have a troop of chorus girls follow me around all day, ready to back me up with choreography in case I decide to sing or emphasize a point.
The men do some great moves then Dolores banishes them again with another "Thanks a lot but no Thanks!"
Now (above) some of the sidemen waddle walk back in. Dolores sings about the man she loves.
Some great moves by the side men, then she dismisses them too.
Actually, she shoots them. Bam! Bam! Bam! Bam!
It doesn't do her any good because a whole bunch of new sidemen strut in from behind camera.
They try to impress Dolores...
...but it's no deal...she's not buying it. She's loyal to the man she loves, who's "like Marlon Brando and Clifton Webb combiiiiined."
She banishes them. too.
Undeterred, new sidemen appear from trapdoors and offer Dolores expensive jewelry.
Nope! She's not interested. Her man has what it takes to top that.
Dynamite! Just the thing to get rid of those pests!
Haw!
In desperation the horny sidemen make one last appeal,
en masse. It's no use. She pulls a lever and the men are banished to the Netherworld.
'Thanks a lot but no thanks!"
Then the big finish: "No...
NO...THAAAANKS!!!!!"
Good stuff, eh?
