Music of the Day, 11 June 2025

a million-dollar trouper

A daily letter informed me that today is the birthday of one of my favorite comedians. To my knowledge, he didn’t regularly sing, but he did perform a little number in a great movie. The radio station in my mind obligingly served it up as I read the short essay about his life.

“Puttin’ On the Ritz” was written by Irving Berlin in 1927. I don’t think I’ve heard an earlier version than the one above, from Young Frankenstein, but I was familiar with what the phrase meant well before seeing the movie. Reading about the history of the song provides needed context for Taco’s 1982 cover and its controversial music video. The racism-free version is ideal for the movie’s needs. In watching this clip today, I noticed for the first time that it appears to be the great comedian Marty Feldman playing the piano.

Before I get comments that I’ve misspelled a word in the subheading, I assure you I have not. Silly English with its fondness for homophones¹ plus the fading of the word “troupe” from use has greatly increased Americans’ confusion of the two words.

Young Frankenstein is often credited as one of Mel Brooks’ funniest and/or best movies. I have no quarrel with either classification, but in point of fact,² it was Wilder’s original idea, and it took some effort to persuade Brooks to join the project. I didn’t see it until well after its 1974 release… probably in 1977 or so, with the boyfriend who is now my “wasband.” I laughed my head off through it; he sulked. That should have been my first clue that we weren’t well suited for one another!

Young Frankenstein is one of the few movies I own on DVD. I will absolutely make time to watch it later today… and maybe Silver Streak too (it’s the first Gene Wilder movie I saw). If you have a favorite Gene Wilder role, please share in the comments.

1. and homographs and homonyms, to be thorough

2. and since I’ve already started down the road of pedantry