Year of Release: 1953Country of Origin: USA
Director: Vincente Minnelli
Cast: Fred Astaire, Cyd Charisse
Plot outline: A pretentiously artistic director is hired for a new Broadway musical and changes it beyond recognition (IMDb).
The story the director tells is largely forgettable and terribly predictable. For instance, he allows misunderstandings between Tony and Gabrielle to stir up animosity between them. Of course, the viewer knows that, in the end, the two will overcome their difficulties and will begin to fall in love. The viewer is also sure to realize both that the play which brings the characters together is sure to be a flop initially, because of Cordova's pretentious changes, and that, thanks to the heroes' resilience, its spirit is bound to be recaptured so that it will be a success in the end. The musical numbers are generally fun to watch, although none of them are really inspired. In fact, a few of the sequences which are performed as routines in the play around which the movie revolves are somewhat disappointing. Most of these particular numbers are presented as though the director were showing clips of some longer routine and, consequently, seem incomplete. This approach, while inventive, sadly does not allow the viewer to immerse himself in the sequences so presented. What is more, a couple of these are just so adorable and saccharine that they are off-putting. Despite such shortcomings, the movie does include a number of pleasant musical numbers. One routine, in which Astaire portrays a private detective, though part of the play, is shown as a whole and is sprightly, exciting, and entertaining. Another, in which Astaire dances with Charisse in Central Park, is genuinely lovely and graceful, and a third, depicting the former's playful antics in a penny arcade is vivacious and charming. Neither these nor any of the movie's other numbers are brilliant, but some of them are sure to make the viewer smile. (KA)
My judgement: ** out of 4 stars
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