Call Me Madam
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DVD Cover Information
Actor: Billy De Wolfe, Donald O'Connor, Ethel Merman, George Sanders, Vera-EllenBrand: Fox
DVD: Region Code 1
Audio: English (Unknown), Dolby Digital 1.0; English (Subtitled); Spanish (Subtitled); English (Original Language), Dolby Digital 1.0
Format: Color, DVD, Full Screen, NTSC
Picture Format: 1.33:1
Running Time: 114 minutes
DVD Release Date: 2004-04-20
Audience Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Studio: 20th Century Fox
Movie Reviews of Call Me Madam
Movie Review: Ethel Merman Shines As The "Hostess With The Mostess", In Delightful Musical
Summary: 5 Stars
If ever there was a better marriage of star performer and movie vehicle than in the case of the legendary Broadway star Ethel Merman and Irving Berlin's "Call Me Madam", I'd really love to see it. Perfect casting would be it's best definition with Merman's performance as fresh and vibrant today as it was upon first release. For years prior to first seeing it just this month I've heard the sung praises of this movie musical based on the very famous 1950 Broadway show and after screening it I now also can't praise it loudly enough. Long unavailable to home video and DVD enthusiasts, "Call Me Madam", has been a much sort after musical gem which is highly significant in being one of the rare occasions when Merman, a legend on Broadway for over 30 years, was actually hired to repeat one of her roles in the planned film version. While viewed by some as an acquired taste I've always loved Ethel merman's broad playing and powerful voice that can belt out a tune like no other. Twentieth Century Fox's 1953 movie version of "Call Me Madam", happily preserves forever Merman's legendary performance as Washington hostess and American Ambassador Sally Adams and provides a truly sumptuous production filled with breathtaking colour, amazingly lavish sets and Academy Award nominated costumes, intricate dance sequences courtesy of the always excellent Donald O'Connor and Vera Allen. Of course the film also boasts a full battery of Irving Berlin numbers that certainly give this film many memorable moments helping create something which is much more than simply a filmed stage musical.
Ethel Merman plays Oklahoma widow come Washington hostess Sally Adams who on the strength of her great party giving ability is assigned as America's Ambassador to the tiny duchy of Lichtenburg. Sally soon finds herself thrown in the deep end with international diplomacy as she is forced to learn very quickly the complex world of etiquette in a foreign court, deal with diplomats seeking a sizable loan from the USA which she must refuse, and deal with the not entirely unwelcome attentions of Lichtenburg diplomat Cosmo Constantine (George Sanders). Adding to the complications is Sally's number one offsider Kenneth (Donald O'Connor), who falls deeply in love with the Crown Princess Maria (Vera Ellen), despite their different "stations', in life. Many misunderstandings occur often prompted by Sally's pompous aide Pemberton Maxwell (Billy De Wolfe), who believes he has to "educate", Sally in the ways of international diplomacy and Sally has a serious falling out with Cosmo based on misunderstandings just prior to her being recalled to Washington by President Trueman. An equally heartbroken Kenneth also follows Sally back to Washington however as in all good musical stories things have a way of working themselves out when much to Sally's amazement Cosmo is assigned to the USA as ambassador from Lichtenburg and brings along Princess Maria who has renounced her right to the throne and is now able to marry Kenneth. Sally and Cosmo then sort out their differences and both couples end up finding the happiness they have been so earnestly seeking with each other at the fadeout.
Having missed out on a chance to star in the eventual film versions of so many of her Broadway hits such as "Annie Get Your Gun", and "Gypsy", Ethel Merman more than made up for it here playing a character modeled on Washington hostess Pearl Mosta who was given a controversial ambassador's appointment to Luxembourg during Harry Truman's time as President. President Truman himself is even used in a running gag in the film through his repeated phone calls to Sally filling her in on how the family are doing. Merman handles beautifully the comic moments in the script with two of the standouts being when she repeatedly locks horns with her etiquette driven assistant played by Billy De Wolfe, and when she is first presented at Court in an elaborate gown with a menacingly long train which is a comic gem. She really has a star presense here and despite critics feeling she was better suited to theatre I personally believe she is just as suited to film especially in such a well suited role as this. Its amazing that with such a standout performer as Ethel Merman at centre stage, anyone else gets even a look in however "Call Me Madam", does allow the other performers to shine as well. George Sanders is the biggest surprise in this production and while I always enjoy his well known screen persona of the villian or cad as seen in such memorable efforts as "Rebecca', and "All About Eve", here he actually has a decent character to play for a change and he does well as Sally's on again off again love interest. Merman and Sanders have a surprisingly pleasing chemistry on screen together and the running joke of Sanders not being able to understand Merman's characters American slang is a delight. Donald O'Connor and Vera Ellen also shine in their supporting parts and the dancing done by this pair really is on a par with the very best that Hollywood has produced. Their dance numbers here involving very complex choreography make the O'Connor/Ellen combination, which was sadly never again repeated on screen, a worthy successor to Astaire and Rogers. Happily with a couple of exceptions most of the original score for "Call Me Madam", was retained for the movie version so these legendary Irving Berlin numbers are preserved on film forever. "Something to Dance About , "The Hostess With The Mostess", and "You're Just in Love", along with new additions such as "What Chance Have I with Love", are sublime and resulted in Alfred Newman winning the 1953 Oscar for scoring for a musical picture. The films' visual qualities are first rate with Leon Shamroy's cinematography a standout and when combined with the films' art direction by John de Cuir helps make the duchy of Lichtenburg coming across as one of those technicoloured, wedding cake type, Middle European kingdoms of no fixed location that Hollywood seemed to love so much. While Ethel Merman is first and foremost renowned for her powerful ability to belt out tunes her fashion sense was never one of her trademarks however in "Call me Madam", she has been given the full Hollywood Star treatment with a superb wardrobe of Academy Award nominated gowns by designer Irene Sharaff which make her look every inch the star in every scene.
Big lavish musicals built around larger than life personalities like Ethel Merman are most definately a thing of the past in modern Hollywood and to see that old fashioned star power at work you need go no further than Irving Berlin's "Call Me Madam". It's announcement recently as an upcoming DVD release for the first time ever was most definately greeted like the return of a lost child in movie musical circles and it certainly doesn't disappoint with its entertaining score, superb dance numbers and good old fashioned romantic plot with comedy undertones. Try and find the time soon to sit down and enjoy "the Merm", in a tailor made role as Washington's "hostess with the mostess" in Irving Berlin's classic "Call Me Madam". A fine nostalgic musical experience from the heyday of musical cinema is assured.
Summary of Call Me Madam
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