Kiss Me Kate
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Movie Reviews of Kiss Me Kate
Movie Review: wonderful and classic movie musical
Summary: 5 Stars
Kiss Me Kate is perhaps the best example of what MGM could do to create a sumptuous movie musical that holds your attention and never lets go! The song and dance numbers are flawless; we even see a young Bob Fosse doing his stuff at the very end of the movie. The convincing acting also impressed me and the plot moves along at a good pace.
The action starts when Cole Porter (played by Ron Randell) and Fred Graham (Howard Keel) are planning a new Broadway musical based on Shakespeare's Taming Of the Shrew. Of course, from the very start there's loads of action--they have selected Fred's ex-wife Lilli Vanessi (Kathryn Grayson) to play the role of Katherine the shrew. This sets up lots of gags involving Fred and Lilli's former marriage with all its warfare and the difficult person Lilli had to play in the Broadway musical. In addition, Ann Miller quickly makes her entrance as Fred's new girlfriend Lois Lane--who just happens to waltz into Fred's living room as they're all rehearsing to do, shall I say, a zesty number entitled "Too Darn Hot."
Of course, the actors are cast and the play eventually opens--and opening night is when most of the action takes place. Fred and Lilli eventually realize they're still in love with each other after all--so what will Lilli do about her engagement to some rich Texas tycoon? Worse yet, what happens when Lilli discovers--onstage--that the flowers from Fred were really meant for Lois who's also in the show?
In addition, there's a subplot provided, I think, mostly for comic relief--as if we needed any! Two gangsters are trailing Fred all through the opening night performance to the point of even going onstage as actors to shadow him during his scenes! These gangsters wrongly believe that Fred owes a debt to their boss--what will happen about that? Will Fred ever get them to realize they're shadowing the wrong guy?
Of course, the real strength of this motion picture lies in the song and dance numbers. There are so many I can't count them all--but you'll never tire of watching them. "Why Can't You Behave?", "Wunderbar" and "From This Moment On" are just three of these fantastic jewels.
The DVD comes with two extras of note--I liked the extra about Cole Porter's renaissance in Hollywood when they made this film; and there's a MGM short about Manhattan that really fascinated me as it shows what Manhattan used to look like. And they thought they were crowded back then!
The classic movie musical aficionado must have this film in their collection. I also recommend this film for fans of the stars of the picture; and this is also a great introduction for newcomers looking to see just what MGM could do when they put their minds to creating the ultimate movie musical.
Movie Review: Absolutely fantastic musical, deplorable DVD case
Summary: 5 Stars
I'm giving this item five stars simply because the disc itself is grand - you receive one of the greatest MGM musicals ever conceived and it's bolstered by quite nice extras. That much you can be assured of.
I'm writing this particular review because of Warner Bros. insistance on using fragile, cheaply made cardboard sleeves rather than the standard plastic dvd cases.
The problem with these Warner cases is that the pins holding the disc can break if even the slightest pressure is applied to the case, rendering it's capability the actually hold the disc useless. And unlike the plastic cases, the Warner ones cannot be replaced save for returning the disc to the original purchase place or attempting to contact the manufacturer (good luck with that, by the way).
Another problem lies with the fact that it's made out of cardboard - when you remove the anti-theft stickers almost invariably the sticker will peel some of the artwork off the cover. This can occur even when you're carefully attempting to slowly peel the sticker off.
The reason I feel the need to mention this is I own dozens of Warner movies, and well over half of them are damaged in this manner and irreplaceable outside of purchasing a new one (not likely, Greedy Bros.)
To be fair, Warner has finally began producing plastic cases with some of their newest releases - the top-notch Film Noir and Gangster collections offer the films in splendid little plastic cases. But titles like "Kiss Me Kate", "Rebel Without A Cause", "Broadway Melody of 1940", and even "Wizard of Oz" are still only available in these sad cardboard cases.
Movie Review: GRAYSON & KEEL AT THEIR ZENITH
Summary: 5 Stars
This is by far one of the very best musicals ever made. Kathryn Grayson and Howard Keel displays Oscar worthy performances as Lilli and Fred. Sadly, this was Grayson`s last MGM film and she did only 1 more(at Paramount - The Vagabond King with Oreste).
In KISS ME KATE she shows us a depth and nuance and is right on target the whole picture through. Audrey Hepburn won that year`s Oscar for Roman Holiday - but Miss Grayson should deservedly have won it.
The same goes for Howard Keel. True, he is hammy at times - but it is a remarkable performance he gives(Mind u - he was a musical star). William Wolden`s Oscar for Stalag 17 should have gone to Mr Keel.
That`s Entertainment and its sequels payed deservedly homage to producer Arthur Freed and his genius in selecting and delegating crew and performers to the right project were uncanny.
Yet you shouldn`t negletct Jack Cummings who produced this film, Seven Brides For Seven Brothers and Three Little Words(to name but a few). It seems to me that MGM had an "MGM-look!" Can u really tell the MGM films from 1930-1960 apart and say which 1 was the director? Not really, unless u are Hitchcock or Fritz Lang.
What I mean to say that it`s high time Cummings, Joe Pasternak og Sol C. Sigel comes out of the cold and are giving honours for their splendid musical efforts(Bathing Beauty, Anchors Aweigh, In the Good Old Summertime, Summer Stock, The Great Caruso, Hit The Deck and High Society etc).
I must also pay may respects to Tommy Rall(soon 2 be one of the brothers in Seven Brides for Seven Brothers); he is a dancer`s dream come true:-)
Movie Review: Brush up your Shakespeare!
Summary: 5 Stars
One of the few really clever musicals that is actually fun, this boasts easily the most effortlessly complex structure of any screen musical - a backstage musical version of The Taming of the Shrew with lyrics by Cole Porter about an actor taming his shrew of an ex-wife (both of whom have fragile egos, their real-life antipathy spilling over onto the stage) while putting on a musical about a group of strolling players putting on a musical version of The Taming of the Shrew with music and lyrics by a screen character called Cole Porter - and that's just for starters. Yet somehow, director George Sidney's deft touch makes the most of its intricacies and keeps it entertaining and straightforward throughout.
Originally shot in 3D, it is one of the least effects dominated of the 3D films, more interested in exploring perspective than chucking things at the audience (which does happen a fair bit, 'tis true), an approach particularly appropriate to the Chinese boxes structure of the film. The woefully under-rated George Sidney, one of the best musical directors MGM ever produced, shows an unerring knack of knowing exactly when and where to move the camera, with a genius for staging that would bear further study were it not so enjoyable as to distract any academic intent.
The choreography is both amusing and perfectly in character, expertly tailored to the cast's strengths and limitations. Add a great cast and an astonishingly good score - 14 songs and not a duff among them - and the result is an unmitigated delight that bids fair to be one of the best screen musicals of all time.
Movie Review: Great Fun, good music, but don't buy the DVD for the extras, there aren't any
Summary: 5 Stars
This is one of my favourite musicals (along with Seven Brides for SEven brothers). A great good natured movie which followed a hugely successful Broadway show of the same name.
Cole Porter's amusing songs set on the background of a stage musical based around Shakespeare's taming of the shrew. In the background are the ex husband and wife (Fred and Lilli - played by Kathryn Grayson and Howard Keel) who are reliving their own version of Katherine and Petruchio as they figure out their own failed marriage
This is not a difficult film to watch emotionally, as you can imagine Cole Porter is not Oprah Wingrey. However it is enormoulsy good natured, I love Porter's clever lyrics and Howard Keel and Grayson are extremely good in their roles, A neat supporting cast.
There are a few stretches in some of the songs - I mean how on earth could they really imagine that 'Wunderbar' would be a great song for a shakespearian play set in Italy? Still it fits in and it is fun to watch just how they manage it - and as for teh two gangsters singing, 'Brush up your Shakespeare' rhyming Heinous with Coriolanus!
There are really no extras on this at all - if you hoped for an interview or deleted scenes then forget it, it is the movie, and a few picture scenes with a bit of information on them, nothing that you would want to buy this DVD especially for.
One of the best musicals, lots of fun and a good watch!