Something To Dance About In 1953, the cinema screens around the world triumphed (and became a cult) film William Wyler "Roman Holiday", which is now one of the most popular romantic films in the world and opened for big cinema charming Audrey Hepburn.
The plot of this film, I think, is known to everyone, but I still remind you: The princess, tired of the royal lifestyle and court protocol, escapes from the palace and meets a journalist. They have a fun day, which has become for her "real vacation" from the palace imprisonment and fall in love with each other. However, they are not meant to be together.
But why did I remember the Roman holiday, you ask? Because, in the same year, another picture appeared on the screens, which at times conveyed greetings to the film William Wyler. We are talking about the musical "Call Me Madame" (1953) - the film adaptation of the Broadway musical of the same name in 1950, which withstood 644 performances on stage. The author of songs for the production, and, to its film version, was the legendary American composer of the XX century Irving Berlin.
The musical tells the story of a very energetic woman Sally Adams (Ethel Merman), who was (not without the help of her connections) appointed to the post of US Ambassador to the small European state of Lichtenburg. Along with her as her press attaché sent medium-hand reporter Kenneth Gibson (Donald O'Connor).
The state of Lichtenburg at this moment is experiencing a complex crisis and they need a very large loan to stay afloat. Sally herself was instructed to refuse all loan requests. But soon after arriving in Lichtenburg, Sally meets General Cosmo (George Sanders), and Kenneth - Crown Princess Mary (Vera-Ellen). Two couples are formed in love, and all four forget about the political situation completely. I'm sorry.
Well, on the basis of such a funny story and built this film. The storyline with the couple "journalist-princess" film William Wyler "Roman Holiday" could well have been prompted by the Broadway production of 1950, although the development of the plot here, of course, will be quite different.
The character of the musical - Sally Adams (performed by Ethel Merman) had a very real prototype. Merman in this role strongly resembled Pearl Mesta of a family of steelmakers whose husband was a steel magnate and whom President Truman appointed in 1946 as the United States ambassador to Luxembourg. Place herself enthusiastically accepted Merman's play in this role.
Speaking of actors, they very skillfully play a not very complicated plot and brilliantly cope with songs and dances. Ethel Merman in the film repeats his role from the Broadway play of 1950 and creates a very colorful character. Of course, Ethel’s beautiful voice plays an important role in this.
Donald O’Connor once again shows that he can sing and dance perfectly, which fully pays for his not the most expressive external data. The actor himself will later call the film one of the most beloved in his film career.
Although the charming Vera-Ellen sings in the film with the voice of Carol Richards, she dances perfectly, and her duet number with O'Connor is one of the best dances in the film (and the most beloved of Ellen's quintine dances in her entire film career). O’Connor and Ellen, I must say, form a very harmonious pair in this film.
However, if all three actors once again show the professionalism that was expected of them in the genre of the musical, then George Sanders with his baritone is a real surprise of the picture, after which you are involuntarily surprised that he worked so little in this genre. But he sang well.
The musical numbers in the film are cheerful and incendiary, the dances are very interesting and professional. From the songs of the musical, I want to single out the songs "Can You Use Any Money Today", "It's a Lovely Day Today", "That International Rag", "You're Just In Love", "What Chance Have I With Love?" and "Something To Dance About".
Summing up, we can say that it turned out light and incendiary Musical picture, able to raise the mood of connoisseurs of the genre and admirers of the work of the actors who starred in the film.
The musical was a solid success at the box office, and already in 1954, Ethel Merman and Donald O'Connor again starred together, but in a much less successful film, There is no better business than show business (1954). But that's another story. Thank you very much.
8 out of 10