Samuel Spewack (1899–1971)

I always feel slightly traitorous when I watch this version of Kiss Me, Kate. I grew up listening to the Broadway recording with Kathryn Grayson and Howard Keel. I sang along with alto Ann Miller on her songs. I loved the slightly naughty songs. When I watched a locally produced version, I could see it all so clearly. That version was the one I loved

Sadly, I was disappointed with the original movie released in 1953. When I finally got it on DVD, while the voices were wonderful, the songs had show more been bowdlerized and moved.

Then I saw this revival on TV. My faith was restored. Here were the songs I knew and loved. However, some part of me still yearned for Keel's voice.

This movie has all the naughtiness of the original stage version. It makes me laugh with all its silliness and wit. And Brent Barrett and Rachel York do admirable jobs with the songs. York, in particular, captured me with her portrayal of Kate.

If you like musicals or have ever seen the play on stage and want those songs, then this is the version for you. It is stellar. I watch it more often than the 1953 film because of the songs, staging, and York's performance. show less

When MGM decided to remake its own “Grand Hotel” it pulled out all the stops. Vicky Baum’s story of several people crossing paths is set at the lavish Waldorf Astoria Hotel in New York. MGM provided a glossy sheen and top stars like Ginger Rogers, Van Johnson and Lana Turner. The result is a more accessible movie than the original Garbo and Barrymore film, and Robert Z. Leonard takes the great cast through their paces quite nicely.

Ginger Rogers is the busy but lonely movie star Irene show more Malvern who, through a chain of circumstances believes war correspondent Chip Collier (Walter Pigeon) is her secretary’s boyfriend and has come to steal her jewels. When Collier can’t convince her otherwise, he plays along to have some fun. This creates an amusing circumstance in which they end up pretending to be married! There is charm and a lot of fun to their play-romance which slowly blossoms into a very real one. Both Rogers and Pigeon look like they're having great fun and work well together.

The second story involves a young and lovely Lana Turner as Bunny, the hotel stenographer who wants a penthouse kind of life. By chance she takes dictation from a doctor about an operation planned after the weekend on Captain James Hollis to remove shrapnel fragments from around his heart. Van Johnson had one of his best roles as the young Hollis, who may not survive without a reason to live. When he comes to Bunny to dictate his will, Johnson nearly breaks your heart, and Bunny's too. It causes her to suddenly falter in her determination to have Park Avenue.

The third connecting is story involves a big businessman named Edly (Edward Arnold) attempting a shady oil deal with Sheiks that may not be good for the country. Colliers' bumbling protege Oliver (Keenan Wynn) seeks his help to get the story. Edly, of course, has his eye on Bunny, and wants her to be his confidential secretary. All these stories crisscross and at the beautiful Waldorf Astoria.

This is a very enjoyable film that will have you smiling a lot and laughing quite a bit. The rest of the time it tugs at your heart. Xavier Cugat has a nice turn as the Waldorf’s bandleader, and becomes involved in Hollis’s story in a way I won't spoil for you. This MGM film has a luster that extends beyond what the eyes see and is a great film to add to your classic film viewing. show less

A widower remarries, then finds out his first wife isn't dead.

Funny. I don't usually like comedies with this sort of people-forced-to-lie-to-each-other premise, but this cast makes it work.

Concept: D
Story: C
Characters: B
Dialog: B
Pacing: B
Cinematography: C
Special effects/design: C
Acting: B
Music: C

Enjoyment: C plus

GPA: 2.3/4

A funny and clever murder mystery by the author of Kiss Me Kate. Set in 1920's New York, on a yacht, and in period Cuba. Wry and enjoyable - snap it up if you find a copy!