MamaGravity good back-story, and good acting

Acensbart Excellent but underrated film

Intcatinfo A Masterpiece!

Arianna Moses Let me be very fair here, this is not the best movie in my opinion. But, this movie is fun, it has purpose and is very enjoyable to watch.

weezeralfalfa My title is a quote from Keenan Wynn in this show, meant to convey the fact that this film features a mixed farcical and straight musical treatment of Shakespeare's "Taming of the Shrew", in which recently divorced stage actors Fred(Howard Keel) and Lilli(Kathryn Grayson) incongruously agree to costar in this play, as Petruchio and Katherine, respectively. This film is strongly based on the hit play of the same name, although featuring a different set of main actors. Unfortunately, since their divorce, the two lead characters have developed romantic relationships with others, which they sometimes use as weapons in their on again-off again renewed love-hate relationship. Lilli soon meets her romantic rival in flirtatious Lois(Ann Miller), who will play her more amiable younger sister, Bianca. Actually, Lois is just using Fred to gain her part in the show. Her real beau Bill(Tommy Rall) is her main song/dance partner in several routines in the film. Bill ran up a large gambling debt and signed Fred's name to it, which gets Fred in trouble with the gangsters who run this gambling operation. Two goons(Keenan Wynn and James Whitmore) are sent to collect from him, but he cleverly convinces them to help dissuade Lilli from her latest threat to leave the show to marry her Texas cattle baron fiancé, giving them comical roles in the play.Incongruous events absolve Fred from the gambling debt, while the apparently fled Lilli unexpectedly reappears for her part in the show.This is a nearly perfectly balanced musical romantic comedy: balanced between pure singing and song/dance, and between comedy and straight drama. The burly very tall Keel brings an imposing physical and blustering oral Shakespearean presence, along with his untrained resonant baritone voice. Grayson, as Marilyn Monroe-like blond Lilli or red-haired play Kathryn, makes abundant use of her famous pout, along with her beauty and controversial operatic singing style, to match Keel's charisma. The supporting cast is superb, beginning with the charismatic Ann Miller. As usual, she is cast as the provocative light-hearted 'other woman' or specialty dancer, but gets more screen time than usual in this, her favorite role. Like many others, I don't understand why MGM never cast her as the leading lady, as she was obviously beautiful, could sing as well as dance up a storm,and had great romantic comedic talent. In addition to her impressive solo "Too Darn Hot", in skimpy red outfit, she led 4 song/dance numbers partnered with Tommy Rall, and sometimes additional dancers. The legendary Hermes Pan was chief choreographer. However, the talented dancer and future choreographer Bob Fosse was allowed to choreograph his novel dance sequence with Carol Haney, as part of the "From This Moment On" song/dance number.We are also fortunate that this was perhaps Cole Porter's single best collection of new songs. In contrast to Miller and Rall,Keel and Grayson got only one song/dance duet, to the joyous waltz "Wunderbar". But this was sufficient to rekindle their romantic attraction which, along with roses from Keel, cause Grayson, as Lilli, to warble "So In Love". Later, as part of the play, Grayson sings and acts an especially venomous rendition of "I Hate Men". Keel gets 3 solos during the play. In "I've Come to Wive it Wealthy in Paduas", he crows about the exorbitant dowry he plans to extract from Kathryn's father to get rid of his troublesome daughter. Then, he serenades the unimpressed Kathryn with "Were Thine That Special Face", while she discovers that his roses were mistakenly delivered to her rather than Lois.Finally, he laments on the negative aspects of his deal with the devil, in "Where is the Life That Late I Led".....Not connected with the stage show, another highlight is Wynn and Whitmore's comical song/dance to "Brush Up Your Shakespeare", in which they incorporate well known Shakespearian lines from various plays.Favorite comedic bit is when Fred, to keep Lois from spilling the beans to the two goons about who really signed the gambling debt IOU, initiates a long passionate kiss and squeeze with her, as Bill and Lilli arrive, not understanding what is in his mind.As with most musicals of this era, there are various incongruous or contrived aspects to the plot that are essential to keep the story rolling. And, as with many other musicals, we can sense that the apparent happy ending is probably but a high point in a continuing rocky road in the central romantic relationship between two fickle people or two people with unsolvable conflict problems. So it was in the previous pairing of Keel and Grayson in "Showboat". It would be insightful to understand why Kathryn hated men so and was such a scold at a still young age, and why exactly Fred and Lilli divorced.

Jackson Booth-Millard I had never heard of this film I saw it listed in the TV schedule during the Christmas schedule two years running, and being a fan of the particular genre I gave it a try, from director George Sidney (Anchors Aweigh). Basically Cole Porter (Ron Randell) has a new stage production, translating the William Shakespeare comedy "The Taming of the Shrew" into a musical, with director Fred Graham (Calamity Jane's Howard Keel) directing and playing the lead character Peruchio. They need a good lead to play the part of Katherine, and after a talk they mange to convince actress/singer, and Fred's ex-wife, Lilli Vanessi (Kathryn Grayson), to be in "Kiss Me Kate". When Lilli and Fred divorced a year ago they parted on not good terms, and she is very jealous of his new girlfriend, playing the part of Katherine's sister Bianca, Lois Lane (Ann Miller). Fred and Lilli may be getting more used to each other in rehearsals, and he doesn't know however that Lois is only using him as she is seeing Bill Calhoun (Tommy Rall), playing the part of one of Bianca's suitor Lucentio. It comes to the opening night of the show, and as the plays goes on, the relationship between Fred and Lilli mimics the story being played out, ignited by her getting a bunch of flowers addressed to Lois. With the two leads trying to act while almost bickering on stage, there is quite a lot of improvisation to smooth it all over, and it doesn't stop until the interval when Lilli threatens to leave. Also involved in the situation is her on again/off again fiancé, cattle baron Tex Callaway (Willard Parker), as well as two gangsters who are wanting a gambling debt paid for a new investment. As the gangsters come on stage in costume, Lilli starts changing her feelings towards Fred, and the play reaches its conclusion, the stage production and their relationship have truly come together, and so do they. Also starring Keenan Wynn as Lippy, Bobby Van as 'Gremio', James Whitmore as Slug, Kurt Kasznar as 'Baptista' and Cabaret director Bob Fosse as 'Hortensio'. Keel is great in his role, Grayson is also really good, I agree Miller does almost steal the show with her character, her long bare legs and the song "Too Darn Hot", the other songs that stick out are "So In Love", "Why Can't You Behave", "I Hate Men" and "Brush Up Your Shakespeare", overall it is a fun and melodic musical comedy. It nominated the Oscar for Best Music for André Previn and Saul Chaplin. It was number 68 on The 100 Greatest Musicals. Very good!

moonspinner55 Ex-marrieds co-star in a musical production of Shakespeare's "The Taming of the Shrew"; backstage romantic complications ensue, with the female star threatening to walk out mid-performance. Weighted down by the inept Kathryn Grayson, this film version of the Broadway success runs out of steam after about an hour or so (of course it doesn't help that Grayson is portraying a selfish non-trouper, however she just hasn't the personality or the energy for the part, and one can see early on she's the weak link in the production). Ann Miller, Bobby Van, Bob Fosse, and especially Tommy Rall dance up a storm, and their musical numbers are all killers. Rall, playing a gambler off-stage, has a funny bit with a cigarette, and does an amazing routine with Miller on the roof of the theatre. Miller displays such a joy of performing and a love of this material that she shows Grayson up in more ways than one. Howard Keel looks great in his Petruchio costume, but his baritone voice is strictly love-it or leave-it; since most of his scenes are with Grayson, he loses most of his performing luster to the supporting team, but director George Sidney attempts to keep it all lively and merry. Originally screened in 3-D, which explains why so many objects are, amusingly, hurled at the camera. ** from ****

Jem Odewahn Fun MGM musical jam-packed with 14 Cole Porter tunes, starring Kathryn Grayson and Howard Keel. They're the squabbling ex-married's who are putting on a musical theatre performance of Shakespeare's famous comedy "The Taming Of The Shrew". Life imitates art as the "shrew" Lilli (Grayson) and Fred (Keel), playing Katherine and Pertruchio, fall in love again amidst much shouting and throwing of things. All's well that end's well on-stage and off by the film's end.Ten minutes into the film I wasn't quite sure if I would like it. Grayson (with a terribly unflattering blonde hairdo-she looks about 10 years older)and Keel had trilled their way through "So in Love" and shrewish Grayson had let out a few angry squeals. Then a "Too Darn Hot" Ann Miller walked in. Miller, as a dancer trying to make the big time with her boyfriend, gave the film energy and spark. Grayson and Keel quickly caught some of her spark as they got into costume (Grayson's long auburn wig looked so much better than her actual hair, and Keel looks much more manly in costume!). Grayson kept her trilling down a notch, and she was pretty darn fabulous in her "I Hate Men" number. The musical numbers are all pretty good, and after a slow start, "Kate" gets great. Lovely Technicolour and witty, tongue-in-cheek script also add to making this a fun movie.