This charming musical features Frank Sinatra as Danny Miller, a young Soldier fresh out of the army, who can’t wait to get back home to Brooklyn, where he hopes to become a successful singer. Danny moves in with school janitor Nick, and meets Anne Fielding (Kathryn Grayson), a music teacher who dreams of becoming an opera singer; and when Jamie, a shy songwriter from England arrives, Danny offers to help him develop his talent and show him the Brooklyn experience. The four of them also find time to help a young pianist gain a scholarship to an exclusive musical school.
This is neither Sinatra’s nor Grayson’s best known or most popular musical for MGM, but it is really a lovely film. Sinatra, who so often plays a heel or a playboy, is really very sweet here (more like Clarence in Anchors Aweigh than Francois in Can-Can), and really makes the viewer warm to him. He is impossibly good natured throughout, and naturally, sings beautifully. Kathryn Grayson is great in her role as the feisty Anne, although most opera music leaves me cold, and I didn’t enjoy her songs particularly (although she did a nice duet with Sinatra). Jimmy Durante as janitor Nick, almost steals the show however, providing a fine comic turn. Indeed, all of the characters in the film are very likeable.
There’s also an actual story as well, rather than the film being merely a vehicle to showcase the songs – the subplot about the four friends helping pianist Leo win a scholarship is sweet.
Probably an overlooked musical from MGM (who produced all the best musicals), but definitely one with plenty of charm, and it’s well worth seeing.
Year of release: 1947
Director: Richard Whorf
Writers: Isobel Lennart, Jack McGowan
Main cast: Frank Sinatra, Kathryn Grayson, Jimmy Durante, Peter Lawford
Kiss Me Kate was an MGM musical, adapted from Cole Porter’s Broadway play of the same name. The plot of the Broadway production was ‘a play within a play’. Here of course, it is ‘a play within a film’. Howard Keel and Kathryn Grayson play Fred Graham and Lilli Vanessi, a divorced couple who are reunited on stage at least, as Katherine and Petruchio in Cole Porter’s play ‘Kiss Me Kate’, based on Shakespeare’s ‘The Taming Of The Shrew. Although they are obviously still drawn to each other, their differing personalities cause them to repeatedly clash, and matters are complicated by Lois Lane(!), played superbly by Ann Miller. Lois is set to play Bianca, the younger sister of Katherine, in Kiss Me Kate, and flirts constantly with Fred. Furthermore, Lilli is now engaged to someone else!
Kiss Me Kate was a big success for MGM, and something of a comeback for Cole Porter, whose career had taken a dip prior to this. Certainly, there are some lovely songs -and dance routines – in the film. My favourites were It’s Too Darn Hot, Why Can’t You Behave? and Always True You In My Fashion, all sung by Ann Miller (she was accompanied on Always True… by Tommy Rall; and Brush Up Your Shakespeare, sung by Keenan Wynn and James Whitmore. All of these numbers also featured some spectacular dances – Ann Miller was an incredible dancer, and to watch her dancing over the furniture in It’s Too Darn Hot, or skipping across rooftops with Tommy Rall in Why Can’t You Behave? was a treat. The Brush Up Your Shakespeare dance is also amusing and delightful. Kathryn Grayson played the part of Lilli very well, and she and Miller not only inhabited their roles in the film, but also their roles in the play within the film very comfortably. (For my money, Miller was easily the best performer in the film, and credit should also be given to Tommy Rall who partners her in some excellent dancing.)
So with all this going for it, I was surprised that I didn’t enjoy this film more. There were some great parts, and certainly some real talent involved, but I think Howard Keel didn’t work for me as a leading man. He did actually have a long and successful career as a leading man, but I didn’t really find him convincing (although he was better when playing Fred than when playing Petruchio). Of course, it’s all personal taste, and Keel has a very strong following, but I could never really warm up to him in this movie. However, I suspect that it may be the type of film where enjoyment increases with repeated viewing.
Overall, it isn’t one I would rush to watch again, but it’s worth seeing even if only for Ann Miller’s terrific performance.
Year of release: 1953
Director: George Sidney
Writers: Sam Spewack, Bella Spewack, William Shakespeare (play ‘The Taming Of The Shrew’)
Main cast: Howard Keel, Kathryn Grayson, Ann Miller, Tommy Rall
This 1945 musical has Gene Kelly and Frank Sinatra, as two sailors in the US Navy, who spend four days shore leave in Hollywood. Joe Brady (Kelly) is streetwise and popluar with the ladies, and Clarence Doolittle (an incredibly boyish looking Sinatra) is naive and inexperienced. They meet a young boy who is eager to join the Navy, and who introduces them to his aunt Susie, an aspiring singer. Clarence immediately falls for Susie and asks Joe to help him get a date with her. However, in trying to help his friend, Joe tells Susie that they have arranged an audition for her with famous pianist Jose Iturbi (who plays himself, and rather charmingly too). Complications ensue when Joe also starts to fall for Susie – and what will happen when she finds out that there is no real audition for her?!
I might as well admit at this juncture that I am fast developing an obsession with Gene Kelly! Perhaps that’s part of the reason why I enjoyed this movie so much, but it does happen to be a hugely enjoyable, sparkly musical, with a brilliant cast.
Kelly is terrific as Joe Brady (and secured an Oscar nomination for Best Actor; the film was also nominated for Best Picture, and won for Best Original Music Score), and he simply oozes charisma. Although he is third billed, beneath Sinatra and Grayson, he really shines here. (And frankly, if there’s anything sexier than Gene Kelly dancing in a sailor’s uniform, I’m sure I don’t know what it could be!) I’ve said it before – many times probably – but I find his dancing utterly mesmerising, and can’t tear my eyes away from the screen when he’s performing. From the understated ‘I Begged Her’ number near the beginning of the film, where he and Sinatra both dance, to the flamboyant Spanish inspired ‘La Cumparsita’, the energy bounces off the screen. I also loved the Mexican Hat dance in the market place, where he is accompanied by Sharon McManus, who was just 8 years old at the time. Of course the dance which this film is most famous for is the dance that Kelly does with Jerry Mouse (from the Tom & Jerry cartoons; originally, Kelly wanted to use the Mickey Mouse character for this routine, but Walt Disney refused to lend the character out to MGM, so Jerry Mouse was used instead). If you’re thinking that Gene Kelly dancing with a cartoon mouse sounds twee or trite, don’t worry! It works beautifully, and is probably my favourite routine in the film.
Sinatra too is great, although I couldn’t get over how young he looked! He wisely leaves most of the dancing to his co-star, and does most of the singing numbers himself. I didn’t find the songs as memorable as some in other films, but he performed them well, and sounded great. He is endearing and sweet in this role.
Kathryn Grayson looks stunning and glamorous, and undoubtedly has a fabulous singing voice, which she showcases here. As a personal preference, I am not overkeen on the operatic style which she uses, but this did not detract one iota from my enjoyment of the film, and technically her voice is great.
The supporting cast includes Pamela Britton as a waitress who falls for Clarence. She was very good in this, whcih was her first cinematic role. I recently saw her in D.O.A. (1950) and was unimpressed, but more by the convoluted script and the two dimensional character she played in that film. In Anchors Aweigh, she doesn’t get an awful lot of screentime, but she makes the most of it. Dean Stockwell was just 9 when this film was released, and he is absolutely adorable; he’s able to hold his own against his adult co-stars.
Overall – in case you hadn’t guessed! – I really enjoyed this film. It’s not my favourite Gene Kelly movie (that would have to be Singin’ In The Rain), but it’s a close second. If you like watching fantastic dancing, great comedy scenes, or just very enjoyable films, I would definitely recommend this one.
Year of release: 1945
Director: George Sidney
Writers: Isobel Lennart, Natalie Marcin
Main cast: Gene Kelly, Frank Sinatra, Kathryn Grayson
