Amazon.com: Cole Porter, Shakespeare, and 3-D: Not the usual recipe for an MGM musical, but hey--it works. Although it runs hot and cold, this 1953 take on Porter's delightful Broadway smash lets a chewy cast gorge on some terrific songs and show-biz in-jokes. Think of the plot as His Girl Friday in greasepaint: vain star Howard Keel wants to lure ex-wife Kathryn Grayson back to the boards with a musical version of The Taming of the Shrew. The movie's weakness is too much Shakespeare, not enough backstage backbiting (and why are two of the best numbers, "So in Love" and Ann Miller's zippy "Too Darn Hot," confined to a prologue?). Then there's the tendency to throw things at the camera--3-D, what hath you wrought? The candy-store color design is great fun, and Tommy Rall and future dance titan Bob Fosse are turned loose for some sensational leaps. Now that's "Wunderbar." --Robert Horton
Customer Reviews
Average Rating:
Rating: - Should adapt to wide screen
Shame that such a great film is not available in wide screen yet. Fitting the format for TV/small screen really takes away from the choreography.
Rating: - Wonderful old movie
If you're into old musicals, particularly comedies, this is the movie for you. It's just good, old-fashioned fun!
Rating: - EXCELLENT
This is one of the best musicals! I love Howard Keel's voice and persona. It is a fun look at Shakespeare!
Rating: - wonderful and classic movie musical
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 ... Read More
Rating: - Kiss me...
Although I enjoyed this DVD, I really like the newer edition of Kiss Me, Kate. The costumes in this one are quite loud and the updated edition has more down-to-earth costumes.
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