A Broadway artiste turns a faded film star's comeback vehicle into an artsy flop.
Fred Astaire
Tony Hunter
Cyd Charisse
Gabrielle Gerard
Oscar Levant
Lester Marton
Nanette Fabray
Lily Marton
Jack Buchanan
Jeffrey Cordova
James Mitchell
Paul Byrd
Robert Gist
Hal
Ava Gardner
Ava Gardner (uncredited)
Don Beddoe
Producer (uncredited)
Henry Corden
Orchestra Leader (uncredited)
Steve Forrest
Passenger on Train (uncredited)
Bess Flowers
Train Passenger (uncredited)
India Adams
Gabrielle Gerard (singing voice) (uncredited)
Douglas Fowley
Auctioneer (uncredited)
Thurston Hall
Colonel Tripp (uncredited)
Frank McLure
Investor (uncredited)
Julie Newmar
Salon Model / Chorine in Girl Hunt Ballet (uncredited)
Colin Kenny
Drunk Outside Arcade (uncredited)
Bert Stevens
Train Station Passenger (uncredited)
Harold Miller
Bystander in Girl Hunt Ballet (uncredited)
Brandon Beach
Auction Guest (uncredited)
Leroy Daniels
Arcade Shoeshine Man (uncredited)
Dorinda Clifton
Dancer (uncredited)
Emory Parnell
Man on Train (uncredited)
Madge Blake
Investor (uncredited)
James Carlisle
Theatre Patron (uncredited)
Dick Cherney
Audience Member (uncredited)
Tom Coleman
Waiter (uncredited)
Roy Engel
Reporter (uncredited)
Al Ferguson
Stagehand (uncredited)
Jack Gargan
Hotel Doorman (uncredited)
Herschel Graham
Ballet Audience Member (uncredited)
Ted Jordan
Chorus Member in Hotel Suite (uncredited)
John Lupton
Jack - Prompter (uncredited)
Ann McCrea
Chorus Member in Hotel Suite (uncredited)
Manuel París
Waiter (uncredited)
Frank J. Scannell
Reporter (uncredited)
Hal Taggart
Undetermined Role (uncredited)
Herb Vigran
Man on Train (uncredited)
Dick Gordon
Ballet Audience Member (uncredited)
Rudy Germane
Restaurant Patron (uncredited)
Director
Vincente Minnelli
Screenplay, Story
Adolph Green
Screenplay, Story
Betty Comden
July 16, 2024
7
Now I do watch quite a lot of horrors films, but it's been a while since I've seen something quite so un-nerving as Fred Astaire, Cyd Charisse and Oscar Levant all dressed up as babies singing a song about having a gun! That rather sums up this entertainingly eclectic story that sees the theatrically flamboyant "Cordova" (Jack Buchanan) drafted in to try and inject some life into the lacklustre "Tony" (Astaire). He's been feeling a bit down in the dumps for ages and now that he's no longer the apple of anyone's eye, is downright dejected. Luckily for him (and us) his two friends "Les" (Levant) and "Lily" (Nanette Fabray) aren't giving up. Problem? Well they have to find him a co-star for his new show - and when they alight on the somewhat highly-strung "Gabrielle" (Charisse) things don't exactly work. Indeed, she and "Tony" can barely bear to be in the same room as each other, much less share a stage - and so tantrums and stroppings galore ensue. It's all about the art, though, darling, as his pals use the toe-tapping "That's Entertainment" - a refrain frequently used throughout - to remind "Tony" that the clown with his pants falling down is all part of the job. Of course, there's no jeopardy at all here - you know pretty much from the outset just how well the ducks are going to get in their row, but the film looks great and there's a lovely chemistry between Charisse and Astaire that allows both actors to flourish amidst some perfect choreography, gentle comedy and memorable numbers from Messrs Schwartz and Dietz as they take their show on a tour of the United States. You might want to lock away your dolls at night, though...
Status:
Released
Original Language:
English
Budget:
$2,900,000.00
Revenue:
$3,500,000.00