Three Broadway producers struggling to get backing for their show, hope one's sudden inheritance of a half interest in a Parisian fashion house is the answer. They travel to Paris only to le... Read allThree Broadway producers struggling to get backing for their show, hope one's sudden inheritance of a half interest in a Parisian fashion house is the answer. They travel to Paris only to learn the salon is in debt and requires their help.Three Broadway producers struggling to get backing for their show, hope one's sudden inheritance of a half interest in a Parisian fashion house is the answer. They travel to Paris only to learn the salon is in debt and requires their help.
- Flower Girl
- (uncredited)
- Model
- (uncredited)
- Model
- (uncredited)
- Nightclub Patron
- (uncredited)
- Model
- (uncredited)
- Porter
- (uncredited)
- Nightclub Patron
- (uncredited)
- Fashion Show Attendee
- (uncredited)
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaThe lavish fashion-show sequence, directed by the uncredited Vincente Minnelli, showcased the gowns of Adrian, the influential designer associated with MGM's golden age of Garbo, Shearer, Harlow and Crawford. Adrian's work on the entire feature concluded his 28-year film career.
- GoofsIn one scene Stephanie and Tony ride through the park in a carriage. About once per minute the background jerks and then repeats showing that it is back projected on a loop.
- Quotes
Tony Naylor: We're trying to finance our show. I'd like to take you folks in as partners. Now, please don't rush but who'd like to be the first to write a check?
Jerry Ralby: Of course, we've just given you the highlights.
Al Marsh: And we got some terrific lowlights. Like the part when I play a 36 inch man dropped from a flying saucer, I zoom through the...
Tony Naylor: It's dynamite!
- ConnectionsFeatured in That's Entertainment, Part II (1976)
- SoundtracksOpening Night
(uncredited)
Music by Jerome Kern
Lyrics by Dorothy Fields
Sung by Howard Keel, Red Skelton and Gower Champion
Stephanie played by Kathryn Grayson is still running the dress shop known as Madame Roberta's. But here it's Red Skelton who inherits half the place from his late aunt. He's partners in an act with Howard Keel and Gower Champion and they want him to sell his half so that they can get the money for a Broadway show. The three of them have to cut Ann Miller in on the deal just to get passage over to Paris.
Of course it's Keel who Grayson pairs off with and in doing so the film comes into balance vocally as the stage show did. Getting the dance numbers are Marge and Gower Champion, Marge playing Grayson's younger sister.
I think I can see the way the minds worked at MGM. In 1950 they copped the Best Picture Oscar for An American In Paris with a nice Parisian setting. Then the following year, Keel, Grayson, and the Champions were in a remake of another Jerome Kern classic Showboat which did very well. What to do, but combine all that in a Jerome Kern show that's Parisian based in Roberta. Besides why let all those expensive sets recreating Paris go to waste.
Also the fashion show finale was absolutely inspired by the fantasy ballet from An American In Paris. But the fantasy of Kelly in that film is replaced by a surreal reenactment of Jimmy Durante's famous line of 'everybody's getting into the act'.
Sometimes these things work and sometimes they don't. In this case the sum was definitely not greater than its parts. Howard Keel in his memoirs said that he felt that Mervyn LeRoy did not do right by him in this film that he had to make up his own interpretation of his character. Maybe LeRoy had too loose a hand and the film needed an overall creative genius like Gene Kelly.
- bkoganbing
- Dec 18, 2007
- How long is Lovely to Look At?Powered by Alexa
Details
- Release date
- Country of origin
- Language
- Also known as
- Männer machen Mode
- Filming locations
- Production company
- See more company credits at IMDbPro
Box office
- Budget
- $2,813,000 (estimated)
- Runtime1 hour 43 minutes
- Aspect ratio
- 1.37 : 1
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