Starring Bing Crosby, Donald O'Connor, Mitzi Gaynor, and Zizi Jeanmaire
Directed by Robert Lewis
Music and Lyrics by Cole Porter and others
After the blockbuster success of White Christmas in 1954, Paramount wanted another big Crosby musical with VistaVision, Technicolor, and a fluffy romantic comedy plot. Once again, we have the basic plot of two women falling for smooth Crosby and his goofy comedian partner. With the original Anything Goes now playing on TV, they dusted off the title, tossed in Porter songs from the stage show and other Porter musicals and a few by other hands, and turned it all into the story of two men who sign a pair of very different dancers for one big role. How does this look today? Let's begin with partners Bill Benson (Crosby) and Ted Adams (O'Connor) as they go to nightclubs to watch two lovely dancers and find out...
The Story: Bill is so impressed by sassy American nightclub dancer Patsy Blair (Gaynor), he signs her to a contract right away. He has no idea Ted's smitten by the lovely and willowy French ballerina Gaby Duval (Jeanmaire) and hires her for the same part. All four end up sailing back to New York on the same cruise ship, along with Patsy's gambler father Steve (Phil Harris). They end up falling for the girl the other wanted for the show, Bill with Gaby and Ted with Patsy...but now they have to tell them they may not get the part after all...
The Song and Dance: If nothing else, we do get some songs that didn't make it into the 1936 version. O'Connor has a great time, and he pairs nicely with smart Gaynor. Paramount has fun with the colorful shipboard setting, including numbers that make use of the decks and gym rooms. The 50's couture is just stunning, especially some of Gaby's frocks on board.
Favorite Number: Ted and Bill meet up to show everyone how you "Gotta Give the People Hoke," even if big rubber noses and burning firemen's hats are considered passe by critics. Gaynor's joined by the chorus for the bright, brassy title number in red and gold with lots of lace fans. "You're the Top" is just as much fun here as in the 1936 film and is beautifully filmed to fill out the wide screen. Each couple sings part of the number in adjoining gym rooms, separate but together.
"It's De-Lovely" becomes a sweet dance routine for Gaynor and O'Connor as they glide all around the top deck and smokestack. The gorgeous ballad "All Through the Night" that was cut in '36 finally makes it in as Bing's big romantic solo. An instrumental version becomes a dream ballet for Gaby and the chorus as she imagines herself a star among sailors and easily-influenced teens in the big city. O'Connor soothes his broken heart by reminding a group of kids playing with balls that "You Can Bounce Right Back." The movie ends with a bizarre rendition of "Blow Gabriel Blow," as the leads and the chorus in top hats perform against a fiery backdrop.
What I Don't Like: This has absolutely nothing whatsoever to do with the stage Anything Goes besides a few Cole Porter songs. At least the '36 movie used most of the original plot, a few of the songs, and the general air of wackiness. This isn't "anything goes." It's standard Busby Berkeley backstage romantic comedy cliches. The plot is bland fluff with all the bite of stale cotton candy, the new songs are dull, Porter's lyrics are even more whitewashed than they were in '36, and Jeanmaire and Crosby have no chemistry. No wonder it would be Bing's last movie for Paramount, his home studio since the early 30's.
The Big Finale: Crosby and O'Connor had far more fun together when O'Connor was a kid in Sing You Sinners. This is only for the most ardent fans of the cast or Porter. All others are recommended to look up the better numbers online and skip the rest.
Home Media: The DVD is in print, but hard to find and expensive when it does appear, and it doesn't seem to be on streaming. Check used venues.
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