MGM always knew how to put on a good show when it came to musicals and KISS ME KATE is no exception. But oddly enough, there's a certain staginess to all of the numbers despite the fact that the screen is able to expand on a Broadway musical. Of course, this could be because most of the musical numbers take place on a stage--but no, it's more than that. The whole concept of the movie makes it look like a stage-bound play with music.
And this is true even though it was lensed in 3-D--although not released everywhere in that version. But what counts are the stunning dance routines by Bob Fosse executed so well by ANN MILLER and all the other dancers. And, of course, the singing duo of KATHRYN GRAYSON (at her most animated) and HOWARD KEEL (at his lustiest) in the broad comic central roles based on Shakespeare's "Taming of the Shrew". Grayson really gets into character as the shrewish Kate and Keel steals most of the film with his broadly overplayed version of a cocky and arrogant lover.
If musicals are not your thing, you can forget this one. It's full of some of Cole Porter's best songs ("Always True To You In My Fashion", "From This Moment On") and some throwaway numbers have their charm too ("Brush Up Your Shakespeare"), a nimble song-and-dance number offered by KEENAN WYNN and JAMES WHITMORE.
Summing up: ANN MILLER, KATHRYN GRAYSON and most of all, HOWARD KEEL, make it well worth watching.
And this is true even though it was lensed in 3-D--although not released everywhere in that version. But what counts are the stunning dance routines by Bob Fosse executed so well by ANN MILLER and all the other dancers. And, of course, the singing duo of KATHRYN GRAYSON (at her most animated) and HOWARD KEEL (at his lustiest) in the broad comic central roles based on Shakespeare's "Taming of the Shrew". Grayson really gets into character as the shrewish Kate and Keel steals most of the film with his broadly overplayed version of a cocky and arrogant lover.
If musicals are not your thing, you can forget this one. It's full of some of Cole Porter's best songs ("Always True To You In My Fashion", "From This Moment On") and some throwaway numbers have their charm too ("Brush Up Your Shakespeare"), a nimble song-and-dance number offered by KEENAN WYNN and JAMES WHITMORE.
Summing up: ANN MILLER, KATHRYN GRAYSON and most of all, HOWARD KEEL, make it well worth watching.