Customer Reviews

Lovely to Look at [VHS]

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

In this lavish re-make of the Jerome Kern musical "Roberta", Kathryn Grayson and Howard Keel are teamed again following their success in "Showboat". In the film, Red Skelton brings his pals, Howard Keel and Gower Champion, to Paris where he has inherited joint ownership in the exclusive French high fashion clothing store previously owned by his deceased Aunt Roberta. The joint heirs are Kathryn Grayson and Marge Champion who are concerned over the declining business of Roberta's. To save the shop, an elaborate fashion show is planned with top models and a massive renovation. The problem, of course, is financing the fete and this is where all of the manipulative strategies come into play. Ann Miller hops a flight to the City of Light when she suspects that her boyfriend, Howard, may be falling for Kathryn--and the fireworks begin.

The film is overflowing with humor, wit and top-notch musical performances. Kathryn Grayson is at her loveliest singing YESTERDAYS and SMOKE GETS IN YOUR EYES. Howard solos with LOVELY TO LOOK AT. The two team up for YOU'RE DEVASTATING and the lilting TOUCH OF YOUR HAND. Ann Miller sings and taps her way through two lively numbers and Marge and Gower Champion warble I WON'T DANCE and whirl their way through a sky full of stars in a breathtaking reprise of SMOKE GETS IN YOUR EYES. The spectacular fashion review is, of course, the show's finale and what a finale it is with its brilliant songs and dances and a fashion parade that dazzles the eyes. The entire cast is on hand for this all-out effort. So, sit back and enjoy the show. You'll be glad you did.

I never thought I'd enjoy it as much as I did. Katheryn Grayson and Howard Keel, sing there way into love, and also this films has the lovely dancing couple Marge and Gower Champion along with the ever funny Red Skelton, and beautiful and talented dancer Ann Miller. The costumes and dance numbers are a feast for the eyes. It's really a well done remake of the 1930's "Roberta," musical staring Ginger Rogers and Fred Astaire. In fact I enjoyed it much better. I think it deserves 5 stars and stands on it's on, as a beautiful musical film of the 1950's The vocals done my Keel and Grayson are really quite beautiful to hear. It's well worth viewing for any fan of musicals. It has a little of everything, drama, romance, comedy, song, dance, and a good plot as well.

This is Howard Keel along with Kathryn Grayson singing at their best. Beautiful songs. Red Skelton gives comedy to the picture. A must have for Howard Keel and Kathryn Grayson fans!

This is a delightful MGM musical that has not gotten the credit that it deserves. The amazing duo of Kathryn Grayson and Howard Keel are wonderful...as usual. Marge and Gower Champion and Ann Miller add beautiful dancing, and Red Skelton adds humor. The songs are great. Kathryn Grayson performs "Yesterdays" and "Smoke Gets In Your Eyes". Howard Keel sings "The Most Exciting Night" and "Lovely to Look At." Grayson and Keel sing "Your Devestating" and "The Touch of Your Hand". Ann Miller dances to and sings "I'll Be Hard to Handle", and Marge and Gower Champion sing "I Won't Dance". Finally, Gower Champion, Howard Keel, and Red Skelton sing my personal favorite song, "Lafayette". I also love the fashion show at the end with gowns designed by Adiran! If you like musicals, you should see this movie!

I've always thought this film got a short shrift because it dared to be a remake of an Astaire-Rogers film. But, to be fair, it's a perfectly capable "Roberta" remake, in lush color for the first time, and there are a few notable differences in plot. The heir to the salon is a songwriter instead of a football star (which better suits the talents of Red Skelton anyway), the singing designer (Grayson) has a vocal counterpart (Keel), and the dancers-- former sweethearts in the first film-- meet for the first time here. I always thought it was strange that Astaire and Rogers' dances were presented as isolated stage duets rather than integrated into the plot of the story. In the case of Marge & Gower Champion, their dances advance their love story-- first with "I Won't Dance," cleverly staged with dresser mannequins, then with the film's masterpiece, the dreamy "Smoke Gets In Your Eyes," presented in an emptying cafe which magically becomes a starlit dance floor, bathed in midnight blue. It's one of the most romantic dances ever presented on film. Also nice are the Keel/Grayson challenge duet of "You're Devastating" and Skelton's piano cut-up of "Go Tell Aunt Brodie." The only disappointment is the gaudy fashion show-- but it was just as bad in the first version of the story!!

This film is rarely seen and has never, to my knowledge, been shown on TV. Red Skelton does a hilarious routine with the old song "Go Tell Aunt Rhody", Marge and Gower Champion do two show-stopping dances. Kathryn Grayson sings "Smoke Gets In Your Eyes" and "Yesterday". Ann Miller is her usual gorgeous self and does some fantastic tapping. Howard Keel is in full voice as he sings "Lovely To Look At" and joins Kathryn in a duet. You even get Zsa Zsa Gabor in her first screen appearance.
This extravaganza is a awash in color, fabulous choreography, and a tremendous soundtrack, which includes "Lovely to Look At," "You're Devastating," "Yesterdays," "Opening Night," "Smoke Gets in Your Eyes," and several other hits. In this joyful Technicolor® remake of "Roberta" comic genius Red Skelton stars as comedian Al Marsh, who has recently inherited half a dress shop from his aunt. Al needs the money to fund a Broadway production, so he convinces his pals Tony (Howard Keel) and Jerry (Gower Champion) to come along with him to sell his share in the salon. Arriving in Paris, the three men discover that the salon is in the red and hurtling toward bankruptcy. Marsh's partners turn out to be adorable sisters, and Tony comes up with a grand plan to save the salon--turn it into a singing and dancing fashion review.
In the usual musical movie fashion everything works out and all the guys and girls get together in the end. A great old movie that is very hard to find.
The transfer is clean and the picture is sharp and sparkling. The sound is clear and even.

Remembered this from my youth. Was a treat to see again. Granddaughters (4&6) enjoyed the dancing and beautiful costumes along with me.

this is a wonderful mgm musical that should be on dvd,please warner bros release this title on your next set of dream factory titles.Also when are we going to see the remarsted copy of show boat the two versions set,that we have been promised for so long.
Ken Barrett Mooroolbark Australia

Once again no DVD of a really fine musical from the golden years of MGM! Maybe the studio needs to farm out its DVD department so they can get these musicals up to date. Come on MGM we are waiting!!!!

I really enjoyed this movie,the singing,dancing was fantastic.The whole cast was great. The fashion show at the end is terrific,a great movie,you could watch again and again