Customer Reviews

One Touch of Venus 45th Anniversary [VHS]

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

After being married to Jennifer Jones (who is/was my particular 1940's screen love goddess), Robert Walker stars opposite a very erotic Ava Gardner, described by film critics in "The Naked Contessa" (1954) as, "...the most beautiful woman in the world", so she was aptly cast to play Venus, the goddess of love, in this 1948 production.

Robert Walker plays Eddie Hatch a lowly paid window dresser at the store owned by Whitfield Savory II (played by Tom Conway - a relative of the suave George Sanders).Eddie is instructed to ensure that the curtain will not snag at the forthcoming unveiling ceremony of the recently acquired statue of Venus.When finished, he impulsively (he's finished the boss' drink) kisses the statue which promptly comes to life!! Eddie is to marry Gloria (Olga San Juan), who rather irritatingly, keeps reminding him they are to marry each other.They have drifted into their relationship and marriage just seems the next logical move - but who said love is logical!! However, Eddie's friend Joe, (Dick Haymes), is secretly in love with Gloria himself but he doesn't know it.Whitfield Savory II is likewise ignorant of his subconcious love for his efficient secretary, Molly Stewart, played by Eve Arden in one of her typical wise-cracking, comic roles; (see her as Mildred Pierce's efficient manager in the Oscar winning film of the same name (1945) opposite Joan Crawford.

I was mesmerized by Ava Gardner as she spreads her instinctive love to bring all these true lovers together, while working her magic on Eddie himself who is soon in love with her.She seems reluctant to return to Mount Olympus as she is having so much fun here on Earth.She loves helping people but when her task is over, Jupiter, the head of The Gods, (who communicates by thunderflashes), summons her back to Mount Olympus.Reluctantly her effigy returns as a statue at the store, much to the relief of the Whitfield Savory II who thought Eddie had stolen the statue whilst she is in her live alter-ego on Earth.This sub-plot gives rise to some comic Keystone Cops type chases especially when Venus comically turns one of the "gumshoes" into an owl, albeit temporarily as she loves everyone really!.Molly believes Eddie is innocent - good for her I say!

Watch out for Sara Algood who plays Eddie's landlady, (see her in previous roles as Mrs Beth Morgan in "How Green Was My Valley (1941) and as Mrs Maile in "Cluny Brown" (1946).The lovely song "Speak Low" is sung by Dick Haymes miming to his own recording while Ava effectivly mimes to another well matched singer's voice.Another song about men, sung in the ladies dressing room as a trio, featuring Ava, Olga & Eve.

The audience feels strong sympathy for Eddie and he is finally given his divine award (including a modest pay rise) when a very beautiful new store recruit called "Venus Jones" (Ava),appears in normal human form to him there.We have to assume this will eventually become another love match engineered by Mount Olympus!

I found this film hugely enjoyable as I love classic 1940's films having made them something of a speciality.It has fewer of the songs than in the original Broadway musical but this seems to fit the plot.It is a difficult title to find on video.I obtained mine by winning an e-Bay auction after searching on Robert Walker.

The raven-haired, green-eyed Ava Gardner, complete with the magnificent structure (bone and otherwise) is the perfect choice for the role of Venus come to life. Much is made of the predictability of the plot; this was the first time it was done as a sophisticated comedy, I believe. Many imitators would come later, including "Mannequin" in the 1980s, to much less effect. The score is scaled back quite a bit, but with very little loss. The wonderful Eve Arden gives her ultimate wise-cracking performance in this film, and she lights up any film she's in, but especially this one. My only gripe is the casting of aw-shucks cutesy Robert Walker. I'd rather have seen Dick Haymes, or Jimmy Stewart, or almost anyone else in the role of Eddie Hatch. (Hmmm ... Andrew McCarthy would have been great, if he were around then!) I think the rest of the cast is absolutely fine. Olga San Juan is a lovely, talented and underrated actress-performer, but her part in this seems somewhat thankless as the jealous, whiny, hissy-fit competing female. Tom Conway (George Sanders's brother, by the way) is a VERY suave, sophisticated "villain" of the piece. Though Ms. Gardner's voice is dubbed here, the haunting "Speak Low" gets my vote as one of the most beautiful ever written, WHOEVER sings it, and it is orchestrated and performed perfectly here. Overall, the film beautifully captures the things I've always loved about the 1940s. This is a film I watch very often. After seeing it on late-night television so often back in the 50s and 60s, it was a delight to learn that it was filmed in color. Pure escapism, but whoo-whoo-whoo's complaining, as Eve Arden might have wisecracked.

I'm not as well spoken as the previous reviewers, still, I grew up with this movie and watched it every time I saw it listed on TV. In fact, I'm always looking for a black and white copy I can afford to buy. It is just one of my favorite all time movies. I love the characters and most of the actors - Eve Arden being my favorite by far and Ava looking so gorgeous, as well as Walker looking so vulnerable, confused and frustrated. It's a fun time - 90 minutes or so of losing yourself in a far out comedic love story. I enjoyed the music and I'm one who tires of musicals after awhile - this one did not bore me. Dick Haymes' singing is a joy. I recommend it highly to anyone - even the more serious curmudgeons who feel they might not like it.

This adaptation by director William A Seiter of the musical with music by Kurt Weill and lyrics by S J Perelman and Ogden Nash is generally considered a bowlderisation, with songs cut and Mary Martin's stage performance lost in favour of the usual Broadway to Hollywood compromises. However there can be no doubt that casting beautiful Ava Gardner as Venus, the goddess of love, is apt. Here Gardner is more playful than usual, and even making her chase a reluctant Robert Walker can be forgiven. Although it is thought that great beauties are all the more desirable when passive rather than active, Walker not realising Gardner's worth is true to the slapstick comedy tone. The idea of Gardner as a marble statue on display in the art gallery of a department store, brought to life by window dresser Walker's drunken kiss at midnight during a lightning storm, introduces the unrealistic romantic narrative, with songs that appear without the musical genre strictly being adhered to. If I am happy to not have I'm a Stranger Here Myself from the stage show, it's because I don't like the song anyway, and even when Speak Low is presented unsatisfactorily and that Gardner is dubbed whilst singing it, cannot detract from it being one of the loveliest melodies Kurt Weill ever composed. I like how it is used as a siren song, where Seiter intercuts between Gardner and Walker, and Dick Haymes and Olga San Juan, with Gardner and Haymes both singing to departed lovers in a duet. As the only one of the cast who appears able to sing, Haymes also gets the bulk of My Foolish Heart, even if given new lyrics and a generally unappealing romantic partner in San Juan. The other song to survive is That's Him, where Eve Arden gets to join in as Gardner is dressed. Arden talks most of her lyrics but still it's nice to see her in this context, in addition to the barbs she delivers as comic relief otherwise, thanks to the screenplay by Frank Tashlin and Harry Kurnitz. I also liked Walker's line re San Juan "She's so terribly one track minded. Even when we have dinner together she eats rice", and there is a lowbrow moment when James Flavin as a detective is turned into a human owl by Gardner. If the others running around tend to become tiresome, there is still Gardner, looking ravishing in black late in the proceedings, and given a gorgeous closeup. And Seiter adds a sweet conclusion.

A delightful romantic fantasy made even more so by Eve Arden as the wise-cracking secretary. This was, seemingly, the "inspiration" for the so-so 1987 movie, MANNEQUIN. Stick with the original! You won't be disappointed.

Recently I have become very interested in the music of Kurt Weill. I've known his name for years, his "September Song" is one of my favorite songs ever written but thanks to German cabaret singer Ute Lemper I have in a sense rediscovered his music. So when I saw this movie at my library I just jumped at the chance to see it.

"One Touch of Venus" for those who don't know was based on a stage play made 5 years earlier (if you're bad at math that means 1943). It is one of a handful of plays that Weill wrote the music for that was made into a feature film. Other examples include "Knickbocker Holiday" and "Lady in the Dark" neither of which was faithful to the play or available on DVD or vhs.

The movie stars Ava Gardner as Venus and Robert Walker as Eddie Hatch a clerk at a department store who kisses the statue of Venus(don't ask) and makes her come to life (again don't ask why). Now that Venus is alive she naturally wants to spend the rest of her life with the man who is responsible but the problem lies in the fact that Eddie already has a girlfriend, Gloria (Olga San Juan) and now is wanted for stealing the statue. Eddie must now prove that the statue came to life before the police arrest him and his girlfriend dumps him.

Perhaps all of this sounds funny and to be honest there are some humorous moments in the movie but it is largely unfaithful to what the play was about.

The play had the Eddie character (who's name was Rodney) as a barber who comes to give the head of the department store a shave just before he is about to unveil the Venus statue. Rodney places his fiancee's ring on the statue's finger causing her to come to life. After which she intends to spend the rest of her life with Rodney but when she realizes what kind of life is ahead of her if she does she changes her mind leaving behind a facsimile of herself so Rodney will never be alone.

That is ultimately a much different story than the one we see here. And if the plot changes don't bother you maybe the fact that many songs were dropped will. Only three songs remain in the movie. The highly popular "Speak Low" remains as does "That's Him" and another song I honestly don't remember. But sadly "I'm A Stranger Here Myself" is missing as is "West Wind", "How Much I Love You", "Foolish Heart", Wooden Wedding" and "Way Out West in Jersey".

But I still think you should see "One Touch of Venus" despite all these flaws. First of all where else will one see the story to begin with? Unless your town is currently producing this on stage chances are this is the best we are gonna do. Secondly as I mentioned before there are some humorous moments, which to me suggest that it can not be a complete waste of time. Robert Walker is quite entertaining to watch. Thirdly, did I mention the music is by Kurt Weill and you get to hear "Speak Low"?

I also enjoyed Eve Arden as Molly, as smartalec secretary.

The movie was co-written by Frank Tashlin, who also had his hand in several comedies namely with Jerry Lewis in "The Geisha Boy" and "Will Success Spoil Rock Hunter?". That could account for why the movie is as funny as it is. It was also directed by William A. Seiter (once again don't ask me why). Seiter directed the Fred Astaire/Ginger Rogers' musical "Roberta" along with "Room Service" and a few Wheeler and Woolsey comedies.

"One Touch of Venus" is not a great movie or even a great musical but it has some charm to it and some laughs and at least one great song in it. This is why I recommend you see this movie.

Bottom-line: Unfaithful film adaptation of Kurt Weill's musical play and sadly cuts out many of his songs and changes the plot around a bit. Still though is has some moments which are worth recommending even if the movie is not a total success.

a prime example of romantic comedy of the past. Where is DVD???? I should know I lived it. I worked in hollywood for 11 years.

What can anyone say about a classic movie such as this. The movie has everything in it. ie: Romance, dancing, singing, comedy, great actors, great script. Although the movie was shot in black and white it still is a great piece of art. The premise of the movie is about a lowly window dresser in a department store. He has a girlfriend who is marriage minded. While fixing a display in the art gallery he takes a moment to kiss the statue of Venus. And that's when the fun begins. I keep this movie in the "Classics" section of my collection. All I can say is, "They just don't make movies like they used to".

I just watched my newly acquired black and white VHS of "One Touch of Venus," a movie I first saw while in grammar school years ago and never forgot. The entire cast is wonderful and perfectly matched and, of course, there could never be another Venus like Ava Gardner - a role made for her. You can feel Eddie's frustration on wanting her to return to the gods so that he can resume a normal life again, but at the same time falling in love with her and wanting her to stay. A most delightful, endearing comedy filled with touching moments, and bringing you back to yesteryear when movie screens were filled with talent and class - a true classic. Recommended for all.
Anne M. Straeb( NJ)

What a treasure this movie is. Ava Gardner was never so beautiful. When she becomes a real life Venus, it is like watching a real life goddess, which Ava was. The music is beautiful. When I first saw this movie, I think I was around ten years old, and I have remembered it forever. At the end, when Zeus calls Venus home, and then when she comes back as "Venus Jones," I still cry when she meets Robert Walker in the department store. I own the video but why is this fabuluous not on DVD?