This lovely, little-known MGM musical from 1951 stands above most others of its genre by utilizing a strong, often (unintentionally) disturbing and moving storyline as a background for its delightful musical numbers and melodic score.
Jane Powell is fresh as the first day of spring, and in fine voice. Vic Damone's equally engaging as her romantic interest. But the real surprise is the depth and vivacity of the "adult" performers -- Wendell Corey, Fernando Lamas (whose resonant baritone voice is fully utilized) and the delicious Danielle Darrieux in one of her few American movies. She provides charm, elegance and alluring sex-appeal as a woman who abandoned her daughter (Powell) shortly after her birth, divorced her husband (Corey), returned to her native France, and resumed her career as a Parisian nightclub performer, currently in love with her cabaret co-star Lamas. Corey unwittingly takes his daughter to Paris for a vacation, having no idea she will eventually discover the identity of her supposedly "deceased" mother.
The sad undercurrents of the plot are glossed over by a lush Technicolored production and one riveting song after another. The riveting finale is staged and photographed and sung to vivid perfection.
A delicious diversion, with a glorious cast doing full justice to its entrancing score and poignant screenplay. Simply a pity that the delectable, saucy Ms. Darrieux was never teamed with Fred Astaire, though Ms. Powell was one year later in the knockout "Royal Wedding".
Jane Powell is fresh as the first day of spring, and in fine voice. Vic Damone's equally engaging as her romantic interest. But the real surprise is the depth and vivacity of the "adult" performers -- Wendell Corey, Fernando Lamas (whose resonant baritone voice is fully utilized) and the delicious Danielle Darrieux in one of her few American movies. She provides charm, elegance and alluring sex-appeal as a woman who abandoned her daughter (Powell) shortly after her birth, divorced her husband (Corey), returned to her native France, and resumed her career as a Parisian nightclub performer, currently in love with her cabaret co-star Lamas. Corey unwittingly takes his daughter to Paris for a vacation, having no idea she will eventually discover the identity of her supposedly "deceased" mother.
The sad undercurrents of the plot are glossed over by a lush Technicolored production and one riveting song after another. The riveting finale is staged and photographed and sung to vivid perfection.
A delicious diversion, with a glorious cast doing full justice to its entrancing score and poignant screenplay. Simply a pity that the delectable, saucy Ms. Darrieux was never teamed with Fred Astaire, though Ms. Powell was one year later in the knockout "Royal Wedding".