'Cover Girl' promised much. Technicolor. Music/songs by Jerome Kern and Ira Gershwin. And a cast that includes Rita Hayworth (one of the most beautiful classic film, and ever, stars), Gene Kelly (one of the best dancers and choreographers in the history of musicals) and Eve Arden (who has always been enjoyable in supporting roles).
It doesn't quite deliver fully on the promise though, there are some big flaws here. However, taking it for what it is it is a pleasant watch with many pleasures. The story admittedly is pure corn and contrivance and also goes on longer than it needed to. A solution to that would have been cutting out the bizarre and ridiculous to the point of embarrassment subplot with the grandmother, scenes that didn't feel right in the film.
Phil Silvers undeniably is a very good dancer and dances with great energy. However, he is one big ham here that can be taken or left. To me he was irritating and his humour grated. Several have criticised the songs. Granted, most of them are not among Kern or Gershwin's best work, but really the only number that stuck out like a sore thumb as bad was "Poor John" (which oddly enough was not penned by Kern and Gershwin, who wouldn't be seen dead writing a song as bad as that). That was a very clumsily done scene, the song stylistically is at odds with the rest and there is even an attempt at a Cockney accent that makes Dick Van Dyke's good in comparison.
On the other hand, 'Cover Girl' is a beautifully designed film and dazzles in Technicolor. The photography in the "Alter Ego" song and dance number is incredibly clever. The choreography is one of the film's pleasures, with that of "Alter Ego" being easily among Gene Kelly's most creative, best and most ground-breaking routines. While not among Kern's or Gershwin's best generally, apart from the hauntingly gorgeous "Long Ago and Far Away" (which is one of Kern's best-known songs and one of my favourites of his actually), though "Make Way for Tomorrow" and "Sure Thing" are also catchy.
Rita Hayworth is truly stunning in this film and charms effortlessly as well as showing some incredible dancing, while Kelly, even with a less likable or relatable character, has an easy-going charm and once again his dancing dazzles. Eve Arden's role is small, but she still brings sassy wit (funnier than anything that comes from Silvers) and class so she still makes an impression. Hayworth and Kelly are sweet together, and the script has its amusing and charming moments, if hit and miss with the comedy with Arden (both performance and material) faring far better than Silvers even with lesser screen time.
On the whole, not a great film with some big flaws but very, very watchable with many pleasures (and goodness are those pleasures big in size). 6/10 Bethany Cox
It doesn't quite deliver fully on the promise though, there are some big flaws here. However, taking it for what it is it is a pleasant watch with many pleasures. The story admittedly is pure corn and contrivance and also goes on longer than it needed to. A solution to that would have been cutting out the bizarre and ridiculous to the point of embarrassment subplot with the grandmother, scenes that didn't feel right in the film.
Phil Silvers undeniably is a very good dancer and dances with great energy. However, he is one big ham here that can be taken or left. To me he was irritating and his humour grated. Several have criticised the songs. Granted, most of them are not among Kern or Gershwin's best work, but really the only number that stuck out like a sore thumb as bad was "Poor John" (which oddly enough was not penned by Kern and Gershwin, who wouldn't be seen dead writing a song as bad as that). That was a very clumsily done scene, the song stylistically is at odds with the rest and there is even an attempt at a Cockney accent that makes Dick Van Dyke's good in comparison.
On the other hand, 'Cover Girl' is a beautifully designed film and dazzles in Technicolor. The photography in the "Alter Ego" song and dance number is incredibly clever. The choreography is one of the film's pleasures, with that of "Alter Ego" being easily among Gene Kelly's most creative, best and most ground-breaking routines. While not among Kern's or Gershwin's best generally, apart from the hauntingly gorgeous "Long Ago and Far Away" (which is one of Kern's best-known songs and one of my favourites of his actually), though "Make Way for Tomorrow" and "Sure Thing" are also catchy.
Rita Hayworth is truly stunning in this film and charms effortlessly as well as showing some incredible dancing, while Kelly, even with a less likable or relatable character, has an easy-going charm and once again his dancing dazzles. Eve Arden's role is small, but she still brings sassy wit (funnier than anything that comes from Silvers) and class so she still makes an impression. Hayworth and Kelly are sweet together, and the script has its amusing and charming moments, if hit and miss with the comedy with Arden (both performance and material) faring far better than Silvers even with lesser screen time.
On the whole, not a great film with some big flaws but very, very watchable with many pleasures (and goodness are those pleasures big in size). 6/10 Bethany Cox