Silk Stockings (1957)

A musical remake of Ninotchka: After three bumbling Soviet agents fail in their mission to retrieve a straying Soviet composer from Paris, the beautiful, ultra-serious Ninotchka is sent to ... See full summary »

Director:

Rouben Mamoulian

Writers:

Melchior Lengyel (book), George S. Kaufman (play),

Stars:

Fred Astaire, Cyd Charisse, Janis Paige

Nominated for 2 Golden Globes. Another 2 wins & 1 nomination.

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Fred Astaire	...	Steve Canfield
Cyd Charisse	...	Ninotchka Yoschenko
Janis Paige	...	Peggy Dayton
Peter Lorre	...	Brankov, Commisar
George Tobias	...	Vassili Markovitch, Commisar of Art
Jules Munshin	...	Bibinski, Commisar
Joseph Buloff	...	Ivanov, Commisar
Wim Sonneveld	...	Peter Ilyitch Boroff

Storyline

A musical remake of Ninotchka: After three bumbling Soviet agents fail in their mission to retrieve a straying Soviet composer from Paris, the beautiful, ultra-serious Ninotchka is sent to complete their mission and to retrieve them. She starts out condemning the decadent West, but gradually falls under its spell, with the help of Steve Canfield, an American movie producer.

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Plot Keywords:

cheesecake | song and dance | communism | song | dancer | 

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Taglines:

BIG BOUNCY BEAUTIFUL! (original print ad - all caps)

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Genres:

Comedy | Musical | Romance

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Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

18 July 1957 (USA)

Also Known As:

Meias de Seda

Box Office

Budget:

$1,853,463 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

117 min

Sound Mix:

4-Track Stereo Perspecta Stereo (Westrex Recording System)

Color:

Color (Metrocolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Average Shot Length (ASL) = 25 seconds

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Goofs

When the first commissar of art gets sacked, there's a yellow lamp hanging over his desk (he actually walks behind it) and then when Markovitch answers his phone, the lamp magically disappears and is replaced by Vera.

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Quotes

Brankov, Commisar: Be casual. Don't frighten him. Smile.
Bibinski, Commisar: I haven't smiled in 30 years.

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Connections

Spoofed in Stocking Stuffers (2001)

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Soundtracks

"It's a Chemical Reaction that's all"
(uncredited)
Written and Composed by Cole Porter
Sung by Cyd Charisse (dubbed by Carol Richards)

User Reviews

Old-fashioned grace.

"Silk Stockings" is something of an enigma. Its release came at the moment much of America had switched over to viewing television and the musical film was dying. But it was still glorious. I couldn't care less about the 'outdated Red Russia' story line; this is a remake of a 1939 film and the USSR conflict was in the original as well. What're you gonna do? The main focus is on capitalist seduction- first by Tobias, Munshin, and Peter Lorre, then most beautifully by Astaire and Charisse. Note that in their first duet (the non-dancing "Paris Loves Lovers"), as they sing in perfect counterpoint, they appear to be undressing each other with their eyes. Later, in "All of You," the gloves come off and our two leads seduce each other through a most graceful dance in a living room. Astaire was 56 years old, Charisse was about 36, and there is still more electricity in their pairing than in some of the downright silly things passing as romantic comedies today. The undisputed highlight of the film is Ms. Charisse in a silent and sensuous expression of terpsichory as she puts on nude stockings, a camisole, and a flared transparent slip. OMG!!