Can-Can (1960)

1896, Montmartre: the Can-Can, the dance in which the women lift their skirts, is forbidden. Nevertheless Simone has it performed every day in her night club. Her employees use their female... See full summary »

Director:

Walter Lang

Writers:

Dorothy Kingsley (screenplay), Charles Lederer (screenplay),

Stars:

Frank Sinatra, Shirley MacLaine, Maurice Chevalier

Nominated for 2 Oscars. Another 5 wins & 5 nominations.

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Frank Sinatra	...	François Durnais
Shirley MacLaine	...	Simone Pistache
Maurice Chevalier	...	Paul Barriere
Louis Jourdan	...	Philipe Forrestier
Juliet Prowse	...	Claudine
Marcel Dalio	...	Andre - the head waiter
Leon Belasco	...	Arturo - orchestra leader
Nestor Paiva	...	Bailiff
John A. Neris	...	Jacques - the Photographer
Jean Del Val	...	Judge Merceaux
Ann Codee	...	League president

Storyline

1896, Montmartre: the Can-Can, the dance in which the women lift their skirts, is forbidden. Nevertheless Simone has it performed every day in her night club. Her employees use their female charm to let the representatives of law enforcement look the other way - or even attend the shows. But then the young ambitious judge Philippe Forrestier decides to bring this to an end. Will Simone manage to twist him round her little finger, too? Her boyfriend Francois certainly doesn't like to watch her trying.

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Plot Keywords:

judge | 1800s | stage show | cancan dance | paris france | 

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Taglines:

The Entertainment Event of the Year!

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Genres:

Comedy | Musical

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Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English French

Release Date:

9 March 1960 (USA)

Also Known As:

Cole Porter's Can-Can

Filming Locations:

Paris, France

Box Office

Budget:

$6,000,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation, Suffolk-Cummings Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

131 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (35mm) (optical prints) 70 mm 6-Track (Westrex Recording System) 4-Track Stereo (35 mm) (magnetic prints)

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.20 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The Broadway production of "Can-Can" opened at the Shubert Theater in New York on May 7, 1953 and ran for 892 performances.

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Quotes

François Durnais: You look like a broken umbrella.

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Connections

Referenced in Murphy Brown: Signed, Sealed, Delivered (1988)

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Soundtracks

"It's All Right With Me"
(reprise)
Music and Lyrics by Cole Porter
Sung by Louis Jourdan

User Reviews

Big-Budget Hollywood Tribute to Vintage Years of Moulin Rouge

Shirley MacLaine is a delight as the owner/operator of an 1895 Paris Night Club. The problem: A new, "disgusting" dance craze called the "Can Can" has swept Paris, and Shirley's night club seems to be the only place that dares to perform it nightly. Money man Frank Sinatra, who also is the on-again-off-again fiancé of the owner, attempts to bribe the authorities to turn a blind eye to what's going on at the club. Law man Louis Jourdan also falls for Shirley, while an ever-wise Maurice Chevallier tries his best to play cupid.

The musical numbers are wonderful, especially Shirley MacLaine's solo "Come Along With Me", The MacLaine/Sinatra duet "Let's Do It" and the grand finale "Can Can". -- This film cost 6 million dollars to produce, which was a lot in 1960. I'm glad they went through with it, because this is one of my favorite film musicals. They don't come much better than this!