Musical version of "Ninotchka". Three bumbling Russian men go to Paris to bring a Russian composer home. He doesn't want to go and a friend of his named Steve Canfield (Fred Astaire) talk them out of it. Then strict unemotional Ninotchka Yoschenko (Cyd Charisse) comes by to get the job done. Steve falls for her and tries to get her to fall in love with him.
This is a good MGM musical but far from being one of the best. The dance numbers are energetic but dull (Charisse's strip tease goes on forever), the songs are forgetful, it's far too long and the simplistic portrayal of Rusians would be offensive if it weren't so silly. Still it does have its good points--Astaire and Charisse are in top form and just great; Peter Lorre actually sings AND dances (sort of); Janis Paige is full of energy and steals every scene she's in; the script is somewhat amusing and the "Stereophonic Sound" number is a show stopper (and the only good song in the film). So, all in all, it's worth catching but no great shakes. I give it a 7.
This is a good MGM musical but far from being one of the best. The dance numbers are energetic but dull (Charisse's strip tease goes on forever), the songs are forgetful, it's far too long and the simplistic portrayal of Rusians would be offensive if it weren't so silly. Still it does have its good points--Astaire and Charisse are in top form and just great; Peter Lorre actually sings AND dances (sort of); Janis Paige is full of energy and steals every scene she's in; the script is somewhat amusing and the "Stereophonic Sound" number is a show stopper (and the only good song in the film). So, all in all, it's worth catching but no great shakes. I give it a 7.