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IMDbPro

Can-Can

  • 19601960
  • ApprovedApproved
  • 2h 11m
IMDb RATING
6.3/10
2.3K
YOUR RATING
Frank Sinatra, Shirley MacLaine, Maurice Chevalier, and Louis Jourdan in Can-Can (1960)
Montmartre, 1896: the Can-Can, the dance in which the women lift their skirts, is forbidden. Nevertheless, Simone has it performed every day in her nightclub. Her employees use their female charms to let the representatives of law enforcement look the other way - and even attend the shows. 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.
Play trailer2:25
1 Video
29 Photos
  • Comedy
  • Musical
In 1896 Paris, a female nightclub proprietor fights against the forces of public morality for the right to feature her performers doing the risqué dance, the Can-Can.In 1896 Paris, a female nightclub proprietor fights against the forces of public morality for the right to feature her performers doing the risqué dance, the Can-Can.In 1896 Paris, a female nightclub proprietor fights against the forces of public morality for the right to feature her performers doing the risqué dance, the Can-Can.
IMDb RATING
6.3/10
2.3K
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Walter Lang
  • Writers
    • Dorothy Kingsley(screenplay)
    • Charles Lederer(screenplay)
    • Abe Burrows(musical comedy)
  • Stars
    • Frank Sinatra
    • Shirley MacLaine
    • Maurice Chevalier
Top credits
  • Director
    • Walter Lang
  • Writers
    • Dorothy Kingsley(screenplay)
    • Charles Lederer(screenplay)
    • Abe Burrows(musical comedy)
  • Stars
    • Frank Sinatra
    • Shirley MacLaine
    • Maurice Chevalier
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 36User reviews
    • 17Critic reviews
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Nominated for 2 Oscars
      • 5 wins & 7 nominations total

    Videos1

    Official Trailer
    Trailer 2:25
    Official Trailer

    Photos29

    Nikita Khrushchev watches on as Frank Sinatra performs on the set of the film "Can-Can" at 20th Century Fox' Hollywood studio 09-19-1959
    Nikita Khrushchev visits with Frank Sinatra, Maurice Chevalier, Louis Jourdan and Shirley MacLaine on the set of the film "Can-Can" at 20th Century Fox' Hollywood studio 09-19-1959
    "Can Can" Frank Sinatra at Fox Studios during a break from filming, 1959. Modern silver gelatin, 12x9.5, signed. $750 © 1978 Bob Willoughby MPTV
    "Can Can" Warren Beatty and Joan Collins visit Shirley MacLaine on the set 1959 20th
    Sammy Davis, Jr. and his wife, Loray White Davis, at the "Can Can" premiere in Hollywood, CA, 1960.
    Sammy Davis, Jr. and his wife, Loray White Davis, at the "Can Can" premiere in Hollywood, CA, 1960.
    Frank Sinatra, Shirley MacLaine, and Juliet Prowse in Can-Can (1960)
    Frank Sinatra and Shirley MacLaine in Can-Can (1960)
    Frank Sinatra and Juliet Prowse in Can-Can (1960)
    Frank Sinatra and Shirley MacLaine in Can-Can (1960)
    Shirley MacLaine and Marc Wilder in Can-Can (1960)
    Shirley MacLaine in Can-Can (1960)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Frank Sinatra
    Frank Sinatra
    • François Durnais
    Shirley MacLaine
    Shirley MacLaine
    • Simone Pistache
    Maurice Chevalier
    Maurice Chevalier
    • Paul Barriere
    Louis Jourdan
    Louis Jourdan
    • Philipe Forrestier
    Juliet Prowse
    Juliet Prowse
    • Claudine
    Marcel Dalio
    Marcel Dalio
    • Andre - the head waiter
    Leon Belasco
    Leon Belasco
    • Arturo - orchestra leader
    Nestor Paiva
    Nestor Paiva
    • Bailiff
    John A. Neris
    • Jacques - the Photographer
    Jean Del Val
    Jean Del Val
    • Judge Merceaux
    Ann Codee
    Ann Codee
    • League president
    Frank Baker
    Frank Baker
    • Party Guest
    • (uncredited)
    Benjie Bancroft
    • Club Patron
    • (uncredited)
    Herman Belmonte
    • Waiter
    • (uncredited)
    Eugene Borden
    • Police Officer Chevrolet
    • (uncredited)
    Buddy Bryan
    • Dancer
    • (uncredited)
    Carole Bryan
    • Gigi
    • (uncredited)
    Charles Carmen
    • Knife Thrower
    • (uncredited)
    • Director
      • Walter Lang
    • Writers
      • Dorothy Kingsley(screenplay)
      • Charles Lederer(screenplay)
      • Abe Burrows(musical comedy)
    • All cast & crew
    • See more cast details at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      During filming on 19th September 1959, Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev visited the set on Sound Stage 8 with his wife Nina. He reportedly was shocked by the open sexuality on display, condemning the film as pornographic and depraved: "The face of mankind is prettier than its backside... The thing is immoral. We do not want that sort of thing for the Russians."
    • Goofs
      About 34 minutes in, when Philipe tries to close the window in Simone's boudoir, the whole wall shakes as he struggles with the window, indicating that it is a set wall and not a real building.
    • Quotes

      François Durnais: You look like a broken umbrella.

    • Crazy credits
      Opening credits prologue: Montmartre-1896
    • Connections
      Featured in Twentieth Century Fox: The First 50 Years (1997)
    • Soundtracks
      I Love Paris
      (uncredited)

      Music by Cole Porter

      Lyrics by Cole Porter

      Sung by chorus over the beginning and end credits

    User reviews36

    Review
    Top review
    5/10
    Considering the talent, this should have sparkled so much more
    'Can-Can' from personal opinion is one of Cole Porter's best later musicals, and there was so much talent involved in this film. It's just sad that something that should have sparkled like diamonds fell as flat as over-egged soufflé despite some very great things.

    There's more to the problem than it being a butchered treatment of the Broadway hit, including a mangled re-written story with an additional character to cater Frank Sinatra, omitted songs and changes to lyrics. Pretty much all of the problems with 'Can-Can' are to do with how it fared on its own terms, which is while nowhere near one of the duds in musicals it's one of the classics either, if anything a missed opportunity.

    Despite how this all sounds there is a good amount to like about 'Can-Can'. The film is visually stunning, opulently produced and photographed with spectacular gorgeousness. Porter's music and songs, even with how they're treated (most inexplicable being the lyric liberties in the title song, the original ones are brilliant and part of what makes 'Can-Can' one of Porter's better later musicals), are still superb. Especially the very touching "It's All Right With Me", sung (or crooned) beautifully by Sinatra.

    Parts of the script has wit and charm, especially with Maurice Chevalier. Chevalier and Louis Jourdan give the film's two best performances, the former performing with a humorous twinkle and effortless charm and the latter having an urbane likability. Juliet Prowse also proves herself to be a wonderful dancer, and the choreography and musical numbers are really where 'Can-Can' really picks up in the interest value.

    Yet, 'Can-Can', despite the music, Chevalier and Jourdan and the production values, never makes one properly feel like they've been transported to late 19th century Paris. Part of it is to do with the mostly anachronistic and talky script (especially in the courtroom parts that really dragged the film down pace-wise), and a larger part is do with the miscasting of the two leading roles. There is no denying that Sinatra sings beautifully with impeccable phrasing and breath control, but he is too contemporary and completely fails to bring personality, let alone any endearing traits, to a total sleazebag of a character. Shirley MacLaine is also too American, annoyingly shrill and doesn't look like her heart was completely in it.

    As a result of the numerous changes, despite some moments, the story suffers consequently, the material needed more wit, emotion and life than what the film provides. Sluggish pacing in the non-musical moments and a rather too overlong length doesn't help. It's indifferently directed, the "Garden of Eden" sequence despite great dancing and choreography is overblown and goes on for far too long and the ending, with Simone's decision completely ringing false, feels like a cheat.

    On the whole, some definite great things but considering the source material and talent 'Can-Can' should have sparkled so much more. 5/10 Bethany Cox
    helpful•4
    1
    • TheLittleSongbird
    • Sep 18, 2016

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • March 27, 1960 (United Kingdom)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Languages
      • English
      • French
    • Also known as
      • Jack Cummings' Production of Cole Porter's Can-Can
    • Filming locations
      • Paris, France
    • Production company
      • Suffolk-Cummings Productions
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $6,000,000 (estimated)
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      2 hours 11 minutes
    • Aspect ratio
      • 2.20 : 1

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