Anything Goes 

On an ocean liner, a nightclub singer tries to help a fellow American romance an English heiress who is being forced to return home to marry a man she doesn't love. The American must avoid ... See full summary »

Director:

Sid Smith

Writers:

Howard Lindsay (by), Russel Crouse (by)

Stars:

Ethel Merman, Frank Sinatra, Bert Lahr

Cast

Episode cast overview:
Ethel Merman	...	Reno Sweeney
Frank Sinatra	...	Harry Dane
Bert Lahr	...	Moonface
Sheree North	...	Bonnie
Norman Abbott	...	Radio Announcer (as Norman Abbot)
Nestor Paiva	...	Dr. Henry T. Dobson
Arthur Gould-Porter	...	Sir Evelyn Oakleigh (as Arthur Gould Porter)
Barbara Morrison	...	Mrs. Wentworth
Lou Krugman	...	Purser

Storyline

On an ocean liner, a nightclub singer tries to help a fellow American romance an English heiress who is being forced to return home to marry a man she doesn't love. The American must avoid his boss who is traveling on the same vessel and disguises himself as a gangster traveling with a minister who is, in fact, a disguised gangster on the lam.

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Plot Keywords:

gangster | on the lam | ocean liner | nightclub singer | disguise | 

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Genres:

Comedy | Romance

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Certificate:

Not Rated

Did You Know?

Trivia

It is said that Ethel Merman and Frank Sinatra did not get along well. This was the only time that they worked together.

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Goofs

During several scenes you can see the backdrop moving from people walking behind it.

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Connections

Version of Musical Comedy Time: Anything Goes (1950)

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Soundtracks

Friendship
(uncredited)
Written by Cole Porter
Sung by Ethel Merman and Bert Lahr

User Reviews

This TV version of "Anything Goes" was pretty entertaining during it's less-than-hour length

Having previously seen the 1936 filmed version with Bing Crosby and Ethel Merman and the 1956 version (with different plot but same cruise setting) with Crosby and Donald O'Connor, I've now just seen the live-aired TV version from 1954 with Merman, Frank Sinatra, and Bert Lahr. Running less than an hour without the commercials this show was originally presented with on air, the original Broadway book gets shortened in order to showcase the famous Cole Porter songs like "You're the Top", "Anything Goes", and "Friendship" among other songs. The three leads are mostly good with the material given them with Lahr quite funny with some of his exaggerated readings. Sheree North also has her moments when she's dancing. The kinescope print I saw was clear enough that part of me could imagine it being live. Not a great presentation but pretty good for what it was. So that's a recommendation of this version of "Anything Goes".

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

28 February 1954 (USA)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Colgate-Palmolive Company, National Broadcasting Company (NBC)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

60 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1