Stage legend Ethel Merman is one of those acclaimed stage actors that never made it big in Hollywood. In fact, most of her successful Broadway roles were given to other actresses for the film adaptation. Fortunately, "Call Me Madam", her film comeback after 15 years of absence from screen, and one of her 2 Broadway roles she reprises(the other being "Anything Goes"), gives audiences the best idea of how she would look like on stage.
After the successful "Call Me Madam", this film was suppose to recreate the magic by re-teaming Ethel Merman, Irvin Berlin, Walter Lang, Donald O'Connor, and choreographer Robert Alton, among others. However, this film feels half-beat off, perhaps due to the intrusion of Marilyn Monroe(she was hired just to boast its box office potential).
The altered storyline manage to come off well, but it sometimes felt like she was a miscast, since she could not pull off a musical number like the way Ethel Merman does("Heat wave" was meant for Merman), and she makes an ironic love interest of Donald O'Connor. In contrast, the pairing of Donald O'Connor and Vera-Ellen in "Call Me Madam" was one of the key things that people praised about the film. Also, anyone familiar with Johnnie Ray, in his only notable film appearance, may find him playing a priest weird. Dan Dailey and Donald O'Connor are very likable in their respective roles.
Still, the film is worth watching for the fine Irvin Berlin's songs(I would love to cut out "Tattoo" though), great choreography, and the talented cast(despite of my casting issues). It is shot in widescreen format and is very well transferred to DVD. Proceed with caution, though, as it is rather corny.
After the successful "Call Me Madam", this film was suppose to recreate the magic by re-teaming Ethel Merman, Irvin Berlin, Walter Lang, Donald O'Connor, and choreographer Robert Alton, among others. However, this film feels half-beat off, perhaps due to the intrusion of Marilyn Monroe(she was hired just to boast its box office potential).
The altered storyline manage to come off well, but it sometimes felt like she was a miscast, since she could not pull off a musical number like the way Ethel Merman does("Heat wave" was meant for Merman), and she makes an ironic love interest of Donald O'Connor. In contrast, the pairing of Donald O'Connor and Vera-Ellen in "Call Me Madam" was one of the key things that people praised about the film. Also, anyone familiar with Johnnie Ray, in his only notable film appearance, may find him playing a priest weird. Dan Dailey and Donald O'Connor are very likable in their respective roles.
Still, the film is worth watching for the fine Irvin Berlin's songs(I would love to cut out "Tattoo" though), great choreography, and the talented cast(despite of my casting issues). It is shot in widescreen format and is very well transferred to DVD. Proceed with caution, though, as it is rather corny.