Männer machen Mode

This was a remake of the RKO Astaire-Rogers pastiche ROBERTA (1935), but it had its own merits. MGM used its 'Jack Cummings' unit of talent- most of the alumnae from SHOW BOAT and KISS ME KATE- to perform here. Howard Keel and Kathryn Grayson represent the singing couple (Irene Dunne essayed the role originally in ROBERTA, but her mate was the non-singing Randolph Scott), and do very nice renditions of the songs 'The Touch of Your Hand' and their witty first duet, 'You're Devastating.' The dancing couple was none other than Marge & Gower Champion, married in real life and presenting the dances with a bit more romance. They first dance to the call-and-response ditty 'I Won't Dance' in a fitting room with mannequins on wheels. Later, in an after-hours café, they discover they are falling in love and dance to an instrumental version of 'Smoke Gets In Your Eyes-' particularly breathtaking because it is staged as a love scene instead of a performance, and it makes the most of a dreamy, starry-night set piece, of which the dance floor is put to a great deal of use in its climax when the Champions swing each other around in romantic pirouettes. Finally, there is Red Skelton assuming the role of the actual salon heir, cutting up on a piano rag and narrating the gargantuan fashion show finale. The remake includes a sexier version of 'I'll Be Hard to Handle' tapped out by Ann Miller, and 'new' songs 'Tomorrow Night' and 'Lafayette.'

...the reviews for Lovely To Look At really expose how much even classic Hollywood films can't bring joy to grownup children who can't enjoy a piece of entertainment for itself, but must keep comparing it to something long past, which is about as typically (and sadly) "status-quo" in this pathetic world we now live in as I can imagine ("make Hollywood great agin"?). I love the film 'Roberta' too - it's one of the Astaire-Rodgers films, so that's almost an automatic; the fact it stars Irene Dunne is a great bonus in my book - But reviews of 'Roberta' belong on the 'Roberta' page. 'Lovely To Look At' is its own thing entirely.

You've got the great singer Kathryn Grayson, the great dancers Ann Miller and Marge & Gower Champion, the fine musical star Howard Keel -who, like Red Skelton, really seems to bother modern (tiny) minds - and some great numbers (including Smoke Gets In Your Eyes, sung beautifully by Grayson), and "I won't Dance" with the Champions. But if you insist, let's keep the reviews about actors that were in the film this was BASED on, but not actual In this one; smart! None of these gorgeously-performed numbers make me long for 'Roberta', which, again, is a completely different production , its own thing. And one final note...

The number of sad, pathetic whiners who seem to genuinely hate the late, great Red Skelton is Mind-boggling. One self-professed genius reviewer chalked this up to MGM pandering to "the Midwest", which is about as arrogant an attitude for a supposed classic Hollywood film lover as I can imagine - if you hate condescending to "middlebrow" tastes so much, I can't imagine why you ever thought you'd enjoy ANY classic Hollywood films; if you must take such an antipathetic stance against the "corn" (some of us consider it a selling point, not something to simply "put up with"; ESPECIALLY MGM, which was run by the family-obsessed Louis B Mayer, whom I suspect I'd have a lot of disagreements with, but damn I do love the films, even Andy Hardy, which I'm absolutely SURE you are all "Above" enjoying, so back to my main rant...) I'd suggest you stick with more modern fare. Superhero films just might be for you. Maybe some modern filmmaker can tap-dance for you all. It strikes me now how brilliant the line "Here we are now, entertain us" is. That's the attitude of today's spoiled society; don't produce anything, just whine and complain about what we do have, and those who are actually doing things (worse, complain about stuff from 70y ago). Wow, a stance against a comedian from 75 years ago - how BRAVE. There ARE comedians who get on my nerves, but I appreciate them ALL, because it's tough to perform for an audience (as the man said, "Hell is other people"; your whining about ol' Red is at least partly the reason the statement remains true about humanity; I can't think of any reason a modern audience should dislike Red Skelton, except the fact that he comes across as genuinely decent, which of course whiny malcontents cannot possibly understand in a comedian; no cheap shots?!? Shocking; oooohhh my pearls!), and it's REALLY tough to be funny for an audience of diverse people. So while I despise all critics, i have special contempt for any moron who feels the need to savage a long-dead comedian, especially a great guy such as Red Skelton always seems to me to have been. There are many worse old Hollywood people Much more Deserving of your ire than Red Skelton, but you're all so entitled, so I don't expect you'd bother to think about that. His big sin is that he's not funny to you NOW (70 years later; shocking that comedy isn't exactly The same as it was then... hmm). Again, in closing, I recommend the marvel universe for you too-smart-for-a-70-year-old-film "coastal elites" lol. The guy came from VAUDEVILLE, a now-extinct form of entertainment. Look it up.

And if you downvote my review as "not helpful" I will consider it an honor. Thanks for reading. Enjoy your hair.

Typical MGM treatment. Not much plot but the musical numbers are beautifully staged and the whole production is much more enjoyable than the Astaire-Rogers version. Grayson and Keel blend well in their duets and Ann Miller is in top form. Marge and Gower Champion have a field day in their roles and certainly deserve the praises they received during their time together. Red Skelton was always a class act and this role is no exception.

This could have been much better. Terrific cast, however Red Skelton (one of my favorites, usually) isn't in good form (but Ann Miller's form is terrific), Howard Keel is lackluster, and Zsa-Zsa is YOUNG! However blah the plot and acting are, I can highly recommend this picture on the basis of 3 dance routines by Marge & Gower Champion, two of which are unique. The first takes place among clothes racks, utilizing a wheeled dress-sizer. Take a long look at the dance... there are no cuts! IT IS ALL ONE TAKE! The last dance is near the end of the film, where jewel-thief Gower tries to take a diamond bracelet from mannekin Marge. Superb choreography in both routines! I gave it an 8 out of 10.

The original treatment of this musical is from RKO in 1935 and called ROBERTA. It is possibly one of the most sublime movies, yet alone a musical, ever created. This healthy and sumptuous remake from 1952 has several genuinely jaw-dropping sequences, such is the lavish talent and extraordinary musical treatment from MGM at their musical zenith. Imagine Hollywood trying to come even close to making this film today! That is a genuine Mission Impossible. They would have to add a few killings to get the marketing dept to even understand it. That moan aside, I am very grateful to have LOVELY TO LOOK AT as well as ROBERTA in my life to charm me and to make me and my friends very happy. The two standout sequences in particular are "I won't dance" with Marge and Gower at their snazzy stylish dancing best...and yes all in one very clever take...and the astonishing fashion show finale, which should be mandatory for study in every part of every film school. The only misgivings are the lame and out of date comedy from Red Skelton hamming it up for the American Mid West audiences, and Howard Keel bellowing as usual. But for great women and eye popping clothes..the title says it all.