Viva Las Vegas

MEET ME IN LAS VEGAS comes in toward the end of MGM's golden age. A fun story here about a gambler (Dan Dailey) who only has luck while holding the hand of ballerina Cyd Charisse. Cyd has several gorgeous dance numbers here, including a stunning "Frankie and Johnny" with vocal by Sammy Davis, Jr. The film is crammed to the gunwales with guest stars including Lena Horne, Jerry Colonna, Frankie Laine, and an adorable young Japanese singer named Mitsuko Sawamura. There are many fleeting cameos, too including Peter Lorre, Frank Sinatra and Debbie Reynolds. Special mention should be made of Cara Williams' smashing rendition of "I Refuse To Rock And Roll," where she sets the screen on fire. Agnes Moorehead is effective as Dailey's Mother. A sharp eye will notice Betty Lynn (Thelma Lou from THE ANDY GRIFFITH SHOW) in a tiny part. This film is a product of 1956, set in the US's gaudiest city, and the colorful decor is properly gaudy. Car lovers will swoon over the red 1956 Lincoln convertible Dan Dailey drives in the picture. This is done in Eastman Color, which is notorious for fading, but this print has gorgeous color that could easily be mistaken for Technicolor. The sound is clear and robust, and does justice to the many musical numbers. You could find many worse ways to spend two hours than by enjoying the many charms of MEET ME IN LAS VEGAS.

Cyd Charisse has always knocked us off balance with one of the greatest pair of legs in show business. In this film she shows us a human side which, from what I have seen, has always been lacking. She gets drunk as a skunk in a hilarious scene and gets up on the stage with the show girls and instantly outclasses them. She and Dan Dailey really work well together. It seems, in the movie, if they hold hands they will have unbeatable luck in Las Vegas. It creates a situation which everyone who has ever gambled (and there are a few of us) would love to be in. I will play the tape just to watch the tipsy scene but the rest of the picture is also very rewarding. I've always liked Dan Dailey as an actor and performer. Sammy Davis Jr.'s voice is used in a great sexy ballet number "Frankie and Johnny", in which Cyd really wows 'em. I can't imagine anyone doing a better vocal rendition of this particular number. It is a classic. Treat yourself to a better Cyd, a nifty Dan and Sammy's terrific, raucous rendition of "Frankie and Johnny." ... get the video. comment welcome ... babblingbooks@shaw.ca

Modestly, very modestly, entertaining romance/musical is worth seeing only for Cyd ("Legs for Days") Charisse dancing at her best; and her acting is better than usually.

Plot has rancher Dan Dailey and ballet star Charisse fall for each other in Las Vegas. Charisse shows off her versatility in two dancing ballets, a burlesque bump and grind, an "Oklahoma"-esque cowboy dance, and in a "Frankie and Johnny" number as well-sung by Sammy Davis Jr.

The dance numbers were choreographed by one of Hollywood's all-time best choreographers, Hermes Pan, and they show off Charisse at her leggy best. The burleque number is a hoot and the second ballet is high camp.

Other musical numbers are by Jerry Calonna, Lena Horne and Frankie Lane. Dailey even does a song and dance with Japanese kid singer Mitsuko Sawamura (from "Tea House of the August Moon").

Watch carefully for brief cameos by Frank Sinatra, Pier Angeli, Debbie Reynolds and Peter Lorre (he's a blackjack player saying "Hit me"!). George Chakiris (credited as George Kerris) has a brief role too.

It looks like a lot of mid-50s casinos helped with the filming, so there are no Godfathers behind the scenes. Vegas appears positively plain compared to today's glitz.

If you're into this type of show you'll love it.

"Meet me in Las Vegas" was not one of MGM's most elaborate musicals. As directed by Roy Rowland, this film, seen today, is like a trip down memory lane as it gives the viewer an opportunity to see the way Las Vegas looked back in the days when the film was done. That little town is nowhere to be found in the new Las Vegas, a city that, at best, looks like a theme park today. Isobel Lennart is credited with the screen play.

The story centers around two opposites that are as different as day and night. If we believe that Maria Corvier, a first class ballerina has been asked to appear, in all places, one of the big rooms of a hotel, then everything is possible. That she will find love when she meets the down to earth rancher, Chuck Rodwell, that's stretching it a bit too much. But we are not in a real place, we are in movie land where everything is possible.

As a musical, there are a few good moments, especially the "Frankie and Johnny" ballet, in which Cyd Charisse does a marvelous job. The other fun thing in the film is the way some Hollywood stars are seen in cameo roles that come and go too quickly. Thus we see Frank Sinatra, Peter Lorre, Debbie Reynolds, Tony Martin, Vic Damone in fleeting moments throughout the film.

Dan Dailey plays Chuck with his usual ease. The best thing in the film though, is Cyd Charisse, a lovely dancer, and actress that never got her due in the movies. We also see some familiar faces in minor roles, Agnes Moorehead, Lili Darvas, Jim Backus, Cara Williams, and the fine singers Lena Horne and Frankie Laine.

"Meet me in Las Vegas" could have used some trimming, then, perhaps, it might have made a better trip to Vegas.

MGM, as its glory days began to recede, threw every talent it could gets its hands on into this colorfully tasty little CinemaScope stew. Of course there's the delicious Cyd Charisse, especially leggy in the "Gal with the Yaller Shoes" production number; Cara Williams lending cleverly funny support (Whatever happened to her?); Dan Dailey, a little more engaging than usual; Agnes Moorehead, Jim Backus and Lili Darvas helping Cyd to look like she could act as well as dance; cameos by everyone MGM still had under contract and several others who had escaped or never had labored under that servitude; and a host of performers who help us to remember that one used to go to Las Vegas to see the big-name entertainment in the lounges and showrooms, rather than to gawk at the absurd splendor of the city's extravagantly stupendous hotel/resorts. I assume that the VHS version is (Phooey!) "letterboxed", but I'd add this one to my library if, perchance, they've issued it in a "Deluxe Widescreen Edition"...the ONLY way to fly!