Les rois de la couture

...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.

"Roberta" (1935) was based on a play of the same name. Now here in 1952, MGM decided to remake it. However, they didn't really like the plot and the characters and so all they really kept were the songs and a few pieces here and there. Not exactly a re-make, huh?

I should point out that the reason I watched this is because I really like Red Skelton films. But, I don't usually like him in musicals because then his comedy clearly takes a back seat. Can this film somehow be a good musical AND a good Skelton vehicle?

Al (Skelton) and his two buddies (Howard Keel and Gower Champion) are trying to get backers for their Broadway show...but with no luck. Then, out of the blue, Al receives a telegram...his aunt in Paris has died and left him her fancy dress business. So, the three head to Paris...intent on selling the place and using the money for their show. But there's a problem...Al is smitten with one of the ladies running the business (Kathryn Grayson) and has a hard time telling her of his intentions. The same happens with his buddies and they decide, instead, to try to make the place even bigger and grander...and they seem to have forgotten about their play. This is odd...even odder is their idea of turning this dress shop into a combination dress shop and night club of sorts! If this sounds confusing, welcome to the club!!

The confusion gets worse when practically everyone seems to have fallen in love with Tony (Keel)...and you wonder whether he'll end up with Stephanie (Grayson) or Bubbles (Ann Miller) or the one he really seems to be in love with...Tony! As for the third friend, Jerry (Gower Champion) says very little and is really only there to do fancy dance numbers with his real life wife, Marge Champion.

So is this any good? Well, it depends. If you love a big, long and very splashy dance sequence at the end and don't mind that the film has many formulaic elements (pretty much all of them are embodied in Tony!), then you'll no doubt enjoy it. As for me, I wanted more comedy, more Skelton and less of everything else. Mildly entertaining and that's all.

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.

'Roberta' with Irene Dunne, Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers wasn't immune to flaws (Randolph Scott, lacking story execution), but on the whole it is a much better film, especially for the songs and their timeless renditions, production values, the choreography and the rest of the cast being used to great advantage.

'Lovely to Look At' certainly is lovely to look at, being filmed in absolutely glorious Technicolor and boasting opulent costume and set design. Jerome Kern's songs are as timeless as ever, "Smoke Gets in Your Eyes" is one of his classics though "I Won't Dance" and "I'll Be Hard to Handle" are the standout renditions of the film. They are accompanied by choreography that's witty and poised, again the delightfully charming "I Won't Dance" and Ann Miller's knockout performance of "I'll Be Hard to Handle".

Despite garnering a reasonably mixed reaction, the fashion show is sheer visual beauty and is where the energy and interest is most apparent. Some of the cast disappoint, but Marge and Gower Champion have a field day and triumph in "I Won't Dance". Ann Miller was a scene stealer in many of her films and anybody who loves her will in no way be disappointed by her enviously energetic and poised dancing in "I'll Be Hard to Handle". It has to be admitted too, that Howard Keel does sing sublimely, he is a tender singing partner in the title song and fares even better in "You're Devastating".

On the other hand, this cannot be said for the rest of the cast. Kathryn Grayson is not at her best, pouting her way through her role and she has been in better voice, sometimes very nice but at other times shrill and fatigued. As wonderful as Keel sounds, he is unusually stiff here and he and Grayson don't seem to share much chemistry together so some of their longer scenes border on the tedious.

Then there is Red Skelton (who always was a take or leave performer), who mugs embarrassingly and comes over as irritating, and Zsa Zsa Gabor whose performance generally lacks charisma and sass in a role that gives her little to do.

Much of the story is contrived and tedious, with flashes of greatness in two or three song renditions and the fashion show but falling flat especially in the scenes between Keel and Grayson. The script lacks the light-hearted touch that worked so well in 'Roberta', as well as its warm heart and wit, disadvantaged by the comedy falling so flat particularly with Skelton and the performances of the cast varying so wildly. Mervyn LeRoy directs quite sluggishly on the whole.

In conclusion, lovely to look at but to see this talented crew on better form look elsewhere. 5/10 Bethany Cox