I really doubt that outside a concert staging that the 1933 Jerome Kern musical "Roberta" will ever be revived. There have been two film versions and a TV special that is more a chance for Bob Hope to do his routine than to re-create the show. The only interest in that is the fact that he was in the original cast (some 36 years before) and that co-stars Michelle Lee, John Davidson and Janis Paige are all excellent. The middle of the Keel/Grayson pairing features a reunion for them with Marge and Gower Champion and the wonderful Ann Miller who would later practically steal their third and last pairing, "Kiss Me Kate", out from the rest of the cast. They are joined by Red Skelton (a reunion with Annie from "Watch the Birdie!" and "Texas Carnival") and Kurt Kasznar, with a young Zsa Zsa Gabor playing, what else, an effervescent flirt named Zsa Zsa.
Gone is the character of Roberta, Grayson's employer and Keel's aunt, who dies, leaving an unsigned will when it was her wish for Grayson to receive the business. Romantic complications between the two arise as issues over who will take control complicate matters, but together, they hope that their joint interest in making the fashion business a continued success will be resolved for their lavish fashion show finale. Grayson sings the gorgeous "Yesterdays", which was the late Roberta's favorite song (the impact is lessened by her absence, but Grayson's gorgeous singing makes it well worth hearing), duets with Keel on "You're Devastating" and sings a very poignant "Smoke Gets in Your Eyes" while looking ravishing in color as the camera focuses only on her. Later, Marge and Gower dance to it with layers of fog swirling around them. The scene is set up perfectly, and it's a shame that other than being given clips in "That's Entertainment II" that this film is not as well known as it should be.
After basically stealing "Easter Parade" with "Shakin' the Blues Away", Ann Miller takes over with "I'll Be Hard to Handle" with chorus boys decked out in animal masks. It's a great modern staging of a number performed by Ginger Rogers with a French accent in the 1935 version and with a disco beat by Janis Paige in the 1969 TV version. Ironically, all three of these ladies were Broadway "Mame's", and when Paige performed "Stereophonic Sound" with Fred Astaire in "Silk Stockings", the similarities between her vivacity and Ms. Miller's became more than a little obvious. "I Won't Dance", another duet for Marge and Gower, is also wonderfully staged, a great follow-up from "Show Boat's" "Life Upon the Wicked Stage", and certainly standing out on its own. The fashion show finale, directed with the usual Vincent Minnelli pizazz and elegance, isn't as campy as the fashion show from "The Women", and perfectly represents what Paris fashion seems to be all about.
Gone is the character of Roberta, Grayson's employer and Keel's aunt, who dies, leaving an unsigned will when it was her wish for Grayson to receive the business. Romantic complications between the two arise as issues over who will take control complicate matters, but together, they hope that their joint interest in making the fashion business a continued success will be resolved for their lavish fashion show finale. Grayson sings the gorgeous "Yesterdays", which was the late Roberta's favorite song (the impact is lessened by her absence, but Grayson's gorgeous singing makes it well worth hearing), duets with Keel on "You're Devastating" and sings a very poignant "Smoke Gets in Your Eyes" while looking ravishing in color as the camera focuses only on her. Later, Marge and Gower dance to it with layers of fog swirling around them. The scene is set up perfectly, and it's a shame that other than being given clips in "That's Entertainment II" that this film is not as well known as it should be.
After basically stealing "Easter Parade" with "Shakin' the Blues Away", Ann Miller takes over with "I'll Be Hard to Handle" with chorus boys decked out in animal masks. It's a great modern staging of a number performed by Ginger Rogers with a French accent in the 1935 version and with a disco beat by Janis Paige in the 1969 TV version. Ironically, all three of these ladies were Broadway "Mame's", and when Paige performed "Stereophonic Sound" with Fred Astaire in "Silk Stockings", the similarities between her vivacity and Ms. Miller's became more than a little obvious. "I Won't Dance", another duet for Marge and Gower, is also wonderfully staged, a great follow-up from "Show Boat's" "Life Upon the Wicked Stage", and certainly standing out on its own. The fashion show finale, directed with the usual Vincent Minnelli pizazz and elegance, isn't as campy as the fashion show from "The Women", and perfectly represents what Paris fashion seems to be all about.