Give a Girl a Break *** (1953, Marge Champion, Gower Champion, Debbie Reynolds, Bob Fosse, Kurt Kasznar, Helen Wood) – Classic Movie Review 9987

Director Stanley Donen’s 1953 MGM ‘Breezy, Teasy Color by TECHNICOLOR Musical’ film Give a Girl a Break stars doughty dames Debbie Reynolds, Marge Champion and Helen Wood, each with their own champion, who vie for Broadway stardom looking to get the same star part in a show, after the present incumbent Janet Hallson (Donna Martell) quits during rehearsals.

This MGM comedy musical trifle is written, made and performed with zing. Two notable future directors, Bob Fosse and Gower Champion, both of them choreographers and dancers too, are among the men.

Gower Champion, Kurt Kasznar and Bob Fosse play Ted Sturgis, Leo Belney and Bob Dowdy, the producers of the show who search for a replacement as star. They all have a different favourite: Madelyn Corlane (Marge Champion), Joanna Moss (Helen Wood) or Suzie Doolittle (Debbie Reynolds). Their choice rests on the ensuing song and dance numbers.

It is based on a story by Vera Caspary, but, rather than a story, it is mainly an excuse for a fine display of energetic singing and hoofing by very capable 1950s people, and why not?

It is a minor, forgotten item, but it deserves some attention. Donen’s nimble direction, Donen and Gower Champion’s nifty choreography, and the nice Burton Lane-Ira Gerswhin songs are big pluses. George Chakiris is one of the dancers.

Also in the cast are Bob Fosse, Kurt Kasznar, Richard Anderson, William Ching, Lurene Tuttle and Larry Keating.

In December 2014, it was revealed that the supporting actress in Deep Throat (1972) billed as Dolly Sharp was Helen Wood (1935–1998), a former Broadway performer who, as a teenager, has a major role in Give a Girl a Break.

Give a Girl a Break is directed by Stanley Donen, runs 82 minutes, is made and released by MGM, is written by Frances Goodrich and Albert Hackett, is shot in Technicolor by William C Mellor, is produced by Jack Cummings, is scored by André Previn and Saul Chaplin, with music by Burton Lane and lyrics by Ira Gershwin, with choreography by Stanley Donen and Gower Champion, and designs by Cedric Gibbons and Paul Groesse.

Ira Gershwin is supposed to have said to her husband after seeing the rushes: ‘If you’ve got any MGM stock sell it!’

It is one of the lowish budget, B-movie musicals MGM used as a showcase for up-and-coming talents, using contract players and stock sets. MGM too had little investment or faith in it and distributed it thinly, so it has virtually disappeared, but it runs on TCM.

MGM Records did not release a soundtrack album

Marge Champion turned 100 on 2 September 2019.

© Derek Winnert 2020 Classic Movie Review 9987

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