Silk Stockings **** (1957, Fred Astaire, Cyd Charisse, Peter Lorre, Janis Paige) – Classic Movie Review 8565

Director Rouben Mamoulian’s 1957 Silk Stockings is a smart and attractive musical remake of Greta Garbo’s 1939 comedy Ninotchka, this time with Fred Astaire at his effortless best in his last big MGM musical, and Cyd Charisse on charming form, even though she is seemingly subdued by Garbo’s shadow. It was nominated for two Golden Globes: Best Motion Picture – Comedy or Musical and Best Actress – Comedy or Musical (Cyd Charisse).

In the slightly revised plot, the Russians send commissar Ninotchka Yoschenko (Charisse) to Paris to bring home tunesmith Steve Canfield (Astaire) before he pens a Hollywood film score.

Though this is not Cole Porter’s finest show, there is much to be thankful for, particularly the showstopping ‘All of You’ (sung and danced by Fred Astaire), Astaire and Paige dueting to ‘Stereophonic Sound’, and Charisse dancing to ‘Red Blues’ and the title number. Peter Lorre is fun too as the drunken commissar Brankov, while Janis Paige’s scene-stealing funny performance as water-logged swimming star Peggy Dayton (a thinly-veiled caricature of Esther Williams of course) is a revelation, particularly in the ‘Stereophonic Sound’ number.

Sadly, it was director Mamoulian’s last picture.

Also in the cast are George Tobias, Jules Munshin, Joseph Buloff, Belita, Ivan Tressault, Betty Barrie and Wim Sonneveld.

Silk Stockings is directed by Rouben Mamoulian, runs 117 minutes, is made and released by MGM, is written by Leonard Gershe, Leonard Spigelgass and Harry Kurnitz, suggested by Ninotchka by Melchior Lengyel, is shot in Metrocolor by Robert Bronner, is produced by Arthur Freed, and is scored by André Previn, with music by Cole Porter.

© Derek Winnert 2019 Classic Movie Review 8565

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