Very well executed

The Worst Film Ever

Don't Believe the Hype

Pretty good movie overall. First half was nothing special but it got better as it went along.

Let's see...toss out the original plot of the thirties musical, replace it with a script about an endless series of misunderstandings, bowdlerize Cole Porter's lyrics (four letter words are puritanically slimmed down to three in the title tune) and stage the production numbers mechanically...and what have you got? A misfire. Or maybe proof that Paramount shouldn't have invaded MGM's territory. Donald O'Connor and Mitzi Gaynor battle the screenplay, putting some zest into their roles as a song-and-dance man and aspiring Broadway star. But Bing Crosby seems almost disinterested in the shipboard shenanigans and even his performance of Porter's "All Through the Night" lacks the song's wistful irony.

ANYTHING GOES was barely a few minutes in progress before I knew it was going to be a lemon. For starters, there's Bing Crosby and Donald O'Connor meeting for the first time and throwing together an intricate but unfunny skit that it would have taken weeks to rehearse, full of props and bits of business that only full rehearsals could accomplish. We're supposed to believe it's a spontaneous spur of the moment romp. So much for the artificial nature of the tale.Then some familiar Cole Porter songs get a very limp treatment as the wisp of a plot progresses, a tiresome thing about two actresses inadvertently signed up for the same show by an inept Crosby and O'Connor looking for a single actress to play the lead in their show.The sad thing is that the film looks great as far as the VistaVision Technicolor photography, sets and costumes go, but the script by Sidney Sheldon offers one flat line after another in an attempt to be light and breezy and there's nothing the actors can do to liven the proceedings. Only Mitzi Gaynor and Donald O'Connor have enough professional presence to sparkle occasionally, but the end result is that none of the dance routines are especially impressive. Jeanmaire is no help, a gamin with a French accent who is supposed to fall madly in love with Crosby despite their age difference.With uninspired choreography and a trite script, there's no doubt I won't be revisiting this bland musical anytime soon. The only Cole Porter song that gets at least half-decent treatment is "It's Delightful, It's DeLovely." And the new songs (three of them) do nothing to add any luster, even one designed as a specialty number for Donald O'Connor.To add insult to injury, poor Phil Harris has a thankless role as Gaynor's father in trouble with the IRS, a situation handled without a shred of wit.

As far as the golden age of musicals were concerned, the back trackers were always Paramount and Warner Brothers, who never quite achieved the magic that MGM created, despite their most valiant efforts to produce MGM-esquire musicals.One such film that could have been a great deal more magical had MGM been at the helm is Anything Goes.Bing Crosby stars in his second big screen version of the Cole Porter Broadway smash, although this plot has been modified slightly and brought up to date 50' style..it therefore tells a completely different story to Crosby's first version twenty years earlier.Donald O'Conner, who in my humble opinion was one of the most underrated performers Hollywood ever had, provides the dances and comic turns whilst he romances the beautiful Mitzi Gaynor.O'Conner was a natural at almost everything he did. He was a superb comic, a gifted actor and a dancer of extraordinary talent on par I think with Fred Astaire and his 'Singing in the Rain' co-star Gene Kelly, yet his contributions to film, have on the whole been overlooked. He was therefore demoted to 'B' movie comedies like the god awful "Francis" films.Bing sings his way through Porters songs in his usual effortless way, as he tries to discard, appease and finally woo a French Ballet star played by ZiZi Jeanmaire, billed here simply as 'Jeanmaire' Another pleasant appearance is made by 40's band leader Phil 'Balloo in Jungle Book' Harris, and he is a welcome addition although regrettably he is not given an opportunity to perform some of those comic southern songs like 'Woodman, Spare that Tree' or 'The Dark Town Poker Club' with which he made his name.The plot is scratchy too with Crosby and O'Conner forming an effortless partnership whilst collaborating on a new Broadway show.The clash of styles and the obvious comparisons of youth and novice against age and experience are hinted at in the beginning, leaving you wanting more of the same, but alas these differences trail off into nothing and they are not exploited to full effect. It would have made this film a lot more enjoyable to see the two male leads spar more together and therefore classic entertainment is unfortunately denied us.One of the previous reviewers said that there was something missing from this film that they couldn't put their finger on....I think that this was it.But despite the bad script and leaky predictable plot, the performances are great and the songs as ever are timeless. Porter, Sammy Cahn and Jimmy Van Heusen were three of the best song-smiths in the business.Watch this one when you can, but don't cancel anything important in order to do so.

In 1956 Bing Crosby wound up his 25 year old contract with Paramount pictures. It remains the second longest contract for any star with any studio, only exceeded by Robert Taylor with MGM. This second version of Anything Goes was his farewell film for the studio.Bing should have quit with White Christmas.Again, Hollywood under the Code was to squeamish about filming any of Cole Porter's musicals. As they did in 1936 with that version of Anything Goes, it was censored heavily. Cole Porter's original score did not make it intact to the screen again. Other Porter songs were used and a few numbers written by James Van Heusen and Sammy Cahn.As for the plot the only similarity is that it takes place on an ocean liner. In this one we have recent partners Bing Crosby and Donald O'Connor each signing a leading lady for their new Broadway show. Both of their finds, Zizi Jeanmaire and Mitzi Gaynor are on the ocean liner with them. Mix the inevitable romantic complications and if you're any kind of a movie fan you'll figure what the result will be.Phil Harris is also on hand as Mitzi Gaynor's father. One of the little known facts of Hollywood was that Harris was one of Bing Crosby's best friends in the motion picture capital. Harris had appeared with Bing previously in Here Comes the Groom, but that was only in one musical number. He has a nice turn here as a professional gambler that the IRS is looking to nail.Usually Bing Crosby movies are just that, Bing is normally partnered with non-musical talent. Here he has three talented performers to share the spotlight with. All have some good numbers. I particularly liked Donald O'Connor and Mitzi Gaynor singing and dancing to It's DeLovely. This was a reunion film for Crosby and O'Connor. Donald O'Connor got his first big break as a child actor in Bing's Sing You Sinners back in 1938. But that one was a far superior film.If you like the talented performers involved, this is a good film. But Paramount should have done better by Bing in his farewell film for them.