Great Film overall

The best films of this genre always show a path and provide a takeaway for being a better person.

The story-telling is good with flashbacks.The film is both funny and heartbreaking. You smile in a scene and get a soulcrushing revelation in the next.

True to its essence, the characters remain on the same line and manage to entertain the viewer, each highlighting their own distinctive qualities or touches.

The beloved Cole Porter stage musical was adapted to the screen in 1953, starring Howard Keel and Kathryn Grayson, the dynamite duo who won audience's hearts in Showboat two years prior. I don't know how it's possible, but the finished result of Kiss Me Kate is terrible. It's so bad, I didn't buy a copy to keep on my musical film shelf, which boasts over twenty classics.Kathryn Grayson, normally beautiful, endearing, and possessing a gorgeous soprano voice, is extremely disappointing. She wears a terribly unflattering wig, and the hair color and style make audiences forget how pretty she is. She tries to belt "I Hate Men" and it just doesn't work. Ann Miller takes the second lead and absolutely ruins the part. Kiss Me Kate is a musical adaptation of Shakespeare's The Taming of the Shrew, and the part of Bianca is normally sweet, adorable, and irresistible. I've never liked Ann Miller; her conceit and dance style always rubbed me the wrong way. She turns Bianca into an arrogant, stage-hogging character with extended dance sequences that bore the audience to tears. However, if you feel differently about Ann Miller, you'll obviously feel differently about what she does to the role.The good news is there's nothing wrong with Howard Keel's performance. As you can imagine, he's wonderful in the role of Fred. Fred has to be larger than life, just as much an actor onstage as he is off; he's charming, boisterous, and it doesn't hurt if he's handsome. Howard Keel earns his title as the king of musicals, giving all the elements of a wonderful performance despite his lackluster costars. His timing is impeccable, and he sells a song with his expressions as well as his beautiful voice.If you can find a taped version of a live production of Kiss Me Kate-there are several out there-you can give one of those a try for a better rendition. It really is a cute musical, but the 1953 film doesn't showcase it properly. I'm a bit biased, though. I've seen tapes of my mom playing both the Kathryn Grayson and Ann Miller roles onstage; it's no wonder I was so critical of the film's leading ladies. I know what it looks like when it's done properly!

Sprightly colorful throughly wonderful musical. Keel is perfect in the male lead and Kathryn Grayson in what along with Magnolia in Show Boat is her best role is terrifically loose and animated, a break from her normal persona, a shame than that this was almost the end of her film career. Ann Miller sizzles in "It's Too Darn Hot" even if her being able to perform the full number in someone's living room is a bit of a stretch. Of note are the costumes all of which are designed to take full advantage of the vivid Technicolor by being every color of the rainbow and lordy those mens tights are snug! All the supporting players deliver the goods and while almost every song or dance routine is a terrific "From This Moment On" stands out as an exceptional number. A winner, see it!

Seriously, Kiss Me Kate is a truly splendid movie. My only complaint is that there are one or two slow scenes in the middle half. People might say it just lacks the energy and pizazz of a musical like Singin' In the Rain, maybe so. Singin' In the Rain is one of those wonderful, energetic and irresistible films. But Kiss Me Kate sparkles in a truly delightful and somewhat unique way, not only in the production values but in its performances, music and choreography.The film looks absolutely fabulous. The cinematography is fluid, the sets colourful and the costumes lavish. Director George Sidney is right at home here, and makes splendid use of his stars by using cleverly disguised long takes. The music and songs by Cole Porter is outstanding, from a musical AND choreographic point of view Too Darn Hot and Brush Up Your Shakespeare have always stood out for me. The plot reads of a musical version of Taming of the Shrew, and is very effective.The choreography is energetic and never pedestrian. And the performances are wonderful. I can never get enough of Howard Keel, he just has a charming screen persona and a beautiful singing voice. Here, as Fred he has rarely been better. As Lisa, Kathryn Grayson looks stunning and acts "difficult" perfectly. Comic gangsters James Whitmore and Keenan Wynn are also great in the saucy waltz Brush Up Your Shakespeare, but with Too Darn Hot it is Ann Miller who steals the show. All in all, splendid. 9/10 Bethany Cox

Ex-marrieds co-star in a musical production of Shakespeare's "The Taming of the Shrew"; backstage romantic complications ensue, with the female star threatening to walk out mid-performance. Weighted down by the inept Kathryn Grayson, this film version of the Broadway success runs out of steam after about an hour or so (of course it doesn't help that Grayson is portraying a selfish non-trouper, however she just hasn't the personality or the energy for the part, and one can see early on she's the weak link in the production). Ann Miller, Bobby Van, Bob Fosse, and especially Tommy Rall dance up a storm, and their musical numbers are all killers. Rall, playing a gambler off-stage, has a funny bit with a cigarette, and does an amazing routine with Miller on the roof of the theatre. Miller displays such a joy of performing and a love of this material that she shows Grayson up in more ways than one. Howard Keel looks great in his Petruchio costume, but his baritone voice is strictly love-it or leave-it; since most of his scenes are with Grayson, he loses most of his performing luster to the supporting team, but director George Sidney attempts to keep it all lively and merry. Originally screened in 3-D, which explains why so many objects are, amusingly, hurled at the camera. ** from ****