Thanks for the memories!

Just perfect...

Crappy film

Story: It's very simple but honestly that is fine.

I'd forgotten how great Marge and Gower Champion were...just watched a VHS of this film I picked up at a video sale. Their dance to "I Won't Dance" is extremely well-staged in what looks like a very intricate one take, and "Smoke Gets in Your Eyes" has wonderful choreography as they float against a pale blue background with twinkling stars--it's beautiful. Ann Miller's knockout dance earlier in the film is memorable, too. Grayson and especially Keel have been heard to better advantage, though each is "lovely to look at." Skip the excruciating stand-up number by the Red Skelton in the party scene as well as the hideous fashion show at the end of the movie--OMG, those Fifties dresses were nightmarish. The art direction in this movie ranges from garish (the fashion show) to exquisite (cf. a stunning dawn park scene with Grayson and Keel and the aforementioned Champion number). All in all, a very mixed bag. The dancing by the Champions and Ann Miller is the best part of this film.

Once again, I have to start out that if you have never seen these old musical films on the big screen in the movie theaters, you've missed out experiencing the power and glory of these old films. You can't really experience this energy on a television screen and without the audience participation, that even adds to a let down in seeing these wonderful films. For instance, to watch "Who Was That Lady?" with Janet Leigh, Tony Curtis, and Dean Martin in the movie theater with the audience reaction to the comedy makes it a delight, but to see it on the television by yourself without being in the audience makes the film not a very enjoyable experience! You must have the audience! So, what about "Lovely To Look At"? First of all, these movies were never really meant to be cinematic masterpieces. This movie, just like others, was a boy meets girl, girl hates boy, boy chases after the girl anyway, and then - girl gets boy! Typical plot following Irving Berlin's song "A Man Chases A Girl Until She Catches Him". Everyone says see the Fred Astair/Ginger Rogers version originally called "Roberta". Well, even they had a formula: When Ginger meets Fred for the first time, she doesn't like him, but then in everyone of their movies, except for Barkley's of Broadway in which they played husband and wife, Ginger falls in love with Fred after they have their first dance together. This was the key plot in most of their movies, but - it worked, and the people went to droves to see them on the silver screen! But, there's another reason why these movies like "Lovely To Look At" are not considered any good today. First: You had o grow up in that era to enjoy this film and others like it! Second: There was much love in the world which the world is lacking! Third: Look at what's in the movies today. Either remakes of past classics like King Kong or violence, murder, crime, adultery, etc. etc. etc., but - where are the musicals? There aren't any! That's why no one can enjoy at film like "Lovely To Look At". Fourth: Where are our musical comedy performers in films? Where are the Kathryn Graysons, Howard Keels, Ann Millers, Gene Kellys, Fred Astairs, Cyd Charisses'? I saw Chicago and I really don't see anything musical about Richard Gere doing a tap dance in his undershorts! Forget the usual boy meets girl plot of "Lovely To Look At". The plot is only there to keep the glorious Jerome Kern music in the film, and what music? Lovely To Look At, Yesterday, You're Devastating, I Won't Dance, and the rest of the glorious score. You couldn't get a better cast including Red Skelton, Ann Miller, and Marge and Gower Champion, with a cameo by Zza Zsa Gabor who didn't really make that many movies but remained a Star! Irene Dunn? Please! You can't get any better than Kathryn Grayson who could sing rings around Dunn, and I and others consider Grayson to be the best singer that Hollywood ever turned out. We will never see the likes of her singing talent ever again in the movies.Sadly, most of these old musical performers have passed, and Ann Miller was right in an interview when she said: "We will never see the days of those glorious M.G.M. musicals again!" And she also said, "These performers were incredible! We'll never have another Judy Garland, Fred Astaire, or Gene Kelly!" And you know what? She's right! And for a little trivia, look at Marge Champions face, then watch Walt Disney's Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. At the age of 19, Marge Champion was known as Margorie Belcher and she was hired by Disney to be the model for Snow White. They rotoscoped key frames of her modeling for Snow White directly on to celluloid frames and if you watch closely, you'll see the resemblance!

Mr. Skelton must have had a powerful agent at this time since he receives second billing to Miss Grayson over everyone else in the cast ! How painful it is to see the most beautiful song from the score, ("Yesterdays") sung to this ham fisted comic while he affects that inane simpering expression he had so well perfected by this time.Anyone able to overlook the miscast Skelton, will find that Misses Grayson, Miller, Champion and Gabor, as well as the elaborate settings, are true to the title.Apart from the dancing and Adrian's fashions,however, it has little else to recommend it.

The original treatment of this musical is from RKO in 1935 and called ROBERTA. It is possibly one of the most sublime movies, yet alone a musical, ever created. This healthy and sumptuous remake from 1952 has several genuinely jaw-dropping sequences, such is the lavish talent and extraordinary musical treatment from MGM at their musical zenith. Imagine Hollywood trying to come even close to making this film today! That is a genuine Mission Impossible. They would have to add a few killings to get the marketing dept to even understand it. That moan aside, I am very grateful to have LOVELY TO LOOK AT as well as ROBERTA in my life to charm me and to make me and my friends very happy. The two standout sequences in particular are "I won't dance" with Marge and Gower at their snazzy stylish dancing best...and yes all in one very clever take...and the astonishing fashion show finale, which should be mandatory for study in every part of every film school. The only misgivings are the lame and out of date comedy from Red Skelton hamming it up for the American Mid West audiences, and Howard Keel bellowing as usual. But for great women and eye popping clothes..the title says it all.