Watched: 06/02/2021
Format: TCM on DVR
Viewing: First
Decade: 1950's
Director: Roy Rowland
Cyd Charisse is Star of the Month on TCM. We're on record that Cyd Charisse is a pretty good idea in general, and so we're going to watch some of these movies we've not seen before (they're airing on Tuesdays in June).
This one felt more or less like an excuse for a variety of talents and Vegas floor shows to do a little something here and there in a showcase tucked between the paper-thin story of a Vegas gambler/ rancher and a ballerina who meet and fall in love. That ballerina is, of course, Charisse. You won't know the gambler/ rancher.
But the movie also has Agnes Moorehead as an earthy ranchwoman, Jim Backus as a casino manager, George Chakiris as a young romantic, Paul Henreid as Cyd's manager, Frankie Lane as Frankie Lane, and... most exciting of surprises... Lena Horne as Lena Horne.
It's... dopey and fine. I don't love it. Charisse is amazing in every one of her numbers, not the least of which is a "Frankie and Johnny" performance (with narration by Sammy Davis Jr.).
Anyway, I wouldn't rush out to see it, but it's... fine.
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