"Then he best go back there."
Shakespeare's "Taming of the Shrew" is the play... and reality mimics the stage. Fred (Keel) is directing a musical version of the Taming of the Shrew, with music by Cole Porter (Randell). He will play the lead [Petruchio], with his ex Lilli (Grayson) playing his romantic opposite [Katherine]. They are still in love with each other, but can't seem to make things work. He is seeming dance hall girl Lois (Miller) who is also in the show as the sister [Bianca]. Lois is in love with her dance partner, Bill (Rall) who plays her suitor [Lucentio]. Bill has a gambling problem, but signs Fred's name to his IOU, so the night the play opens Lippy (Wynn) and Slug (Whitmore) come to collect.
As I have previously stated, I love musicals and this is no exception. Keel and Grayson have wonderful chemistry. The best part are the dance numbers, choreographed by Hermes Pan. The best sequences are the dances for "From This Moment On", watch for the third solo dance with Bob Fosse and Carol Haney. This was choreographed by Fosse and marks the beginning of his wonderful career with choreography. The mobsters steal the show and get the best song of the play "Brush Up Your Shakespeare", although if you are familiar with the stage version they have removed some lines to make it less scandalous.
Dude, it's quotable: the songs are excellent, the dances unbelievable, and the cast stellar...what more could you want?
Rent it: it is just a fun musical
Kiss Me Kate (1953) 109 minutes
Director: George Sidney
Starring: Kathryn Grayson as Lilli / Katherine
Howard Keel as Fred / Petruchio
Ann Miller as Lois / Bianca
Tommy Rall as Bill / Lucentio
Keenan Wynn as Lippy
James Whitmore as Slug
Bobby Van as Gremio
Bob Fosse as Hortensio
Ron Randell as Cole Porter
Willard Parker as Tex
Claud Allister as Paul
Ann Codee as Suzanne
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