Silk Stockings (1957 film)

Silk Stockings
Theatrical release poster
Directed byRouben Mamoulian
Screenplay by
Based on
Produced byArthur Freed
Starring
CinematographyRobert J. Bronner
Edited byHarold F. Kress
Music by
Distributed byMetro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Release date
  • July 18, 1957 (1957-07-18) (U.S.)
Running time
117 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Budget$2.6 million[1]
Box office$2.8 million[1]

Silk Stockings is a 1957 American musical romantic comedy film directed by Rouben Mamoulian and starring Fred Astaire and Cyd Charisse. It is based on the 1955 stage musical of the same name,[2] which had been adapted from the film Ninotchka (1939).[3][4][5] The film was choreographed by Eugene Loring and Hermes Pan.[6][7]

The film received Golden Globe Award nominations for Best Film and Best Actress (Charisse) in the Comedy/Musical category.[8]

The score was embellished with the new song "The Ritz Roll and Rock", a parody of the emerging rock and roll music genre. The number ends with Astaire symbolically smashing his top hat, considered one of his trademarks, signaling the retirement from movie musicals that he announced following the film's release.[9]

Plot

In Paris, American producer Steve Canfield wants Russian composer Peter Ilyitch Boroff to compose the score for his next picture. Three Soviet commissars Brankov, Bibinski, and Ivanov attempt to escort the composer back to Russia. To keep Boroff in Paris, Steve contests the composer's Russian citizenship by producing an affidavit disputing his parentage and insists it be resolved in court. Steve further convinces the commissars that Boroff's collaboration will earn them promotions in Moscow. Despite their initial resistance, the commissars consent to the collaboration.

Back in Moscow, Vassili Markovitch becomes the new commissar of art. He sends Russian agent Nina "Ninotchka" Yoschenko to retrieve Boroff from Paris. She meets the commissars in the hotel lobby. In their suite, Steve shows Ninotchka the affidavit and attempts to charm her with the locale, but Ninotchka insists that she will not be persuaded by the city's bourgeois.

Later that night, Hollywood actress Peggy Dayton arrives at the hotel, where several reporters interview her about her first serious role in an adaptation of War and Peace. The next morning, Steve escorts Ninotchka on a tour of Paris, alternating between boiler rooms and beauty salons. When they return to his hotel room, Steve sets a romantic mood with lower lights and music, but Ninotchka insists that romantic attraction is purely "electro-chemical". Steve and Ninotchka contrast their beliefs on romantic attraction, and after a waltz around the room, the two kiss.

Peggy walks into the room and insults Boroff, causing Ninotchka to leave. She tries to back out of the project because it's not a musical, to which Steve suggests she seduce Boroff into adapting his music to sound contemporary. At a costume fitting, Boroff, who is infatuated with Peggy, initially refuses to musicalize his compositions, but accepts the idea. Later that afternoon, Ninotchka locks herself in her room and dresses in Parisian lingerie. The same night, Ninotchka, dressed in a silky evening gown, joins Steve for a romantic evening. When Ninotchka returns to the commissars' room, they confess that Boroff's "Ode to a Tractor" is being rewritten into popular music for the film. Contrary to their suspicions, Ninotchka is delighted by the idea and dismisses them.

Alone with Steve, Ninotchka raves about Paris' beauty, convinced that love, not utilitarianism, leads to happiness. The next day, on a soundstage, Steve confesses to Ninotchka the affidavit was faked, and proposes to her. Swept away by their love, the two dance from one stage to another, finally arriving on set. As Peggy begins singing Boroff's revised music, he and Ninotchka are insulted by the changes. Steve defends it, asserting that Americans make popular songs out of classical music for audiences to enjoy. Angered, Ninotchka tells Steve that she is neglecting her duty and decides to return to Russia immediately with Boroff and the commissars.

Months later, Boroff and the commissars, who have been saved from punishment by Ninotchka's report, visit her at her apartment. Ninotchka attempts to read Steve's letter, which has been so heavily censored that only the salutation remains. Soon after, Boroff, now fascinated with Western music, plays his new composition on the piano, prompting Ninotchka, the commissars, and the tenants to dance. Shortly after, Markovitch sends Ninotchka back to Paris to retrieve the commissars, who have been sent there to sell Russian films. When she arrives, the commissars take Ninotchka to their new Russian café, where Steve performs a top hat routine.

Back at the hotel room, Ninotchka states she will return to Russia that night. Steve arrives in the room, revealing that he wrote the anonymous report in order to get her out of Russia. He also reminds her of the marriage proposal contained in his censored letter. In love, Ninotchka rips up her plane ticket and embraces him while the commissars celebrate.[10]

Cast

Cyd Charisse as Ninotchka Yoschenko

Songs

Music and lyrics by Cole Porter.:[11]

  • "Too Bad"
  • "Paris Loves Lovers"
  • "Stereophonic Sound"
  • "It's a Chemical Reaction, That's All"
  • "All of You"
  • "Satin and Silk"
  • "Without Love"
  • "Fated to Be Mated"
  • "Josephine"
  • "Siberia"
  • "The Red Blues"
  • "The Ritz Roll and Rock"

Production

Cyd Charisse, the “screen dancing star” acclaimed for her role in Brigadoon (1954) was the first to be cast. Fred Astaire was enlisted only after Bing Crosby and Howard Keel had been considered.[12] Director Rouben Mamoulian was determined that the film would rely less on dialogue to dramatize the Astaire-Charisse screen relationship but instead be delivered largely through “rhythm and dancing.”[13] Silk Stockings would be Mamoulian’s last completed picture. Biographer Marc Spergel reports that the effort “earned him only $53,090, while the film’s star, Fred Astaire, received $150,000 for his work.”[14]

MGM purchased the film rights to the musical for $300,000. Dance rehearsals started on September 18, 1956, and filming ended on January 31, 1957.[15] The film was completed “on time and on budget.”[16]

Reception

Box office

According to MGM records, the film earned $1,740,000 in the U.S. and Canada and $1,060,000 in other markets, resulting in a loss of $1,399,000.[1][17]

Critical reaction

Bosley Crowther of The New York Times wrote: "There should be legislation requiring that Fred Astaire and Cyd Charisse appear together in a musical picture at least once every two years. Previously they were together in 'The Band Wagon' and the world was brightened. That was away back in 1953. Now they are together in 'Silk Stockings,' and somebody should declare a holiday ... For the simple fact is that this 'Silk Stockings' is an all-round refreshing show, blessed with a bright book, delicious music and the dancing of Miss Charisse and Mr. Astaire. Whether it would be as good without them—without the two principals, that is—is a purely subversive speculation. They are in it, and you can take it from there."[18] Harrison's Reports felt the story "is not as mirthful as the original and its running time is somewhat overlong, but on the whole it keeps one chuckling throughout and has some very funny moments."[19]

Whitney Williams of Variety wrote: "Astaire delivers his customary style, and Miss Charisse brings a fascinating brightness to her role. Miss Paige shares top honors with the stars for a knock-'em-dead type of performance", but felt the film could have been shorter.[20] Edwin Schallert of the Los Angeles Times felt the film has "the benefit of delightful and clever Cole Porter music derived from the stage version"; he further praised the cast writing "Astaire, Miss Charisse and Miss Paige are evidently ready, willing and able to avail themselves of every opportunity presented. As one of the trio of Soviet Ambassadors Jules Munshin maintains a high pace of humor, with Peter Lorre providing hilarious counterpoint and Joseph Buloff supplying some antic fun."[21]

On the review aggregate website Rotten Tomatoes, the film has an aggregate score of 100% based on five critics' reviews, with an average of 7.9/10.[22]

Retrospective appraisal

Film historian Tom Milne emphasizes that even if Silk Stockings is not a facsimile of Cole Porter’s Broadway production of Silk Stockings (1955) or Lubitsch’s Ninotchka: “Mamoulian improved on the these versions by giving it an emotional depth in line with the originals”.[23][24] Milne continues:

Silk Stockings is so crammed with delights that it seems incredible that anybody, let alone the entire pack of British critics, should have failed to respond. The catalog is endless...Perhaps, one day, critics, historians, and those who write about cinema will at last realize that is one of the great musicals.”[25][26][27]

Film historian Marc Spergel notes that director Mamoulian’s stock among Hollywood executives rose with the release of Silk Stockings: “Audiences and critics praised the film as an inventive, enjoyable entertainment, and Mamoulian restored his value as a marketable commodity.”[28] Spergel cautions that Mamoulian’s revival was achieved at a price: “In Silk Stockings, plot and character development, now replaced by music and dance, are lost.”[28]

See also

Notes

  1. ^ a b c The Eddie Mannix Ledger, Los Angeles: Margaret Herrick Library, Center for Motion Picture Study.
  2. ^ "Silk Stockings". Broadway Musical Home. Archived from the original on May 18, 2023. Retrieved August 19, 2016.
  3. ^ "Ninotchka". Turner Classic Movies. Archived from the original on October 13, 2022. Retrieved October 12, 2022.
  4. ^ Spergel, 1993 p. 283: Filmography, “based on the book of the musical play by George S. Kaufmann.”
  5. ^ Callahan, 2007: “Silk Stockings (1957), a musicalization of Lubitsch’s Ninotchka (1939).”
  6. ^ Jensen, 2024 p 265: Pan worked strictly with Astaire, Loring with the other dancers.
  7. ^ Spergel, 1993 p. 178: “...Hermes Pan, Fred Astaire’s career-long choreographer…”
  8. ^ "Golden Globes 1957". Sijmen's List of Film Classics. Archived from the original on March 3, 2016. Retrieved September 8, 2017.
  9. ^ Jensen, 2024 p. 263: Astaire “bids farewell to his top hat, white tie, and tails” in the song.
  10. ^ Milne, 1969 pp. 148-153: Plot summary
  11. ^ Milne, 1969 p. 172-173: Filmography
  12. ^ Jensen, 2024 p. 263: Astaire “reluctant” to join the movie project.
  13. ^ Jensen, 2024 p. 263-264
  14. ^ Spergel, 1993 p. 207:
  15. ^ Nat Segaloff, Final Cuts: The Last Films of 50 Great Directors, Bear Manor Media 2013 p 182-184
  16. ^ Jensen, 2024 p. 264
  17. ^ Jensen, 2024 p. 269: The film lost “nearly $1.4 million” on its release.
  18. ^ Crowther, Bosley (July 19, 1957). "The Screen: 'Silk Stockings' Arrives". The New York Times. p. 11. Archived from the original on February 2, 2024. Retrieved February 2, 2024.
  19. ^ "'Silk Stockings' with Fred Astaire, Cyd Charisse and Janis Paige". Harrison's Reports. May 25, 1957. p. 82. Retrieved February 1, 2024 – via Internet Archive.
  20. ^ Williams, Whitney (May 22, 1957). "Film Reviews: Silk Stockings". Variety. p. 6. Retrieved February 1, 2024 – via Internet Archive.
  21. ^ Schallert, Edwin (July 25, 1957). "'Silk Stockings' Amusing Colorful Musical Show". Los Angeles Times. Part IV, p. 10. Archived from the original on February 2, 2024. Retrieved February 1, 2024 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  22. ^ "Silk Stockings". Rotten Tomatoes. Archived from the original on November 14, 2022. Retrieved November 13, 2022.
  23. ^ Milne, 1969 p. 147-148, p. 149: “...remaining very faithful to the stage version, made several important changes…”
  24. ^ Danks, 2007: “Music and dance are integral to the rhythm and meaning of Mamoulian’s work and provide an emphasis on movement that marks his great contribution to the cinema...This is probably the reason why Milne promotes Mamoulian’s final film, Silk Stockings, as the crowning achievement of his career.”
  25. ^ Milne, 1969 p. 159-160
  26. ^ Callahan, 2007: “Most seriously, Mamoulian has absolutely no idea what to do with the Cinemascope frame...The dances, though, are wonderful.”
  27. ^ Danks, 2007: Silk Stockings “is marred by an excessive and often frontal presentation of its performances, as well as an uncomfortable use of the Cinemascope frame...”
  28. ^ a b Spergel, 1993 p. 219

References

Read other articles:

George Bernard ShawLahir(1856-07-26)26 Juli 1856Dublin, IrlandiaMeninggal2 November 1950(1950-11-02) (umur 94)Hertfordshire, InggrisPekerjaanPenulis sandiwara, kritikus, aktivis politikKebangsaanIrlandiaGenreSatirePenghargaanPenghargaan Nobel dalam Sastra 1925 Academy Award for Writing Adapted Screenplay 1938 Pygmalion George Bernard Shaw[1] (26 Juli 1856 – 2 November 1950) adalah novelis, kritikus, esaias, politikus, dan orator Irlandia yang menetap di Inggris. Pada 18 Desembe...

 

Mighty Sparrow Mighty Sparrow en 2015Información personalNombre de nacimiento Slinger FranciscoNacimiento 09 de julio de 1935Grand Roy, St. John, GranadaNacionalidad TrinitenseInformación profesionalOcupación Cantautor, compositor y productorAños activo 1949-presenteGéneros Calipso, socaInstrumento Voz y guitarraDiscográficas Balisier, RCA, National, Recording Artists, Warner, Charlie's, B's, IceArtistas relacionados Byron Lee and the DragonairesSitio web mightysparrow.comDistinciones C...

 

American fascist political leader William Dudley PelleyPelley c. 1936Born(1890-03-12)March 12, 1890Lynn, Massachusetts, U.S.DiedJune 30, 1965(1965-06-30) (aged 75)Noblesville, Indiana, U.S.Resting placeCrownsville Cemetery, Noblesville, IndianaOccupation(s)American fascist leader JournalistScreenwriterKnown forFounding the Silver Legion of America and the Christian PartyCriminal statusDeceasedConviction(s)Sedition (50 U.S.C. § 33) (10 counts)Seditious conspiracy (50 U.S.C. §...

Biểu đồ H – R của cụm sao cầu M5, với các ngôi sao thuộc nhánh tiệm cận khổng lồ đã biết, được đánh dấu bằng màu xanh lam, hai bên là một số ngôi sao thuộc nhánh khổng lồ đỏ có độ sáng lớn hơn, được biểu thị với màu cam. Nhánh tiệm cận khổng lồ (AGB) hay nhánh sao tiệm cận khổng lồ là một vùng thuộc biểu đồ Hertzsprung – Russell chứa các ngôi sao sáng, nguội lạnh đã tiến ...

 

Rhian Brewster Datos personalesNombre completo Rhian Joel Brewster[1]​Nacimiento Londres, Inglaterra1 de abril de 2000 (23 años)[1]​Nacionalidad(es) Británica InglesaAltura 1,80 m (5′ 11″)[1]​Carrera deportivaDeporte FútbolClub profesionalDebut deportivo 2018(Liverpool F. C.)Club Sheffield United F. C.Liga Premier LeaguePosición DelanteroDorsal(es) 7[editar datos en Wikidata] Rhian Joel Brewster (Londres, Inglaterra, Reino Unido, 1 de abril de 200...

 

Rodrigo Janot Rodrigo JanotRodrigo Janot em sabatina na Comissão de Constituição e Justiça do Senado Federal 40° Procurador-Geral da República do Brasil Período 17 de setembro de 2013até 17 de setembro de 2017 Nomeado por Dilma Rousseff Antecessor(a) Roberto Gurgel Sucessor(a) Raquel Dodge Dados pessoais Nome completo Rodrigo Janot Monteiro de Barros Nascimento 15 de setembro de 1956 (67 anos) Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais Alma mater Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais Prêm...

此條目過於依赖第一手来源。 (2023年4月25日)请補充第二手及第三手來源,以改善这篇条目。 宜寧學校財團法人臺中市宜寧高級中學地址臺中市西屯區東大路一段555號邮政编码407其它名称I-NING High School类型私立高級中學附設高職所屬法人宜寧學校財團法人创办日期1948年 裝甲兵子弟學校1951年 臺中市私立宜寧中學学区 中華民國臺中市校長何財源年级國一至高三学生人数約2000

 

Artikel ini memerlukan pemutakhiran informasi. Harap perbarui artikel dengan menambahkan informasi terbaru yang tersedia.Yang TerhormatMilo ĐukanovićМило ЂукановићPresiden MontenegroMasa jabatan20 Mei 2018 – 20 Mei 2023Perdana MenteriDuško Marković Zdravko Krivokapić Dritan AbazovićPendahuluFilip VujanovićPenggantiJakov MilatovićMasa jabatan15 Januari 1998 – 21 Mei 2003Perdana MenteriFilip VujanovićPendahuluMomir BulatovićPenggantiFilip VujanovićP...

 

Gaitana (2006) Gaitana (ukrainisch Гайтана, transkribiert Hajtana, eigentlich Hajta-Lurdes Essami, ukr: Гайта-Лурдес Ессамі; * 29. September 1979 in Kiew) ist eine ukrainische Popsängerin. Sie ist die Tochter eines Kongolesen und einer Ukrainerin. Mit fünf Jahren zog Gaitana mit ihren Eltern in den Kongo, als Zehnjährige kehrte sie mit ihrer Mutter zurück nach Kiew. Als Kind spielte sie wettkampfmäßig Tischtennis, ehe sie als Jugendliche eine sportliche Karriere ...

Aydıncık Hilfe zu Wappen Aydıncık (Yozgat) (Türkei) Basisdaten Provinz (il): Yozgat Koordinaten: 40° 8′ N, 35° 17′ O40.13055555555635.285555555556843Koordinaten: 40° 7′ 50″ N, 35° 17′ 8″ O Höhe: 843 m Einwohner: 3.022[1] (2020) Telefonvorwahl: (+90) 354 Postleitzahl: 66 510 Kfz-Kennzeichen: 66 Struktur und Verwaltung (Stand: 2021) Gliederung: 4 Mahalle Bürgermeister: Ahmet Koçak (AKP) Postanschrift: Yeni Ma...

 

Milenium: Milenium ke-2 Milenium ke-3 Milenium ke-4 Abad: Abad ke-20 Abad ke-21 Abad ke-22 Dasawarsa: 2010-an 2020-an 2030-an 2040-an 2050-an Tahun: 2030 2031 2032 2033 2034 2035 2036 2037 2038 2039 2030-an Masehi adalah dasawarsa pada Milenium ke-3 dan Abad ke-21 yang dimulai dari tanggal 1 Januari 2030 hingga tanggal 31 Desember 2039. Peristiwa Berikut adalah peristiwa yang diprediksi akan terjadi pada 2030-an:[1] Tahun 2030 High-Definition Space Telescope (HDST) telah siap beropera...

 

Extinct clade of dinosaurs MegaraptoransTemporal range: Early - Late Cretaceous[1] 130–66 Ma PreꞒ Ꞓ O S D C P T J K Pg N Diagram showing the skull and skeleton of Murusraptor Scientific classification Domain: Eukaryota Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Clade: Dinosauria Clade: Saurischia Clade: Theropoda Clade: Avetheropoda Clade: †MegaraptoraBenson, Carrano & Brusatte, 2010 Type species †Megaraptor namunhuaiquiiNovas, 1998 Subgroups †Aoniraptor[2] †Dat...

1980 musical film directed by Taylor Hackford The IdolmakerTheatrical release posterDirected byTaylor HackfordWritten byEdward di Lorenzo, Taylor Hackford (uncredited)Produced byGene Kirkwood Howard W. Koch Jr.Starring Ray Sharkey Peter Gallagher Paul Land Joe Pantoliano Tovah Feldshuh CinematographyAdam HolenderEdited byNeil TravisMusic byJeff BarryDistributed byUnited ArtistsRelease date November 14, 1980 (1980-11-14) Running time117 minutesCountryUnited StatesLanguageEnglish...

 

Public college in Apayao, Philippines Apayao State CollegeFormer namesConner Vocational High School[1]Kalinga-Apayao School of Arts and Trades[2][1]Apayao Institute of Science and Technology[3][1]TypeState collegePresidentDr. Nelia Z. CauilanLocationConner, Apayao, Philippines17°49′03″N 121°16′55″E / 17.81739°N 121.28204°E / 17.81739; 121.28204Websiteasc.edu.phLocation in LuzonShow map of LuzonApayao State College (Ph...

 

Canadian curler Jessie HaughianCurlerBornJessie Scheidegger (1990-11-10) November 10, 1990 (age 33)Lethbridge, AlbertaTeamCurling clubLethbridge CC, Lethbridge, ABSkipJessie HunkinThirdJessie HaughianSecondBecca HebertLeadDayna DemmansCurling career Member Association AlbertaHearts appearances3 (2018, 2019, 2023)Top CTRS ranking5th (2016-17, 2018-19)Grand Slam victories1 (2017 Canadian Open) Jessie Haughian (born Scheidegger; November 10, 1990) is a Canadian curler from Turin, Alber...

Rumah Pengasingan Bung Karno merupakan tempat Soekarno menjalani hukuman pengasingan sebagai tahanan politik.[1] Soekarno diasingkan ke Ende, Flores pada 14 Januari 1934. Ia diasingkan di sana selama empat tahun (1934-1938).[1] Setelah itu, ia diasingkan ke Bengkulu.[1] Rumah pengasingan di Bengkulu Rumah Bekas Kediaman Bung Karno Di BengkuluNama sebagaimana tercantum dalamSistem Registrasi Nasional Cagar BudayaBerkas:Rumah pengasingan bung karno.jpgRumah Pengasingan B...

 

Questa voce o sezione sull'argomento centri abitati della Spagna non cita le fonti necessarie o quelle presenti sono insufficienti. Puoi migliorare questa voce aggiungendo citazioni da fonti attendibili secondo le linee guida sull'uso delle fonti. Segui i suggerimenti del progetto di riferimento. Torrijascomune Torrijas – Veduta LocalizzazioneStato Spagna Comunità autonoma Aragona Provincia Teruel TerritorioCoordinate40°01′22.08″N 0°57′26.64″W / ...

 

Italian astrophysicist and science writer (1922–2013) Margherita HackKnight Grand Cross OMRIMargherita Hack in 2006Born(1922-06-12)12 June 1922Florence, Tuscany, ItalyDied29 June 2013(2013-06-29) (aged 91)Trieste, Friuli Venezia Giulia, ItalyNationalityItalianAlma materUniversity of FlorenceSpouse Aldo De Rosa ​(m. 1944)​AwardsTarga Giuseppe Piazzi (1994) Premio Internazionale Cortina Ulisse (1995)Scientific careerFieldsastrophysicspopular scienceInsti...

American college baseball coach Jake Boss Jr.Current positionTitleHead coachTeamMichigan StateConferenceBig TenRecord416–354Biographical detailsAlma materAlma CollegePlaying career1990–1993Alma Coaching career (HC unless noted)1994St. Clair (MI) Lakeview (asst.)1995Webberville (MI)1996–1997Iowa Central CC (asst.)1998–2004Eastern Michigan (asst.)2005–2007Michigan (asst.)2008Eastern Michigan2009–presentMichigan State Head coaching recordOverall441–388TournamentsB1G: 10–16 N...

 

Women's major golf tournament The Chevron ChampionshipTournament informationLocationThe Woodlands, TexasEstablished1972, 51 years ago1983 (major championship)Course(s)The Club at Carlton WoodsJack Nicklaus Signature CoursePar72Organized byEndeavorIMGTour(s)LPGA TourFormatStroke play - 72 holesPrize fundUS$5.1 millionMonth playedAprilTournament record scoreAggregate269 Dottie Pepper (1999)To par−19 Dottie Pepper (1999)Current champion Lilia Vu 2023 Chevron Championship The Chevron ...

 

Strategi Solo vs Squad di Free Fire: Cara Menang Mudah!