LogFAQs > #933110244

28. Kiss Me Kate

Inviso: 10
Genny: 16
Scarlet: 21
Karo: 25
KBM: 27
JONA: 29
Johnbobb: 35

Inviso - As I watch this film in chronological order, I will admit that Ive found a slow, but noticeable difference as I move forward in time, as evidenced by the early films on the list placing higher and higher. This still isnt GREAT or immensely entertaining or anything like that, but its an improvement nonetheless. What I think Kiss Me Kate does well is its comedic effects. The two mafia goons make for great comic relief, because theyre able to be over-the-top, while simultaneously playing straight men for the wacky antics their presence causes. The general idea of having two divorced lovers play the leads in a Taming of the Shrew play leads to hilarity as each of them tries to one-up the other (although I wish it was a LITTLE more balanced, rather than having the husband get the better of his wife more often than not). Really, the main flaw I have is when the play itself is going smoothly. Theres no spark or intrigue in having a flawless Shakespeare play performed, even as a musical. Its only when things go off-script that the plot becomes interesting.

Genny - I find it difficult to explain why I enjoyed Kiss Me Kate so much. Maybe I just really enjoy shrews being tamed. This coupling is as toxic as they come, and yet while I can't root for them to ever be/stay together in any capacity I enjoyed watching their twisted romance play out on the screen. It's the funniest film on the entire list in my opinion.

Scarlet - I mean, it is what it is. Antiquated notions of shrewish tendencies make this movie a slight bit discomforting, but Cole Porter is a masterful lyricist
Best Song: So In Love

Karo - Yet another film about people putting on a play inside a movie, where this big broadway star puts on a production starring his ex-wife while sleeping with Superman's girlfriend (who is in the play too), and that goes as well for everybody as you might expect.
The movie spends too much time being a mediocre production of Taming of the Shrew, witch is highly uninteresting up until Kate's psychotic meltdown.
The songs are also lame, which is unfortunate considering just how damn many of them there are. I shouldn't be going 'oh fuck they are singing again' in a musical, songs are what I should be watching the movie for.
In the last 15 minutes alone we go from a dramatic departure to goofy singing gangsters to another random bout of Shakespeare with bizarre dancing. What am I even supposed to be feeling about this movie? I think maybe indigestion.
Though there are quite a few funny interactions between Kate and the male lead, most of the movie is as pointless as watching paint dry and nearly as boring.

Score: 47/100

KBM - Why I Chose It: Based on the very first winner of the Tony Award for Best Musical, Kiss Me Kate is also an example of early 3-D technology in a feature film. The story was inspired by (and incorporates) Shakespeare's The Taming of the Shrew, and features some classic songs by Cole Porter and an Oscar-nominated score by Andr Previn and Saul Chaplin. The film also features a rare acting performance from legendary choreographer Bob Fosse as Hortensio in the stage show sections.

My Thoughts: This movie certainly has its moments. First, the bad: it starts quite slow from a story perspective, and leading man Howard Keel has no charisma, a dated singing voice, and very little chemistry with Kathryn Grayson's Kate. Through a lot of the movie I was also really distracted by just how unprofessional these two characters were being during the actual show. I feel like any director worth her salt would have been begging for them to go home and send on their understudies by intermission. The humor also leaves quite a bit to be desired by modern standards by altering and/or omitting the raunchier humor from the stage show to comply with the Hays Code, a lot of the satire really loses its bite, and we're left with a lot of painfully broad slapstick (which is exemplified by nothing so much as the famous spanking scene a scene they were so proud of in 1953 that it's actually the poster for the film). All that being said, a lot of the Cole Porter musical numbers are very catchy, Ann Miller is delightful as always as the hilariously-named Lois Lane (love her tap solo in Too Darn Hot), and the old-fashioned throwing shit at the camera in 3-D schtick is always good for a cheap laugh.

Favorite Song: Tom, Dick, or Harry

JONA - Its so strange to see the film start behind the scenes, with getting to know the actors and then just putting on the entire play where the viewer must also care about the story in that. I ended up not caring about the play at all since the actors were the one who were introduced first and the actors themselves dont have many scenes compared to the play.
Favorite Song: Too Darn Hot

Johnbobb - Ideally, the songs here are decent enough for showtunes and the choreography was fine. None of it was really my thing though. Maybe I've got some bias because it's the second musical in a row I'm watching that's about people making a musical. I've DEFINITELY got bias beause the whole thing is unapologetically sexist, leading to a pretty terrible ending. The main couple don't have any kind of chemistry and Fred is downright terrible. The more I think about it, the less I can appreciate the music and stagework given how bad the plot was.
Favorite song: Tom, Dick or Harry