| Anything Goes | |
|---|---|
 Theatrical release poster | |
| Directed by | Robert Lewis |
| Screenplay by | |
| Based on | Anything Goes byGuy Bolton andP. G. Wodehouse |
| Produced by | Robert Emmett Dolan |
| Starring | |
| Cinematography | John F. Warren |
| Edited by | Frank Bracht |
| Music by | |
Production company | |
| Distributed by | Paramount Pictures |
Release date |
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Running time | 106 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Box office | $2.1 million (US)[1] |
Anything Goes is a 1956 Americanmusical film directed byRobert Lewis, and starringBing Crosby,Donald O'Connor,Zizi Jeanmaire, andMitzi Gaynor.[2] Adapted from the 1934 stage musicalAnything Goes byCole Porter,Guy Bolton, andP. G. Wodehouse,[3] the film is about two entertainers scheduled to appear in a Broadway show who travel to Europe, where each discovers the perfect leading lady for the female role. Bing Crosby's character, Bill Benson, goes to England and meets Mitzi Gaynor's character Patsy Blair, and he signs her as the female lead. Meanwhile, Donald O'Connor's character, Ted Adams, travels to France and meets Jeanmaire's character, Gaby Duval, and he signs her to the same role. On the return voyage, with each man having brought his leading lady along, the Atlantic becomes a stormy crossing when each man must tell his discovery that she might not get the role.
Paramount had already (1936) releaseda musical film version that followed the plot of the original stage musical. The book for this 1956 film version, also released by Paramount, was drastically rewritten. Although this version again stars Crosby (whose character was renamed), the film replaces most of the original characters and follows a new plot. It features almost no similarities to the musical stage production, apart from some songs, the presence of a ship crossing the Atlantic and the title.
Showbiz partners Bill Benson and Ted Adams each travel to Paris to sign a dancer to star in their new show. The problem? There is onlyone role, and the men have unknowingly casttwo dancers, Patsy Blair and Gaby Duval. It is up to the men to sort out their mess on the transatlantic crossing back to the United States.
Filming took place in April and May 1955. The primary musical numbers ("Anything Goes", "You're the Top", "I Get a Kick Out of You", "It's De-Lovely", and "Blow, Gabriel, Blow") appear in the film with updated arrangements, while the lesser-known Porter songs were cut completely, and new songs, written byJimmy Van Heusen andSammy Cahn, were substituted. These substitutions ranged from the lively tap number byDonald O'Connor with bouncy children and as many bouncy balls ("You Can Bounce Right Back") to crazy kitsch ("Second-hand Turban"). Musical numbers were staged byNick Castle, with the "Anything Goes" number staged by Ernie Flatt, andRoland Petit providing the choreography of "I Get a Kick Out of You" for his wife Zizi Jeanmaire.
TheVariety reviewer said: "It’s a bright offering for Easter release, geared to play an engaging tune at the wickets. Male topliners Bing Crosby and Donald O’Connor go together as though born to give the zip to what scripter Sidney Sheldon has concocted hereunder the stage title. While there are Cole Porter songs and the legit handle is still carried, that’s about all that remains of what went on behind the footlights, and there’s scant resemblance to Paramount's 1936 film version, in which Crosby also starred with Ethel Merman".[4]
A. H. Weiler, writing forThe New York Times, thought that, "For all its activity,Anything Goes is, in the main, standard musical comedy. Some of the principals are decidedly decorative and talented. The script, however, is transparent and fragile."[5]
| Anything Goes | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Soundtrack album by the Original Cast | |
| Released | June 1956 |
| Recorded | 1956 |
| Genre | Stage and screen |
| Length | 45:10 |
| Label | Decca Records |
| Producer | Joseph Lilley |
The originalsoundtrack album was released byDecca Records and includes a mix of soundtrack performances and studio re-creations.[6]
The album stayed in Decca's catalog until 1969 when it was discontinued.[7] In 2004, Decca Broadway re-released the recording on CD with three additional Crosby tracks: "Sailor Beware", "My Heart and I", and "Moonburn".[8]
Authority control databases: National |
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