Give a Girl a Break (B or 3/4 stars)
'Give a Girl a Break' (directed by AND choreographed by Stanley Donen) is a routine, but genial, bouncy musical that entertains without ever offering anything significant. When temperamental star Janet Hallson (Donna Martell) walks out of her upcoming Broadway show right before opening night because the stage director/choreographer Ted Sturgis (Gower Champion) doesn't cater to her impulses, producer Felix Jordan (Larry Keating) goes along with Ted's bold idea to advertise in Variety for a new unknown leading lady. 3 potential replacements emerge.
At the audition, Ted's enthusiastic assistant, Bob Dowdy (Bob Fosse), is enamored with naive young dancer, Suzy Doolittle (Debbie Reynolds), while the show's composer, Leo Belney (Kurt Kasznar), is taken with the elegant ballet dancer, Joanna Moss (Helen Wood). Meanwhile, Ted's former dance partner/lover, Madelyn Corlane (Marge Champion), who left both Ted & dancing 2 yrs. ago, has decided to make a big comeback, and is favored by him. Unable to choose the lead - they're all so different, but SO good - the producer draws a name out of the hat and, after some melodramatic moments, this 82 min. long romantic musical comes to a happy end - not just for the chosen girl - but for all of them.
Once upon a time {the early '50s}, this movie was intended to be a big-budget musical starring Judy Garland, Gene Kelly, Fred Astaire & Ann Miller. When that all fell through for a plethora of reasons, we got the film we got with the stars who were available. I enjoyed this film & the cast AS IS ... but oh, what could have been? It's also interesting to note that this film was cheaply shot on sets built for another picture! You can kinda tell, but that also lends some low-key charm to the production. Burton Lane & Ira Gershwin wrote 5 tunes, while a 6th was written by Andre Previn & Saul Chaplin. They're all alright; nothing to shake a stick at. I'd say that the highlights include the grand finale "Applause, Applause", and a rooftop number danced by the amazing Champions, Marge & Gower. The latter is FANTASTIC, and one that is as good as anything in more acclaimed MGM musicals.
By 1953, Debbie Reynolds was well-known & good enough of a dancer {thanks to Singin' in the Rain's Gene Kelly} to enthrall. Bob Fosse is a good actor, but his work as a choreographer - and eventual director - would eclipse his thespian skills. I'd say the weak links in the film were Kurt Kasznar, Helen Wood & their entire subplot. They're fine and, their subplot is necessary; it just doesn't shine as much as the Reynolds/Champions' part of the plot. Though the production was low-budget, I commend William C. Mellor's Technicolor cinematography & Helen Rose's beautiful costumes. Though this film didn't do well at the box office & the story was very lightweight ... there's much to enjoy from this little-known '50s musical.
At the audition, Ted's enthusiastic assistant, Bob Dowdy (Bob Fosse), is enamored with naive young dancer, Suzy Doolittle (Debbie Reynolds), while the show's composer, Leo Belney (Kurt Kasznar), is taken with the elegant ballet dancer, Joanna Moss (Helen Wood). Meanwhile, Ted's former dance partner/lover, Madelyn Corlane (Marge Champion), who left both Ted & dancing 2 yrs. ago, has decided to make a big comeback, and is favored by him. Unable to choose the lead - they're all so different, but SO good - the producer draws a name out of the hat and, after some melodramatic moments, this 82 min. long romantic musical comes to a happy end - not just for the chosen girl - but for all of them.
Once upon a time {the early '50s}, this movie was intended to be a big-budget musical starring Judy Garland, Gene Kelly, Fred Astaire & Ann Miller. When that all fell through for a plethora of reasons, we got the film we got with the stars who were available. I enjoyed this film & the cast AS IS ... but oh, what could have been? It's also interesting to note that this film was cheaply shot on sets built for another picture! You can kinda tell, but that also lends some low-key charm to the production. Burton Lane & Ira Gershwin wrote 5 tunes, while a 6th was written by Andre Previn & Saul Chaplin. They're all alright; nothing to shake a stick at. I'd say that the highlights include the grand finale "Applause, Applause", and a rooftop number danced by the amazing Champions, Marge & Gower. The latter is FANTASTIC, and one that is as good as anything in more acclaimed MGM musicals.
By 1953, Debbie Reynolds was well-known & good enough of a dancer {thanks to Singin' in the Rain's Gene Kelly} to enthrall. Bob Fosse is a good actor, but his work as a choreographer - and eventual director - would eclipse his thespian skills. I'd say the weak links in the film were Kurt Kasznar, Helen Wood & their entire subplot. They're fine and, their subplot is necessary; it just doesn't shine as much as the Reynolds/Champions' part of the plot. Though the production was low-budget, I commend William C. Mellor's Technicolor cinematography & Helen Rose's beautiful costumes. Though this film didn't do well at the box office & the story was very lightweight ... there's much to enjoy from this little-known '50s musical.