Waste of time

Great story, amazing characters, superb action, enthralling cinematography. Yes, this is something I am glad I spent money on.

The story, direction, characters, and writing/dialogue is akin to taking a tranquilizer shot to the neck, but everything else was so well done.

Blistering performances.

Red Skelton gets top billing here over Lucille Ball and Gene Kelly. This might be considered Red's biggest picture to date, although his earlier "Whistling..." series went over big, but were B pictures. This was Lucy's biggest film to date, as well. Similar for Gene Kelly, although doing his choreography didn't come along until his next film. So what we really have hear is a somewhat weak MGM A musical.There are a few other things to note in terms of the cast. Virginia O'Brien does her usual shtick here, but it's always entertaining. Rags Ragland is around, as was fairly typical in many Skelton outings (Ragland died 3 years later as a result of alcoholism at the young age of 40). Zero Mostel is unimpressive as a swami. Interestingly, Hugh Beaumont ("Leave It To Beaver's dad) has a minor part as a footman. Donald Meek is around as an income tax collector, as is the perennial maid Louise Beavers...here as Niagara. Tommy Dorsey and His Orchestra perform as themselves. Ava Gardner is uncredited as a perfume girl; Marilyn Maxwell uncredited as a calendar girl; Lana Turner as an uncredited guest star. Watch also for Dick Haymes and Jo Stafford in the Pied Pipers. Interestingly, the proprietor of the inn is Mitchell Lewis, who played Mr. DeFarge in "A Tale Of Two Cities" (Ronald Colman version)...and here he is in a farce about the nobles of France. The early portions of the film are really a somewhat weak variety show of sorts...and you will have to sit through Lucy lip-syncing and Gene Kelly (who had a lousy voice, but has a nice dance number). The movie takes off when Skelton's character (a hat check boy who wins the Irish Sweepstakes) is slipped a mickey and dreams he is King Louis of France, Lucy is Madame DuBarry, and Kelly the Black Arrow. It's about half of the movie and is a funny, outlandish segment. At the end of the segment first Skelton and Lucy (and slowly joined by the other principals) sing the Cole Porter tune in a snappy dance routine; it's great, but just seems to not quite fit as the ending.There are some fine moments here, but it sort of feels slapped together until one gets to the dream sequence...the highlight of the picture. Probably more fun for fans of Red (like me), Lucy, and Gene Kelly, but I think most will enjoy the light fare...as long as they go in expecting that it's light fare.

How much you enjoy this will depend heavily I would think on how much you enjoy the verbal and physical shtick of Red Skelton, the star (along with Gene Kelly, Lucille Ball and the great if largely forgotten Virginia O'Brien) of both the main storyline (typical backstage musical farce with Kelly and Skelton vying for Ball's hand) and an extended dream sequence (Louis XV fending off a rebellion). I find Skelton quite irritating, and Ball's charm, Kelly's dancing, and the music of Tommy Dorsey just don't quite make up for it. I rarely like to use the word "dated", but if there's any film I've seen lately that it applies to, this be it brother. The way in which the dream sequence basically takes over the film is rather neat, and the color is nice, but on the whole I was not enthralled. I won't be searching out any best-of-Red Skelton sets anytime soon...Watched on VHS

Red Skelton plays a smitten working-stiff who finally makes out financially; he proposes marriage to the fortune-hunting singer whom he loves, who then becomes Madame Du Barry in his dreams. A chance--though not a very good one--for Lucille Ball to show off her comedic chops, however Skelton isn't given anything bright or funny to do, and Gene Kelly gets stuck in a second-banana bit. Attractive but dim musical-comedy which originated on Broadway; the Cole Porter songs from the play were largely scrapped here, although the "Friendship" number survived and it's the most energetic moment in the film. In this instance, Kelly gets to mug playfully and Lucy sings in her appealingly scratchy voice, yet once again Skelton is left outside the fun. ** from ****

Most people who know of Lucille Ball's career arc are aware that this was one of her higher-profile films, with a large budget, vibrant color, and A-list co-stars. What could go wrong? Well, nothing at the time. But with the passage of time the movie has gotten a bit stale, and drags in several parts. Ball's materialistic character is not very likable from the start, and she's introduced in a ghastly musical number with very conspicuously dubbed vocals. Couldn't they have found someone who's voice actually sounded like it could possibly be coming out of Lucille Ball? They should have cast Ethel Merman, who played May Daly on Broadway. After all, the character didn't HAVE to be drop dead gorgeous. But it does help explain why two men would continue to pursue such an obviously shallow diva, even if she can't really sing.The main event of this film is a dream sequence, but the setup to that point seems interminable! And all we have to keep us watching in between is one outstanding dance number by a game Gene Kelly and mildly witty banter between Red Skelton and an underused Virginia O'Brien. Skelton would be much better later in his career by toning down the Vaudevillesque physical comedy, which only appears more cloyingly corny with age. (Bert Lahr, who played the stage role was the same way.) There is also a musical interlude with three gentlemen who do vocal impressions that will definitely have you pushing the fast-forward button on your remote.If you have the patience, there are some enjoyable musical numbers and just a few genuine laughs to keep you amused. The funniest line by far in the film is delivered by uncredited old lady Clara Blandick (Auntie Em from "The Wizard of Oz") in one of the Cleanest Subway Cars Ever to be used as a movie setting. That says it all about the dialogue between the leads. (The reason being is the good stuff from the Broadway show was deemed too lewd for the film.) Obviously a lot went into the costumes and scenery for this film, and that alone makes it worth watching, as well as for the cast members who are always worth watching even if this isn't their best by any stretch.