An aging, has-been dancer (Fred Astaire) signs on to star in
a career reviving musical revue but must contend with an intimidating, leggy
costar (Cyd Charisse), a pair of neurotic writers, and an overambitious
director (Jack Buchanan) who sees their production as the ultimate staging of
Faust. By reutilizing old Broadway songs in the same manner of Singin' in the Rain, Vincente Minnelli’s
lively musical doesn’t achieve quite the same heights, but is light and funny
with great dance numbers. The songs, which include a few standards, are nothing
to write home about and the film settles for being routine about halfway
through. Astaire is amiable, and Charisse is both incredibly talented and
beautiful, while Buchanan is a riot.
*** out of ****
