1h 58min | Comedy, Romance | 16 May 1957 | Color, WS
Director: Vincente Minnelli
Stars: Gregory Peck, Lauren Bacall, Dolores Gray, Jack Cole.
Jack Cole ... musical numbers and dances stager
Barrie Chase ... assistant to Jack Cole (uncredited)
Watched online, blurry print.
DG sings a little, and Music is Better Than Words is not the same footage as from It's Always Fair Weather ('55).
For me, the amusement comes with Jack Cole's character, and it's enhanced by the watching of musicals in sequence, and appreciating his exotic dances in particular. (Evidence to support that: I rated this 6 on 2015-05-07.) Although only 2 songs are listed in the Soundtracks, he really does have multiple dance numbers that he choreographs, and some he dances. We get some rehearsal sequences that may be related to the 2 songs, but also some dance without music. I don't want to say more in case I manage to forget, and can have the same fun next time.
A trivia entry (but not a Connections entry) says this follows the plot of Woman of the Year ('42) "very closely". There Tracy & Hepburn play sports and international politics reporters. But in '42, not only does he move into her apartment, but her life dictates a lot of his (but not his reporting assignments), culminating with her adoption of a war orphan. I don't feel the same imbalance here, and no orphans are involved. I also don't remember a past flame from ST's life being such a major plot device, nor an illegal sports manager threatening the sports reporter's safety. But it's been a while since I watched the '42 film.
Other than Jack Cole's appearance, this is just ok.
MGM, dir. Minnelli; 7-
