Silk Stockings (1957)

User Rating:

6.8/10   

Director:

Rouben Mamoulian

Writers:

Melchior Lengyel (book)
George S. Kaufman (play) ...

Release Date:

18 July 1957 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Musical | Romance

Tagline:

BIG BOUNCY BEAUTIFUL! (original print ad - all caps)

Plot:

A musical remake of Ninotchka: After three bumbling Soviet agents fail in their mission to retrieve a straying Soviet composer from Paris...

Plot Keywords:

Song And Dance | Dancer | Beautiful Woman | Cinemascope | Based On Musical

Awards:

Nominated for 2 Golden Globes. Another 2 wins & 1 nomination

Cast

Fred Astaire	...	Steve Canfield
Cyd Charisse	...	Ninotchka Yoschenko
Janis Paige	...	Peggy Dayton
Peter Lorre	...	Brankov, Commisar
George Tobias	...	Vassili Markovitch, Commisar of Art
Jules Munshin	...	Bibinski, Commisar
Joseph Buloff	...	Ivanov, Commisar
Wim Sonneveld	...	Peter Ilyitch Boroff

Also Known As:

Seidenstrümpfe (Austria) (West Germany) [de]
Bella de Moscú, La (Spain) [es]
Bella di Mosca, La (Italy) [it]
Belle de Moscou, La (France) [fr]
Jedwabne ponczochy (Poland) [pl]
Meias de Seda (Portugal) [pt]
Silkesstrumpan (Sweden) [sv]
Silkestrømper (Denmark) [da]
Silkkisukat (Finland) [fi]

Runtime:

117 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Metrocolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Perspecta Stereo (Westrex Recording System)

Certification:

UK:U | South Korea:12 | Finland:S | Australia:G

Company:

Arthur Freed Production

Trivia:

After this film, Fred Astaire effectively retired from musicals, preferring to concentrate on non-musical roles, though he would produce several musical specials for TV in the next few years. Astaire wouldn't make another musical until 1968.

Goofs:

Continuity: When the first commissar of art gets sacked, there's a yellow lamp hanging over his desk (he actually walks behind it) and then when Markovitch answers his phone, the lamp magically disappears and is replaced by Vera.

Quotes:

Brankov, Commisar: Be casual. Don't fighten him. Smile.
Bibinski, Commisar: I haven't smiled in 30 years.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "A Fine Romance: The Restaurant (#1.3)" (1981)

Soundtrack:

The Ritz Roll and Rock

The usually adept Astaire and Gorgeous Cyd Charisse

As a senior I'll make a couple of stock comments; "They don't make em like this anymore and " Pop culture of the 50's in the USA was artful and demanded talent. Beautiful and sensuous Cyd Charisse and "All Pro" musical dancer Fred Astaire team up wonderfully to update and old story put to music. The settings are lush and the dancing is suberp. Peter Lorre and Janis Paige add the right touch of humor and talent. Although much of the "Cold War" lingo seemed corny, if you were an adult at the time this movie was made, you'll find it hillarious but so true. All said and done, it is a pleasureable treat!