With Kiss Me Kate, the play-within-a play concept, in which the "real world" story parallels that of the inner play, works very well onstage. The tremendous success of the play bears this out. As for the film adaptation, they try to add another layer - that of the production of Kiss Me Kate itself. This makes a bit of a mess of it. The real Kiss Me Kate did not have and actor playing Cole Porter, etc.
Generally speaking, the film doesn't succeed. Between Ann Miller and Bob Fosse, the dance numbers are really what it is all about. What should have been the heart of the thing seems like it's patched in piecemeal. It lacks the smoothly integrated feel of the stage show - something that makes the parallels between Kate and Kathryn, and Fred and Petruchio much more natural. Plus there is a something a bit off when a musical number is completed, they take a couple of beats, then do an encore (something that was added to the Broadway production in response to the live audience).
Having played in the orchestra for a truly excellent production of the musical, I was hoping that the movie version would have the same magic, but it didn't.
My advice is that viewers don't go in with high expectations regarding the story but that rather they check out Ann Miller's stellar performance in the dance numbers.
Review of Kiss Me Kate
