Many reviewers are treating this movie like a misunderstood classic whose time has come.
To say they are wrong is not an opinion it's a fact. I love the fact that they can't respond directly to my review, it must drive them crazy.
But you can't substitute trained musical singer/actor/dancers with stars who aren't trained experienced in this sort of style. It's embarrassing and painful to watch.
(I feel the rage of the apologists of this movie brewing since they can't respond to this.)
Trying to mix "witty" Hepburn/Tracy-type banter with non-singers attempting Cole Porter was a mistake.
Cybil Shepherd and Burt Reynolds were especially bad and the mugging by Eileen Brennan and Madeleine Kahn was embarrassing.
You can't have it both ways: either stick with a non-musical witty comedy or surrender to the fantasy of musical numbers and overdub. But this is a jaw-dropping travesty for all concerned.
There is a certain style, urbanity and lightness of touch required to pull off Cole Porter and none of these folks had it.
The singing was so off-key as to be painful (even the normally reliable Madeleine Kahn) and the dancing although barely competent, was high school level.
The movie is as bad as the reviewers said it was back in 1975 and the restored scenes only highlight how unsuited these actors are for this type of material.
To say they are wrong is not an opinion it's a fact. I love the fact that they can't respond directly to my review, it must drive them crazy.
But you can't substitute trained musical singer/actor/dancers with stars who aren't trained experienced in this sort of style. It's embarrassing and painful to watch.
(I feel the rage of the apologists of this movie brewing since they can't respond to this.)
Trying to mix "witty" Hepburn/Tracy-type banter with non-singers attempting Cole Porter was a mistake.
Cybil Shepherd and Burt Reynolds were especially bad and the mugging by Eileen Brennan and Madeleine Kahn was embarrassing.
You can't have it both ways: either stick with a non-musical witty comedy or surrender to the fantasy of musical numbers and overdub. But this is a jaw-dropping travesty for all concerned.
There is a certain style, urbanity and lightness of touch required to pull off Cole Porter and none of these folks had it.
The singing was so off-key as to be painful (even the normally reliable Madeleine Kahn) and the dancing although barely competent, was high school level.
The movie is as bad as the reviewers said it was back in 1975 and the restored scenes only highlight how unsuited these actors are for this type of material.