That was an excellent one.

Pretty good movie overall. First half was nothing special but it got better as it went along.

It is neither dumb nor smart enough to be fun, and spends way too much time with its boring human characters.

The movie really just wants to entertain people.

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.

"Kiss Me Kate" is a film about actors putting on a play about actors putting on a play. This adaptation from Shakespeare is packed with cleverness and talent.Let's start with the music. Cole Porter wrote music for this film in which Cole Porter writes music for a play that is an adaptation of Shakespeare. All that really matters is that Porter's tunes are clever, lively standards.The film's dance sequences are some of the best in film. Ann Miller, Bob Fosse, Tommy Rall, Hermes Pan (and more!) display their joyful, energetic and even prodigious talents. For example, watch for Tommy Rall to virtually explode on stage from the wings in one number.The costumes are colorful and eye catching. In addition, they accent the dancing extremely well.For a light-hearted musical romp filled with action and talent, it is hard to beat "Kiss Me Kate".

I'll be honest--up until about halfway through this one, I wasn't all that impressed. It wasn't bad--just not all that good. However, the film started to gel and got much better as it progressed--and overall is an excellent musical. So, stick with it--it's worth the wait.I assumed (incorrectly) that this was just a musical version of Shakespeare's "Taming of the Shrew". However, and here's the weird twist, it's a film about a Broadway production of "Taming of the Shrew" and there are some parallels between the off-stage antics and the play. Not surprisingly, this was originally a Broadway play--a very, very successful one.It starts off with Howard Keel meeting with Cole Porter to discuss the play--only, in an odd twist, it's an actor playing Porter and why they didn't have Porter play himself is beyond me. They talk about having Keel's ex-wife (Katherine Grayson) co-star with him in the play--but she hates him. So, using another lady (Ann Miller), they manipulate her into taking the role. But not so fast--Grayson's character hates Keel's so much that she's constantly threatening to walk off--even in the middle of the show.What helped me to like the film (most of which consists of their opening night) is the addition of a goofy subplot involving gambling debts and a couple of mobsters (Keenan Wynn and James Whitmore). They are great--quite funny and their terrible singing and dancing was the best part of the film (I REALLY liked their song "Brush Up Your Shakespeare"--the lyrics are great). Overall, a clever film that had few brilliant tunes but enough going for it to keep you happy. Well worth your time--even if some of Tommy Rall's lip syncing was really off.

Kiss Me Kate may be the greatest musical on film. Certainly, the dancing has never been equaled.The songs by Cole Porter are classic, of course, and the orchestral arrangements are glorious. The book and lyrics cannot be topped. That's a good start.But the cast makes this a shining gem. Howard Keel is handsome, debonair, and mischievous. Kathryn Grayson is at her most beautiful and in perfect voice. They have their usual wonderful chemistry.But, for me, it is the dancing that shines brightest. The choreography is stunning -- much of it done by the dancers themselves (Bob Fosse, Bobby Van, Tommy Rall) because of their specific abilities. They are exuberant, athletic, and artistic. Combine them with the extraordinary Ann Miller and you have the greatest dance team ever born. The producers saw what they had and devised special numbers just to highlight the talents of this amazing group of dancers.The pacing is fast and furious. The music is classic. The ensemble is great and they seem to be having the time of their lives.