Absolutely Fantastic

Entertaining from beginning to end, it maintains the spirit of the franchise while establishing it's own seal with a fun cast

A terrific literary drama and character piece that shows how the process of creating art can be seen differently by those doing it and those looking at it from the outside.

The plot isn't so bad, but the pace of storytelling is too slow which makes people bored. Certain moments are so obvious and unnecessary for the main plot. I would've fast-forwarded those moments if it was an online streaming. The ending looks like implying a sequel, not sure if this movie will get one

That's basically what has happened to the 1943 Broadway musical in its transformation from stage to screen. It has lost its sophistication, innocence, wit and most of its score, turning into a "B" movie ready for the late late show long before the late late show even existed. Like Universal also did with Sigmund Romberg's "Up in Central Park", they have removed not only the physical color, but the emotional color as well. The fault lies with the studio, who had on loan from MGM the perfect star (Ava Gardner) to play the Roman Goddess of love coming to life when department store clerk Robert Walker kisses her in a moment of impetuous madness. With Rita Hayworth just having played the Greek Goddess Terpsicore in Columbia's "Down to Earth" just the year before in glorious Technicolor, it is as mystifying as the subject matter why Universal (who had done some pretty good color adventures with Maria Montez and Sabu) would do this movie in black and white, as much as I love black and white. Unless she is doing a film noir, Ava Gardner screams for Technicolor! Only a handful of Kurt Weill's songs have made it onto the screen, most notably "Speak Low" and "That's Him", so this ends up being a truncated version of the Broadway show. There are still some good moments, particularly with Eve Arden, playing the wise-cracking but goodhearted secretary (what else?) to playboy department store owner (Tom Conway), and supporting player Dick Haymes getting to sing since obviously squeaky voiced Robert Walker can't. The lovable Sara Allgood has a nice cameo as Walker's strict landlady who just adores bubble baths, and perennial cop James Flavin has some good moments as the detective whom Gardner makes act like an owl. WHO???? Ava Gardner is beautiful, of course, whether she's in black and white or color, but she's at her best in roles that require a lot of "heat", and here she's more of a kitten. Remember the haunting image of her at the end of "Show Boat"? Imagine her in Venus's wardrobe in Technicolor. Notice, I'm not talking colorized (as this has been, BADLY). Robert Walker, who would go on to more lechery than his naiveté here once Hitchcock got ahold of him, is likable, but Olga San Juan plays a stereotypically nagging fiancée. Like they did with the same year's "Mexican Hayride" (by adding Abbott & Costello), I saw this as just another formula comedy with music rather than the artistic triumph it could have been.

A comedy starring Robert Walker, and Ava Gardner as the goddess Venus.Eddie (Robert Walker) is a window dresser. One day while tending to dressing of statue of Venus at his department store, he's taken so much by its beauty, he kisses it. The Venus comes alive and starts to change his life. Not to mention love life of others around them.Ava Gardner is at the height of her beauty in this movie. Without her, this movie wouldn't have been successful. The story is rather shallow, and doesn't have much substance, but Ava Gardner's beauty hides whatever the plot lacks.The society seems to be on the verge of automation, as Eddie's department store showroom has remote control for many of its functions, and one of the girl mentions that food can be made with a press of a button. The funny part was no matter which button Eddie presses, it always brings down the bed when Venus is around.Watch this movie to see Ava Gardner at the height of her career.

I had never seen this film in its entirety before today, I had only caught the end of it as a child, about 25 years ago. But even having only seen it fleetingly back then, it made an impression and I always wanted to see it from start to finish. Watching this film is quite a bit like falling in love! The 79 minutes seemed to pass so quickly, I was so enraptured by the audio and visuals! The stunningly beautiful Ava Gardner plays Venus to perfection, she's positively delicious to watch as she playfully taunts the shy but sweet Robert Walker, as well as his boss Tom Conway.The casting is perfect - the three stars mentioned above deliver spot-on performances, and also the parts of the girlfriend Olga San Juan and the boss' assistant Eve Arden are superbly played.My favorite scene is when the three girls get together while they are doing Ava Gardner's hair - it reminded me a little of the slumber party scene in Grease (interesting coincidence that Eve Arden is in that movie too - made 30 years later!).I got this movie on a Region 0 DVD from Spain and the picture and sound quality is about 8 out of ten, so if your player can cope with PAL DVDs, it's definitely worth getting as it is remastered from the original film source. But I hope they give this film the full restoration treatment it deserves one day!I highly recommend this film and give it 10 out of 10 as it's a truly delightful way to spend 79 minutes of your time, and I know I'll be watching it over and over again!

why oh why is this VHS not a remastered DVD yet. this was such wonderful feel good movie, acting and music--just a pleasant way to spend 82 minutes. I remember watching this movie with my mom when I was young. This was also the first VHS I ever bought--had to order it from a video rental store--paid $79.00 back in the early 80's.As time went on (and videos became less expensive) I purchased several copies of this film and gave the first to my mom who actually cried as she too remembers that it was always our favorite movie. The others I gave as gifts to several of my girlfriends. A few remembered it and some were too young but once they viewed it quickly made it a favorite.