Anything Goes poster & wallpaper

Archer MacDonald, Argentina Brunetti, Bing Crosby

This is the second film titled Anything Goes to star Bing Crosby (the first was a 1936 film). Both films change a lot of the original Cole Porter stage musical, but at least the later version k...( read more  read more... )eeps a few more Porter songs. Still, there is something odd about a Cole Porter film filled with "additional songs" by Sammy Cahn and Jimmy Van Heusen (perhaps Porter's work was not warm and cuddly enough for 1956 America, although it seemed to work well at MGM with High Society, released the same year). Crosby plays a Broadway star teamed up with young TV hotshot Donald O'Connor. Vacationing separately in Europe and needing a leading lady for their upcoming show, each signs a prospect--Crosby snaps up Mitzi Gaynor (at her perkiest) and O'Connor finds Jeanmaire, a French dancer. The show can only have one female star, so when the quartet crosses paths on the ocean liner back to the U.S., sparks will fly. Or not--this Paramount musical lacks any definable zip, from the sleepy dialogue to the listless camera. The capable Nick Castle staged the musical sequences, although Jeanmaire's numbers were choreographed by Roland Petit (also her husband). The Porter songs are half-heartedly rendered, although O'Connor and Gaynor get some oomph into "It's De-Lovely." Der Bingle was born to burble "Blow, Gabriel, Blow," but it's too little, too late. --Robert Horton

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52% liked it

228 ratings

Unrated, 106 min.

Directed by: Robert Lewis

Release Date: January 1, 1956

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DVD Release Date: September 27, 2005

Stats: 63 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (63)

  • xoxoGossipGirl7
    September 18, 2009
    xoxoGossipGirl7
    Not a bad film, good in places.
  • placeinthesun455
    December 13, 2008
    placeinthesun455
    while this isn't an especially original film, it's still wonderfully enjoyable. the characters were interesting, the relationships showed some semblance of depth (unlike many other of this film's musical contemporaries), and the plot and dialogue were engaging and entertaining. ...( read more)part Golden Age musical, part zany romantic comedy, part Cole Porter revue. really a fun movie.
  • cvsparkles
    November 29, 2008
    cvsparkles
    the play was way batter
  • MECreviews
    March 21, 2008
    MECreviews
    I did not really like this movie.
  • hugonar
    November 2, 2007
    hugonar
    Classified as a classic = Interested.
  • bwaychick5678
    September 11, 2007
    bwaychick5678
    Iv'e never actully seen this particular version but i love the show!!!
  • hummo7
    August 11, 2007
    hummo7
    the production was gd!
  • GoDzgUrL89
    June 27, 2007
    GoDzgUrL89
    i saw it the other day and it was spectacular
  • Glinda
    April 27, 2007
    Glinda
    It's better on stage. Much better.

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Comments

  • psychoticemo
    June 15, 2007
    psychoticemo
    We did this musical for our High School spring play, and it was so amazing. We had a wonderful choreographer who taught over 60 kids too tap. So Much Fun!! I suggest for any school or acting group needing something to do!
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Anything Goes Trivia

  • The characters in this movie did these things. What movie is it? -pulls a false fire alarm -flare gun goes off in his locker -tapes a guy's butt cheeks together with athletic tape -ditches class to go shopping -didn't do anything, she didn't have anything better to do on a Saturday  Answer »
  • Which movie begins with a version of the American standard "Anything Goes" (you know, "In olden days a glimpse of stocking/ Was looked on as something shocking") but was sung in Cantonese?  Answer »
  • In the beginning of "Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom," Willie Scott performs what American Song in Mandarin?  Answer »
  • name the movie: [Helen hands the kids two masks] Helen: Put these on. Your identity is your most valuable possession. Protect it. And if anything goes wrong, use your powers. Violet: But you said never to use... Helen: I know what I said!   Answer »
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