Kiss Me Kate

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Kiss Me Kate (26-Nov-1953)

Director: George Sidney

Writer: Dorothy Kingsley

From a play by: Samuel Spewack; Bella Spewack

Music and Lyrics by: Cole Porter

Producer: Jack Cummings

Keywords: Musical, Romantic Comedy, Tap Dancing, 3D

Fred Graham and ex-wife Lilli Vanessi squabble offstage on the opening night of their musical adaptation of Shakespeare's The Taming of the Shrew, mirroring the very play they are about to perform. Excellent version of Cole Porter's most successful play, which had a run of 1070 performances on Broadway. The only major musical filmed in 3D; received an Oscar nomination for Best Score of a Musical.

Name Occupation Birth Death Known for

Claud Allister Actor 3-Oct-1888 26-Jul-1970 The Reluctant Dragon

Bob Fosse Choreographer 23-Jun-1927 23-Sep-1987 Choreographer

Kathryn Grayson Actor 9-Feb-1922 17-Feb-2010 Show Boat

Carol Haney Dancer 24-Dec-1924 10-May-1964 The Pajama Game

Kurt Kasznar Actor 13-Aug-1913 6-Aug-1979 Fitzhugh on Land of the Giants

Howard Keel Actor 13-Apr-1919 7-Nov-2004 Clayton Farlow on Dallas

Ann Miller Dancer 12-Apr-1923 22-Jan-2004 Kiss Me Kate

Ron Randell Actor 8-Oct-1918 11-Jun-2005 Most Dangerous Man Alive

Bobby Van Actor 6-Dec-1928 31-Jul-1980 Broadway actor

James Whitmore Actor 1-Oct-1921 6-Feb-2009 Give 'em Hell, Harry!

Keenan Wynn Actor 27-Jul-1916 14-Oct-1986 Col. Bat Guano in Dr. Strangelove

CAST

Starring
Kathryn Grayson ... Lilli Vanessi "Katherine"
Howard Keel ... Fred Graham "Petruchio"
Ann Miller ... Lois Lane "Bianca"
Keenan Wynn ... Lippy
Bobby Van ... "Gremio"
Tommy Rall ... Bill Calhoun "Lucentio"
James Whitmore ... Slug
Kurt Kasznar ... "Baptista"
Bob Fosse ... "Hortensio"
Ron Randell ... Cole Porter
Willard Parker ... Tex Callaway
Dave O'Brien ... Ralph
Claud Allister ... Paul
Ann Codee ... Suzanne
Carol Haney ... Specialty Dancer
Jeanne Coyne ... Specialty Dancer

REVIEWS

Review by Anne Cook (posted on 24-Aug-2007)

I really enjoyed this movie seen recently on Turner Classic movies. The music is delightful and for me evokes the original broadway show that I saw in the early fifties. The lead was Alfred Drake but Howard Keel in the movie acts with gusto and has such a richly expressive voice. the dancing is amazingly winning especially Ann Miller performing solo Its Too darn Hot plus The virtuosity of choreographer Bob Fosse. So good and animated was the performance of KeenAn Wynn in Brush Up Your shakespeare. This has to be my all time favorite musical!

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