Develiker terrible... so disappointed.

Libramedi Intense, gripping, stylish and poignant

Grimossfer Clever and entertaining enough to recommend even to members of the 1%

Ezmae Chang This is a small, humorous movie in some ways, but it has a huge heart. What a nice experience.

jwb001 Divide this film into three basic components:1. GOOD - Song and dance routines. Showcasing some very talented dancers.2. BAD - Actors portraying actors. My #1 pet peeve in "entertainment". Feels so self-indulgent. (I also dislike films set in the film industry for the same reason.)3. GOOD - Musical version of "Taming of the Shrew". Overall, it's very pleasant to watch. Even if Shakespeare's English eludes most current-day audience members, the production still clearly conveys its meaning.

Claudio Carvalho The director and actor Fred Graham (Howard Keel) and the composer Cole Porter (Ron Randell) invite the talented but spoiled actress Lilli Vanessi (Kathryn Grayson) to perform Katherine in his musical version of "The Taming of the Shrew", where Fred has the lead role of Petruchio. Fred and Lili are divorced and he has also invited his affair, the promiscuous Lois Lane (Ann Miller), to perform Bianca. While they are preparing for the opening night, Lois' boyfriend Bill Calhoun (Tommy Rall), who performs Lucentio in the play, tells to Lois that he lost a large amount gambling and he signed a bill (promissory note) using the name of Fred. Out of the blue, two gangsters come to the backstage to collect the debt from Fred. Meanwhile Fred and Lilli have the same behavior in real life of Katherine and Petruchio on the stage. In the intermission, Lilli tells that she will leave the play; however, Fred lures the gangsters to keep Lilli acting. "Kiss me Kate" is a delightful musical, with a version of "The Taming of the Shrew". The story of a divorced couple that argues all the time and are brought together to perform Petruchio and Katherine of William Shakespeare and have the same behavior in real life is very entertaining and funny.Despite the restored image, unfortunately Warner released a shameful DVD in Brazil, without subtitles in the musical numbers (I checked and the subtitles are available only in Japanese)in a total disrespect to the Brazilian viewers. Shame on you, Warner! My vote is eight.Title (Brazil): "Dá-me um Beijo" ("Give me a Kiss")

Robert J. Maxwell Two divorced performers -- Howard Keel and Kathryn Grayson -- are brought together in a Broadway musical written by Cole Porter. They hate each other. The play is based on Shakespeare's "The Taming of the Shrew" and the stars hate each other on stage as well as off. Sub plots include James Whitmore and Keenan Wynne as two lowbrow hoods hanging around to collect an IOU supposedly written by Keel.The songs are uniformly tuneful and good. Porter could write some clunkers but there aren't any here. "So In Love" is sincere, but most are clever. Sometimes they are underhandedly cute, or am I reading too much into lyrics like "I'm a maid mad to marry/ And will take double-quick/ Any Tom, Dick or Harry,/ Any Tom, Harry or Dick." Maybe -- but I don't think so. Porter's lyrics could be pretty risqué.And what a cast! Keel and Grayson in 1953 were at the top of their form, she with her coloratura soprano and he with his reassuringly wobbly baritone. They're the two singers and aren't required to dance.The dancers include the ingratiatingly vulgar Ann Miller and the splendid Tommy Rall, Bobby Van, and the outstanding Bob Fosse, who put together their final joint number, "From This Moment On," which was a springboard to celebrity. Also in this dance is Carol Haney, who lamentably was featured in only one other film, "The Pajama Game", before dying at an early age. There is a brief glimpse of a sailor flirting with Ann Miller. The sailor is Hermes Pan, for years Fred Astaire's alter ego. Whenever I watch Ralls do his exhilarating comic number in "Why Can't You Behave," I always wind up asking myself, "Why was I never able to do that?" The answer is always the same. Something to do with a paucity of myoneural plates.The wardrobe people deserve some kind of medal, not so much for the women's costumes -- elaborate though they are -- but for the flamboyance of the men's outfits. All the colors of the rainbow, enough to numb the mind if not blind the eye.The acting is okay. Not much more than that. Sometimes Keel, who is supposed to be something of a narcissistic blowhard, carries his 1600 locutions off stage. I don't know whether it was deliberate or just an oversight on director Sidney's part. Anyway, he looks good. The full-figured and blossom-eyed Grayson looks practically edible. For the rest of the cast, well, they're not supposed to be Shakespearian actors and they don't sound like it. The actor who comes off best with Will's dialog is Kurt Kasznar. He sounds as if he's done it before. As a comedy, it's amusing rather than hilarious, but it's altogether engaging. Some harmless gags are given to the two hoods. Someone asks if Grayson is permitted to leave the theater. "She wouldst but she canst." Keel's character, Fred Graham, is always addressed as "Mister Gray-ham." This film must originally have been shot in 3-D. It's curious to see the cast thrusting their faces into the camera, throwing pewter pots and bananas at the audience.

JLRMovieReviews Perhaps you're a student in high school or college and have to read "The Taming of the Shrew" and have heard about this movie being a musical update of it. Well, don't see it, thinking you don't have to read the play. There's no excuse in getting out of Shakespeare. But, see "Kiss Me Kate" along with reading the play. This wasn't based directly from Shakespeare, but from an already adapted play. Starring Kathryn Grayson, Howard Keel, Ann Miller, Keenan Wynn and James Whitmore, this is a non-stop musical with no time to let up for breath. There are constant show-stopping numbers (all written by Cole Porter), including the beautiful duet, "So in Love," sung by Kate and Howard, Kate and Howard's duet "Wunder Bar", Ann's "Why Can't You Behave?," "Faithful in My Fashion," her unforgettable what-could-top-it "Too Darn Hot" number, Howard's little-black-book number and last but definitely not least Keenan and James' duet "Brush Up Your Shakespeare," which is simply superb. Kathryn Grayson is great as usual, but this movie really belongs to Howard Keel who has never been better. (His rich, deep voice is perfect for the operatic songs within the play, and for just everything.) And, also to Ann Miller who is definitely in top form.If you want to brush up your Shakespeare and your movie musicals, then this is for you. Need I say more! Really one of the few perfect movie musicals ever!