One Touch of Venus
One Touch of Venus
NR | 01 August 1948 (USA)
One Touch of Venus Trailers

A window dresser's kiss brings a statue of the Roman goddess of love to life.

Reviews
Harockerce What a beautiful movie!
LastingAware The greatest movie ever!
Numerootno A story that's too fascinating to pass by...
mraculeated The biggest problem with this movie is it’s a little better than you think it might be, which somehow makes it worse. As in, it takes itself a bit too seriously, which makes most of the movie feel kind of dull.
JohnHowardReid Here's a screenplay by Harry Kurnitz and Frank Tashlin, based on a Broadway musical which was itself based on a novel. Ava Gardner, borrowed from MGM for the title role, walked out on the movie due to friction with her co-star, Robert Walker, before it was completed, so it's a little hard to judge whether some of the movie's problems were inherent or accidental. In any case, director William A. Seiter is not exactly first league. In fact, in my original review, I wrote that he was a hack and that I couldn't imagine why a savvy producer like Lester Cowan had hired him in the first place. Now that was unjust. A director can only direct what's placed in front of him. He's not a mind reader, nor is he usually a man who can improvise like say Rene Clair or George Marshall. Fortunately, Eve Arden needs no coercing. She has some very funny lines here and delivers them most expertly. The dances were staged by Billy Daniels, and he also is always no top of his game. So what we have here is a pretty good movie. I'd give it 7.5! But it could -- and should -- have been better!
Maddyclassicfilms One Touch of Venus is directed by William A. Seiter, has a screenplay by Harry Kurnitz and Frank Tashlin. The film stars Robert Walker Sr, Ava Gardner, Eve Arden and Tom Conway.Eddie Hatch (Robert Walker Sr)is a window dresser in a large department store. Eddie is arranging a statue of Venus which is to be unveiled and to his surprise Venus(Ava Gardner)comes to life. The statue disappears because she has come to life. Store owner Whitfield Savoury(Tom Conway)suspects Hatch of stealing the statue. Comedy ensues when Venus falls in love with this mortal man who has brought her to life.Ava is perfect casting for the role of goddess taking human form, she is at her most beautiful here and there is an ethereal air about her. Ava and Robert work so well together, it's a shame they never made another film together.Robert usually starred in more dramatic films but here he proved what a good comic he could too. He conveys Hatch's bemusement and panic at the situation he has found himself in so well.Conway is good as the store owner and Eve Arden is good as always as Savoury's assistant.
Uriah43 "Eddie Hatch" (Robert Walker) is a well-meaning young man who just happens to be a low paid window dresser working at a large department store. One day he is given the job of fixing the drapes that surround a recently acquired--but very expensive--statue of Venus and after drinking some champagne he innocently kisses it prior to getting back to his work. Sure enough, the statue becomes the actual "Goddess of Love" (played by Ava Gardner) who takes an instant liking to the bumbling employee. Unfortunately, when Venus comes to life the priceless statue disappears and the rich owner "Whitfield Savory" (Tom Conway) automatically suspects Eddie of stealing it and has him immediately apprehended. But things get even worse for Eddie when Whitfield encounters Venus and falls madly in love with her. Now rather than reveal any more of the movie and risk spoiling it for those who haven't seen it I will just say that this was a cute musical-comedy which was tailor-made for such a gorgeous actress like Ava Gardner. Also worth mentioning are the performances of both Eve Arden (as "Molly Stewart") and Robert Walker who played their parts quite nicely as well. That said, while it is certainly dated it still remains a fun little movie and I rate it as slightly above average.
moonspinner55 Semi-musical romantic-comedy "One Touch of Venus" is rather one-dimensional, and looks like an old episode of "Playhouse 90" to boot. Robert Walker is a tough actor to get a hold on in this early role: striking a boyish, diminutive figure, his nebbish voice doesn't reveal anything deep, and there's no core of tension in his work (he tries hard, but he's a nervously self-conscious amateur); worse yet is a young Ava Gardner, not quite the dazzling Goddess of Love she's supposed to be. Based on the book "The Tinted Venus", film about a statue coming to life was previously done as a musical play and could actually use more singing to give it some lift (despite comedy vet Frank Tashlin as one of the screenwriters). It's cheaply-produced (even for 1948) and has little vitality. Only Eve Arden, as a sarcastic working girl, spices things up. ** from ****