Kiss Me, Kate
1953: George Sidney
It’s hard to say whether this should be considered an adaptation of The Taming of the Shrew or something else: it’s the classic Cole Porter musical about a production of The Taming of the Shrew (more or less) in which the principal actors (Fred Graham and Lilli Vanessi) resolve their own peculiar differences following the breakup of their marriage.
This musical is the source for a number of phenomenally successful songs in their day (“Wunderbar”, “It’s Too Darn Hot”, etc.), and was perhaps the high point of Porter’s musical career (though others might debate such an assessment). Of particular interest here, it’s the source of the very funny “Brush Up Your Shakespeare”, which makes glancing and irreverent reference to a majority, if not all, of Shakespeare’s plays.
This version, starring Howard Keel and Kathryn Grayson, is cleaned up somewhat for language from the original stage play, to meet the standards of Hollywood censorship in 1953; it also rearranges many plot points and musical numbers for reasons of its own. The lead performances are nonetheless quite engaging, and Keel and Grayson were at the peak of their powers. The large production number that normally begins the second half (“It’s Too Darn Hot”) is given to Ann Miller, who dances it spectacularly, but more or less alone. Those wanting something closer to what was originally presented on stage are referred to the more recent Broadway revival version (2003). To add even one more layer of self-reference to the piece, Cole Porter is himself represented (though by an actor who looks almost completely unlike Porter).
’Baptista’: Kurt Kasznar
Bill Calhoun ’Lucentio’: Tommy Rall
Cole Porter: Ron Randell
Fred Graham ’Petruchio’: Howard Keel
’Gremio’: Bobby Van
’Hortensio’: Bob Fosse
Lilli Vanessi ’Katherine’: Kathryn Grayson
Lippy: Keenan Wynn
Lois Lane ’Bianca’: Ann Miller
Paul: Claud Allister
Ralph: Dave O’Brien
Slug: James Whitmore
Specialty Dancer: Carol Haney
Specialty Dancer: Jeanne Coyne
Suzanne: Ann Codee
Tex Callaway: Willard Parker