Anything Goes, starring Bing Crosby, Donald O’Connor, Mitzi Gaynor, JeanMarie, Phil Harris
Editorial review of Anything Goes courtesy of Amazon.com
Bing 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.
Trivia for Anything Goes
Bing Crosby’s last film for Paramount Studios
At one point Donald O’Connor commiserates with Bing Crosby, “You’ve got yourself a case of moonburn, huh?” Moonburn is the title of a Hoagy Carmichael song added to the 1936 film version of Anything Goes (1936) also starring Crosby.
Songs
Ya Gotta Give The People Hoke. Written by Jimmy Van Heusen and Sammy Cahn, Performed by Bing Crosby and Donald O’Connor.
Anything Goes. Written by Cole Porter, Performed by Mitzi Gaynor.
