BB.5
(out of 5)
The last musical Marilyn Monroe ever appeared in was this so-so romantic vehicle co-starring Yves Montand. He plays a wealthy corporation owner and notorious bachelor who learns that a local theatre company is lampooning him in their latest musical production. He decides to investigate and possibly sue, and ends up auditioning for the role of himself instead (which he almost doesn’t get). Once he meets his leading lady (Monroe), he prefers to maintain the charade that he’s a struggling actor in order to impress her and maybe get a little romance (or a bit of what the title is suggesting). Some cute songs and enjoyable choreography, and Monroe’s work is top-notch (especially in her “My Heart Belongs To Daddy” number), but without her it never would have been remembered. Cameo appearances are made by Milton Berle, Gene Kelly and Bing Crosby.
USA, 1960
Directed by George Cukor
Screenplay by Norman Krasna, additional material by Hal Kanter
Cinematography by Daniel L. Fapp
Produced by Jerry Wald
Music by Lionel Newman
Production Design by Gene Allen, Lyle R. Wheeler
Costume Design by Dorothy Jeakins
Film Editing by David Bretherton
Cast Tags: Bing Crosby, David Burns, Dennis King Jr., Frankie Vaughan, Gene Kelly, Joe Besser, Mara Lynn, Marilyn Monroe, Michael David, Milton Berle, Tony Randall, Wilfrid Hyde-White, Yves Montand
Academy Award Nomination
Best Music (Music Score of a Musical Picture) (Lionel Newman, Earle H. Hagen)
Golden Globe Award Nomination
Best Motion Picture-Musical
Writers Guild Award Nomination
Best Written American Musical
British Academy Award Nominations
Best Film From Any Source
Best Foreign Actor (Yves Montand)
