Silk Stockings

Silk Stockings


MGM, 1957, Color, 117 minutes, ***

Released July, 1957



When phenomenal Fred Astaire meets captivating Cyd Charisse in this exuberant song-and-dance remake of Ninotchka, it's a chemical reaction that's pure and sparkling. Silk Stockings is effervescent from start to finish, with two master magicians of movie musicals - composer / lyricist Cole Porter and director Rouben Mamoulian - in peak form.



A stern lady communist (Charisse) comes to Paris to retrieve three wayward comrades (Peter Lorre, Jules Munshin, Joseph Buloff) and a Russian composer (George Tobias). Instead, the cold Ninotchka warms up to capitalist attractions - like champagne, silk stockings and a suave American producer (Astaire) who convinces her they're "Fated to Be Mated." Highlights abound: Astaire's charming "All of You" and nimble "The Ritz Rock and Roll;" Charisse's breezy "Silk Stockings," wherein she trades her drab serge cocoon for petticoats and silks; the contagiously comic "Red Blues;" and the snappy timing and snazzy vocalizing of Janis Paige in "Josephine" and "Stereophonic Sound." Silk Stockings is a cinematic delight.

Produced by: Arthur Freed

Directed by: Rouben Mamoulian

Assistant Director: Al Jennings

Screen Play by: Leonard Gershe and Leonard Spigelgass

Suggested by: "Ninitchka" by Melchior Lengyel

Book of Original Musical Play by: George S. Kaufman, Leueen McGrath and Abe Burrows, produced on the Stage by Cy Feuer and Ernest H. Martin

Music and Lyrics by: Cole Porter

Music Supervised and Conducted by: André Previn

Orchestral Arrangements by: Conrad Salinger

Vocal Supervision: Robert Tucker

Additional Orchestration: Skip Martin and Al Woodbury

Music Coordinator: Lela Simone

All Dances in which Fred Astaire appears Choreographed by: Hermes Pan

All Other Dances Choreographed by: Eugene Loring

Art Directors: William A. Horning and Randall Duell

Set Decorations: Edwin B. Willis, Hugh Hunt

Costumes by: Helen Rose

Make-Up by: William Tuttle

Hair Styles by: Sydney Guilaroff

Recording Supervisor: Dr. Wesley C. Miller

Color Consultant: Charles K. Hagedon

Director of Photography: Robert Bronner (in Cinemascope and Metrocolor)

Film Editor: Harold F. Kress



Cast: Fred Astaire [Steve Canfield], Cyd Charisse [Ninotchka], Janis Paige [Peggy Dainton], Peter Lorre [Brankov], Jules Munshin [Bibinski], Joseph Buloff [Ivanov], George Tobias [Commissar Vassili Markovich], Wim Sonneveld [Peter Ilyitch Boroff], Belita [Vera, Dancer], Ivan Triesault [Russian Embassy Official], Barrie Chase [Gabrielle, Dancer], Betty Uitti [Suzette, Dancer], Tybee Afra [Fifi, Dancer], Carole Richards [singing voice of Cyd Charisse]



Musical Program: [0:10] Too Bad (sung and danced by Fred Astaire, Peter Lorre, Jules Munshin, Joseph Buloff, Barrie Chase, Tybee Afra, Da Utti); [0:29] Paris Loves Lovers (sung by Fred Astaire and Carole Richards dubbing for Cyd Charisse); [0:36] Stereophonic Sound (sung and danced by Fred Astaire and Janis Paige); [0:46] It's a Chemical Reaction (sung by Carole Richards dubbing for Cyd Charisse); [0:47] All of You (sung by Fred Astaire, danced by Fred and Cyd Charisse); [1:02] Satin and Silk (sung and danced by Janis Paige); [1:06] Silk Stockings (instrumental arrangement danced by Cyd Charisse); [1:16] Without Love (sung by Carole Richards dubbing for Cyd Charisse); [1:23[ Fated to Be Mated / All of You (sung by Fred Astaire, danced by Fred and Cyd Charisse); [1:28] Josephine (sung by Janis Paige); [1:33] Siberia (sung and danced by Peter Lorre, Jules Munshin, Joseph Buloff); [1:39] Red Blues (sung and danced by Cyd Charisse, Peter Lorre, Joseph Buloff, Jules Munshin, Wim Sonneveld and Chorus; Carole Richards dubbing for Cyd Charisse); [1:49] The Ritz Roll 'n' Rock (sung and danced by Fred Astaire and Chorus)