It's disappointing to see such little discussion of this lovely film

at this movie board.

This must be Cole Porter week for me, because I've seen Les Girls and High Society within the last two weeks on DVD and I watched Silk Stockings earlier this blustery evening. I'd forgotten how wonderful it is and, as usual, someone who worked on the film (here it was Cyd Charisse) comments on the film.

It's amazing that filming began in early November 1956 and was completed on January 31, 1957 (though it wasn't released until July 1957-- at the Radio City Music Hall in NYC, where Astaire had just appeared in Funny Face.

It was the last film either Astaire or Charisse would make at MGM (musical film, at least) and it received rave reviews. Yet again, the churlish Jack Warner had cast Doris Day, instead of Janis Paige (who originated the role on Broadway) in The Pajama Game. So Paige was offered a role in the film and just as well, in my view.

Paige turns in a first-rate comedic and musical performance as an 'Esther Williams' type film star, who was looking to break out of that genre. She's wonderful, as are the entire cast. The script is a bit choppy, but why quibble? It's so enjoyable and great fun. I'd had forgotten that the recently-widowed Fred Astaire met Barrie Chase on the set of Silk Stockings and married her a year or two later.

EDIT: It's Charisse who says that Astaire married Barrie Chase, but there is nothing here at the IMDb to indicate that was true. It was the first I'd ever heard of it.

Much as films have changed (look at the brouhaha over at the 'Brokeback Mountain' board) and subjects that were once taboo are routinely examined in what one hopes are good films (I'm a progressive and all for it, of course), wasn't that a time?

As usual, my tuppance, for what its worth.



Give thanks for a little and you will find a lot.