Invitation to the Dance

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Bonnie L One must judge this movie from the perspective of art as well as the progression of ballet to modern dance. To build a story without dialogue using only dance and music is characteristic of ballet; but with added facial expression and range of movement with detailed settings takes us to the language of theater. The absence of words was the restrictive direction, and in that lays its challenge and success. It was thoroughly enjoyed for the love of dance, Gene Kelly, and uniqueness. Rated 4/5 Stars •  Rated 4 out of 5 stars 06/19/24 Full Review Audience Member In evaluating the film, a distinction should be made between a pet and a passion project: The former implies a certain level of vanity on the part of the star, while the latter suggests a commitment to something outside the artist's ego. Although his appearance in every number would suggest that this is a pet project, when you learn that the studio forced that constraint upon the filmmakers to the chagrin of the dancers, it becomes clear that for Kelly making this enigmatic experiment in ballet was a matter of real artistic passion. Flawed though it is, that creative ambition and aesthetic integrity is admirable, and the dancing is nothing less than sheer entertainment. Rated 3.5/5 Stars •  Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 01/30/23 Full Review Audience Member Gene Kelly's ambitious labor of love, a three-part dance film with absolutely no plot at all; completed in 1952, but MGM didn't know how to market it, so it sat on the shelf for over three years. Rated 3.5/5 Stars •  Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 02/27/23 Full Review Audience Member just ok not really my cup o tea Rated 2/5 Stars •  Rated 2 out of 5 stars 01/21/23 Full Review Audience Member i do appreciate all the effort the did to this movie, but it's a bit "difficult" to watch Rated 2.5/5 Stars •  Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars 01/16/23 Full Review Audience Member A series of short skits with Kelly dancing. The first is Circus which is done in a minstrel/vaudeville style. Kelly plays a mime/clown, he acts on the stage and dances in the street with a group. There are only 3 actors listed in this part and they are on stage with him, there is no talking in this part only dancing. The dancing goes from Kelly's style to ballet with the other two actors. The story is about a guy, Kelly's clown, falling in love with the girl who is in love with the other guy. It shows how some people will do silly and dangerous to get the person we love, in this case the clown tries to do the high wire act to impress the girl, he falls and dies. The second skit is titled Ring Around the Rosy. It involves 8 actors/dancers with Kelly and the other two from Circus. This is a more present day setting going from parties to clubs. Again no talking during the entire skit, just music. It is a series of performances of mainly couples dancing about love and love lost and temptation. The third skit is titled Sinbad the Sailor and to be obvious it has a Middle Eastern theme. After the initial scenes Kelly and a boy go on a series of animated adventures the most visually striking is when he dances with 2 guards. This is Kellys version of Fantasia and fits into the film as art movement of the early 50's. It is interesting to view as a history of film as it is very much like watching a play on film. The animation is not as stimulating compared with Disney but it is innovative none the less. Rated 3.5/5 Stars •  Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 02/27/23 Full Review Read all reviews

Invitation to the Dance

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