Kiss Me Kate

Released Nov 26, 1953

1 hr. 49 min.

Musical

Comedy

List

93%

14 Reviews

Tomatometer

71%

Fewer than 50 Ratings

Audience Score

Divorced Broadway stars Fred Graham (Howard Keel) and Lilli Vanessi (Kathryn Grayson) agree to star in a musical adaptation of William Shakespeare's "Taming of the Shrew" alongside rising young actors Lois Lane (Ann Miller) and Bill Calhoun (Tommy Rall). Backstage complications pile up due to a romantic misunderstanding between Fred and the soon-to-be-remarried Lilli, while Bill's gambling debts cause a pair of lunkheaded mobsters (Keenan Wynn, James Whitmore) to become part of the show.

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jordan m

I really enjoyed the story this movie told, especially for a musical whose song & dance numbers mostly halt the plot rather than advance it. The background plot was better designed than the similar A Double Life from a few years prior as it went beyond the obvious mimicry of the plot of the play. I had the same concerns here as I had with other musicals (namely Moulin Rouge) in that their inserting dialogue between the actors on the stage in full view of the audience wasn't very realistic, though I've never went to a professional adult stage play before so perhaps it's easier to have a conversation that the audience doesn't hear than I imagine it is. The main guy reminded me a lot of Affleck's character from Shakespeare in Love & it's easy to imagine Affleck playing this role if he'd lived in the 1950s. The gangsters were an absolute highlight here, particularly when I discovered that one of them was Brooks in Shawshank Redemption! I would've preferred they cut out some of the actual play if they were gonna do multiple songs about how the characters were feeling as they kept generating plot momentum in a way that made the later songs seem like unnecessary delays that increased the runtime to nearly two hours, but that's alright because the songs really were quite good. This was still an excellent viewing experience.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

Full Review

Audience Member

if you, like me, are a fan of the genre and have yet to see this "essential musical" - you, friend, are most definitely missing out. The cream of the crop; genre, era, songs, choreography, characters... even costuming. A fat load of favourites - singers- Keel & Grayson, dancers - Miller & Fosse, comedians - Wynn & Whitmore.... James Whitmore??! YEP!! show stealing performance??!...YEP!!

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

01/12/23

Full Review

Audience Member

The musical is a classic with great Cole Porter songs and great mid 20th century Broadway dance numbers! I've heard the Broadway cast album since I was little, and saw the film in 3D here in LA a few yrs back @ the American Cinematheque / Egyptian Theater on Hollywood Blvd. I had to walk out because the 3D was making me ill -- turns out all 3D movies do :-( Anywhoo, watched the movie version on my home system with a streaming service the other day. No 3D :-) Great to see in HD w/6 speaker surround sound and is a thoroughly enjoyable light-hearted musical. Keenyn Wynn and James Whitmore are great in their roles as fairly hip 1950s gangsters. So interesting to think of Mr Whitmore since I have a bag of Miracle Grow soil nearby, having repotted a cactus the other day Google it ;-) Ann Miller was just great, playing the fast (and toe-tapping) gal in the 2nd couples love story. Bobby Van has got some cakes and all the Shakespearean lead actors/dancers have large cod pieces! Great to see the actual and factual Bob Fosse in a role showing off his moves. Howard Keel was great as the male lead. I've finally seen this movie enough to not be shocked at his great voice and effervescent personality. My first long impression of old Howard was seeing him as the elder plaintive Texas patriarch in Dallas, the 1980s TV series. Kathryn Grayson was enjoyable but to me, kind of forgettable. This movie's version changes Broadway songs as follows (not a complete list!): § "Hella of fella" to "Heck of a fella" in "Brush Up Your Shakespeare" number § "In bed, they are all the same" to "In a brawl, they are all the same" in I've Come to Wive It Wealthily number

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/21/23

Full Review

joel h

I found it hard to pay attention to Kiss Me Kate. I don't know why. I like musicals and I enjoy The Taming of the Shrew, but I found this combination to be slightly tepid and my mind kept drifting. The songs aren't very memorable, but I was impressed with the dance numbers. Also, the story dragged a little and felt repetitive in parts. Still, I don't regret watching it. It was entertaining enough.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

03/30/23

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steve d

The music is by far its best attribute.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

03/30/23

Full Review

Audience Member

The best musical comedy romance movie ever made! With the best movie song ever sung: Too Darn Hot!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/26/23

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George Sidney

Director

Kathryn Grayson

Lilli Vanessi 'Katherine'

Howard Keel

Fred Graham 'Petruchio'

Ann Miller

Lois Lane 'Bianca'

Bobby Van

'Gremio'

Keenan Wynn

Lippy

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Nell Minow

Movie Mom

One of the all-time best movie musicals, with Fosse choreography and Porter's vunderbar music.

Rated: 5/5

Jul 20, 2003

Full Review

George Perry

BBC.com

A treat, on no account to be missed.

Rated: 5/5

Apr 17, 2001

Full Review

Jessica Winter

Village Voice

...Kiss Me Kate had nothing on Singin' in the Rain.

Jan 1, 2000

Full Review

Eddie Harrison

film-authority.com

'...while the sexual politics are obviously in need of an update, Kiss Me Kate’s credentials as a great musical shouldn’t be a question of fashion…'

Rated: 3/5

Sep 8, 2022

Full Review

Mildred Norton

Illustrated Daily News (Los Angeles)

As the feuding pair, Howard Keel and Kathryn Grayson handle their roles superbly.

Nov 18, 2021

Full Review

Clyde Gilmour

Maclean's Magazine

Cole Porter's Broadway musical (via Shakespeare) has been toned down for the screen, but the songs are as wonderful as ever.

Nov 5, 2019

Full Review

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Synopsis

Divorced Broadway stars Fred Graham (Howard Keel) and Lilli Vanessi (Kathryn Grayson) agree to star in a musical adaptation of William Shakespeare's "Taming of the Shrew" alongside rising young actors Lois Lane (Ann Miller) and Bill Calhoun (Tommy Rall). Backstage complications pile up due to a romantic misunderstanding between Fred and the soon-to-be-remarried Lilli, while Bill's gambling debts cause a pair of lunkheaded mobsters (Keenan Wynn, James Whitmore) to become part of the show.

Director: George Sidney
Distributor: MGM/UA Home Entertainment Inc., Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Production Co: Metro Goldwyn Mayer
Genre: Musical, Comedy
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Nov 26, 1953, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Aug 1, 2009

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