A semi-musical comedy that features Julie Andrews, as struggling soprano Victoria, nobody seems to want, in 1934 Paris(where it always seems to be snowing). She meets struggling gay actor/singer Toddy((Robert Preston), and they form a friendship. Escaping a restaurant melee, they get soaked on their way to Toddy's apartment. Removing her soaked clothes, the chilled Victoria puts on some of Toddy's clothes. That gives Toddy an idea. Why not try to sell Victoria as a man disguised as a female singer? Screwy sounding idea. But, it panned out, as Victoria is introduced as Victor Grazinsky: a Polish aristocrat, whose family disowned him when they discovered he was gay. He decided to relocate to Paris, with his lover, Toddy, and impersonate a female singer/dancer.
As I see it, the biggest problem with the screen play is that, as made up, Julie clearly is a woman trying to pass as a man. In addition to dressing like a man, her hair is cut short and plastered down. But, her small head and feminine face couldn't hide the reality that she was a woman. James Garner's character: nightclub owner King Marchand, is one of the few who admits to believing Victor is a actually a woman. Just to make sure, he sneaks into her apartment when the maid opens the door, and hides in the bathroom closet. He sees Julie undress for a bath, confirming his suspicion. Now, he wants to woo her. Somehow, he exits her apartment without being seen by her or the maid!
Julie sings and dances, as an apparent woman, to most of the few songs, although Toddy also has a couple of songs. Victoria's main musical productions are "Le Jazz Hot" and "The Shady Dame from Seville", which are OK, but not really memorable by me. But, at the end, she removes her wig, supposedly revealing the head of a man. Again, not convincing! Actually, Julie is very seldom funny. However, second female lead Lesley Anne Warren is consistently funny, as ditzy blond Norma Cassady. We first see her as King Marchand's(James Garner) date. It seems evident that she is burlesquing Jean Hagen's ditzy blond character, in "Singing in the Rain". I think I also see some Gracie Allen in both of these characters. In her one musical number, clearly, she's burlesquing Marilyn Monroe at her raunchiest. Also, she imitates Marilyn's iconic scene where her skirt billows upward, blown by a street hot air exhaust., not one, but 3 times.
A running gag has Victoria shatter a glass with her loud high note: 4 times. In one case, a stuntman is positioned upside down, suspended by his cane, resting on the lip of a bottle of wine. Naturally, when the bottle shatters, he goes sprawling. Other examples of slapstick include 3 large brawls, and Norma's taking to throwing vases at a man she is angry at, several times. One of the brawls is occasioned by the discovery of a large cockroach by a woman in a restaurant.
In addition to Toddy, and Victor, Kind Marchand's bodyguard admits to being gay, which multiplies the plausible pairs seen in bed. King badly wants to get in bed with Victoria, but is afraid people will think she is being Victor, hence he may be bisexual. He verbally fights with Victoria about giving up her Victor act. At first, she refuses, but eventually, she gives in, and, at the end, we see Victoria and King in the audience, watching Toddy take her place in a musical number, masquerading as a woman.
In spite of its problems, I rate it as more entertaining than its competitor cross-dressing film for 1982: "Tootsie". It has lots more diversity.
As I see it, the biggest problem with the screen play is that, as made up, Julie clearly is a woman trying to pass as a man. In addition to dressing like a man, her hair is cut short and plastered down. But, her small head and feminine face couldn't hide the reality that she was a woman. James Garner's character: nightclub owner King Marchand, is one of the few who admits to believing Victor is a actually a woman. Just to make sure, he sneaks into her apartment when the maid opens the door, and hides in the bathroom closet. He sees Julie undress for a bath, confirming his suspicion. Now, he wants to woo her. Somehow, he exits her apartment without being seen by her or the maid!
Julie sings and dances, as an apparent woman, to most of the few songs, although Toddy also has a couple of songs. Victoria's main musical productions are "Le Jazz Hot" and "The Shady Dame from Seville", which are OK, but not really memorable by me. But, at the end, she removes her wig, supposedly revealing the head of a man. Again, not convincing! Actually, Julie is very seldom funny. However, second female lead Lesley Anne Warren is consistently funny, as ditzy blond Norma Cassady. We first see her as King Marchand's(James Garner) date. It seems evident that she is burlesquing Jean Hagen's ditzy blond character, in "Singing in the Rain". I think I also see some Gracie Allen in both of these characters. In her one musical number, clearly, she's burlesquing Marilyn Monroe at her raunchiest. Also, she imitates Marilyn's iconic scene where her skirt billows upward, blown by a street hot air exhaust., not one, but 3 times.
A running gag has Victoria shatter a glass with her loud high note: 4 times. In one case, a stuntman is positioned upside down, suspended by his cane, resting on the lip of a bottle of wine. Naturally, when the bottle shatters, he goes sprawling. Other examples of slapstick include 3 large brawls, and Norma's taking to throwing vases at a man she is angry at, several times. One of the brawls is occasioned by the discovery of a large cockroach by a woman in a restaurant.
In addition to Toddy, and Victor, Kind Marchand's bodyguard admits to being gay, which multiplies the plausible pairs seen in bed. King badly wants to get in bed with Victoria, but is afraid people will think she is being Victor, hence he may be bisexual. He verbally fights with Victoria about giving up her Victor act. At first, she refuses, but eventually, she gives in, and, at the end, we see Victoria and King in the audience, watching Toddy take her place in a musical number, masquerading as a woman.
In spite of its problems, I rate it as more entertaining than its competitor cross-dressing film for 1982: "Tootsie". It has lots more diversity.