Reviews

As many others have already said, this poor attempt at a musical is painful to watch, like a train wreck, you know its awful but you can't look away. Gorgeous Technicolor & big stars could not save this film from the inelegant choreography, weak & clumsy dialogue, and ill-conceived musical numbers. The songs are awkward and there is not one with a tune anyone can remember, much less hum along with. In the transitional five years between the war years of the early forties and the optimistic dawn of the fifties, this film falls short as though the writers had no direction, no target audience, no message to convey. It's a bit of fluff with a big budget but small ideas.

In the finale, Rita energetically climbs and flings herself around the set like a rag doll on a string, all the while singing about having fun. But she looks like a manic, insane person, she has no idea where she is going next. It doesn't look like fun at all!

The direction seemed amateurish, instead of wider shots of the dance group during the opening night of the play, the camera wanders around the confusing scene, often becoming filled with a bewildering mass of arms. I kept worrying that the live flames of the torches being waved around would catch in the billowing costumes & I wondered if they'd had any injuries during the filming.

And on a purely superficial note, the choice to lighten Rita's signature bright red hair and smoky eyes gave her a pale, insipid look that did nothing to reinforce her presence on the screen.

Too bad this film didn't have more scenes like the one where Terpsichore pleads with Mr. Jordan to let her stay on Earth. Rita was classic when she could cry on the screen. She was a much better serious actress than a comic one.

What a wonderful congregation of talent! Newer versions may have color and language easier for the modern ear to understand, but lovers of Shakespeare should make a point of watching this classic! Although sometimes dim and patchy, for its time, this movie contained some very inventive visual effects, effectively drawing the viewer into the fairy world. And, considering the materials of the era, one has to wonder at the time and effort involved in the construction of the fairy costumes and environment.

James Cagney's portrayal of Bottom, the tinker, shows a seldom seen side of the actor, who is more often remembered for his tough guys and dancing roles. While wearing a full-face donkey head, he was able to convey all the emotions from fright to joy through body language.

Mickey Rooney's portrayal of Puck, the mischievous wood sprite, showed his early natural talent for mimickry and comedy that would evolve in the coming years.

Other actors, who were known but not yet as famous as they would be in later years, and stars from the earliest years of film also lent their talents to this picture. Joe E. Brown, Hugh Herbert, Olivia de Havilland, Dick Powell, Victor Jory, Ian Hunter, and many others make this film a true Classic!