Anything Goes (1956 film)
Encyclopedia
Anything Goes is a 1956 musical film
adapted from the Cole Porter
, Guy Bolton
, P.G. Wodehouse stage production of the same title
. The book was drastically rewritten for the second film version, also by Paramount, released in 1956. Though this movie again starred Bing Crosby (whose character was once more renamed), Donald O'Connor
, and comedian Phil Harris
in a cameo, the new movie almost completely excised the rest of the characters in favor of a totally new plot. The movie features almost no similarities to the play or 1936 film, apart from some songs and the title.
Showbiz partners Bill Benson (Crosby) and Ted Adams (O'Connor) some 20 years Crosby's junior, each travel to Paris to sign a dancer to star in their new show. The problem? There is only one role, and the men have unknowingly cast two dancers, Patsy Blair (Mitzi Gaynor
) and Gaby Duval (Zizi Jeanmaire
). It is up to the men to sort out their mess on the cruise back to America.
, were substituted. These substitutions ranged from the lively tap number by Donald O'Connor
with bouncy children and as many bouncy balls ("You Can Bounce Right Back") to the crazy kitsch ("Second-hand Turban"). Musical numbers were staged by Nick Castle
, with the "Anything Goes" number staged by Ernie Flatt, and Roland Petit
staging the Jeanmaire ballet and "I Get a Kick of You".
released an album of the score, which includes a mix of soundtrack performances and studio re-creations.
The album stayed in Decca's catalog until 1969 when it was discontinued. In 2004, Decca Broadway re-released the recording on CD.
Musical film
The musical film is a film genre in which songs sung by the characters are interwoven into the narrative, sometimes accompanied by dancing. The songs usually advance the plot or develop the film's characters, though in some cases they serve merely as breaks in the storyline, often as elaborate...
adapted from the Cole Porter
Cole Porter
Cole Albert Porter was an American composer and songwriter. Born to a wealthy family in Indiana, he defied the wishes of his domineering grandfather and took up music as a profession. Classically trained, he was drawn towards musical theatre...
, Guy Bolton
Guy Bolton
Guy Reginald Bolton was a British-American playwright and writer of musical comedies. Born in England and educated in France and the U.S., he trained as an architect but turned to writing. Bolton preferred working in collaboration with others, principally the English writers P. G...
, P.G. Wodehouse stage production of the same title
Anything Goes
Anything Goes is a musical with music and lyrics by Cole Porter. The original book was a collaborative effort by Guy Bolton and P.G. Wodehouse, heavily revised by the team of Howard Lindsay and Russel Crouse. The story concerns madcap antics aboard an ocean liner bound from New York to London...
. The book was drastically rewritten for the second film version, also by Paramount, released in 1956. Though this movie again starred Bing Crosby (whose character was once more renamed), Donald O'Connor
Donald O'Connor
Donald David Dixon Ronald O’Connor was an American dancer, singer, and actor who came to fame in a series of movies in which he co-starred alternately with Gloria Jean, Peggy Ryan, and Francis the Talking Mule...
, and comedian Phil Harris
Phil Harris
Harris and Faye married in 1941; it was a second marriage for both and lasted 54 years, until Harris's death. Harris engaged in a fistfight at the Trocadero nightclub in 1938 with RKO studio mogul Bob Stevens; the cause was reported to be over Faye after Stevens and Faye had ended a romantic...
in a cameo, the new movie almost completely excised the rest of the characters in favor of a totally new plot. The movie features almost no similarities to the play or 1936 film, apart from some songs and the title.
Showbiz partners Bill Benson (Crosby) and Ted Adams (O'Connor) some 20 years Crosby's junior, each travel to Paris to sign a dancer to star in their new show. The problem? There is only one role, and the men have unknowingly cast two dancers, Patsy Blair (Mitzi Gaynor
Mitzi Gaynor
-Life and career:Gaynor was born as Francesca Marlene de Czanyi von Gerber in Chicago, Illinois to Pauline Fisher, a dancer, and Henry von Gerber, a violinist, cellist, and music director. The family first moved to Detroit and when she was eleven to Hollywood, California.She trained as a ballerina...
) and Gaby Duval (Zizi Jeanmaire
Zizi Jeanmaire
Zizi Jeanmaire is a ballet dancer and widow of renowned dancer and choreographer Roland Petit. She became famous in the 1950s after playing the title role in the ballet version of Carmen, produced in London in 1949, and went on to appear in several Hollywood films.-Background:Born in Paris,...
). It is up to the men to sort out their mess on the cruise back to America.
Cast
- Bing CrosbyBing CrosbyHarry Lillis "Bing" Crosby was an American singer and actor. Crosby's trademark bass-baritone voice made him one of the best-selling recording artists of the 20th century, with over half a billion records in circulation....
— Bill Benson - Donald O'ConnorDonald O'ConnorDonald David Dixon Ronald O’Connor was an American dancer, singer, and actor who came to fame in a series of movies in which he co-starred alternately with Gloria Jean, Peggy Ryan, and Francis the Talking Mule...
— Ted Adams - Zizi JeanmaireZizi JeanmaireZizi Jeanmaire is a ballet dancer and widow of renowned dancer and choreographer Roland Petit. She became famous in the 1950s after playing the title role in the ballet version of Carmen, produced in London in 1949, and went on to appear in several Hollywood films.-Background:Born in Paris,...
— Gaby Duval (as Jeanmaire) - Mitzi GaynorMitzi Gaynor-Life and career:Gaynor was born as Francesca Marlene de Czanyi von Gerber in Chicago, Illinois to Pauline Fisher, a dancer, and Henry von Gerber, a violinist, cellist, and music director. The family first moved to Detroit and when she was eleven to Hollywood, California.She trained as a ballerina...
— Patsy Blair - Phil HarrisPhil HarrisHarris and Faye married in 1941; it was a second marriage for both and lasted 54 years, until Harris's death. Harris engaged in a fistfight at the Trocadero nightclub in 1938 with RKO studio mogul Bob Stevens; the cause was reported to be over Faye after Stevens and Faye had ended a romantic...
— Steve Blair - Kurt KasznarKurt Kasznar-Early life:Kasznar was born in Vienna, Austria as Kurt Servischer. His father left when Kurt was very young, his mother married a Hungarian restaurateur named Ferdinand Kasznar, and Kurt assumed his surname. He emigrated to the United States in the mid-1930s for The Eternal Road in which he...
— Victor Lawrence - Richard ErdmanRichard ErdmanRichard Erdman is an American film and television actor and director.-Notable roles:...
— Ed Brent - Walter SandeWalter SandeWalter Sande was an American actor, notable for film roles including Paul Revere in Walt Disney's Johnny Tremain....
— Alex Todd - Archer MacDonald — Otto
- Argentina BrunettiArgentina Brunetti-Biography:Brunetti was born Argentina Ferrau in Buenos Aires, Argentina. She began her show business career at the age of three with a walk on role in the opera, Cavalleria Rusticana and followed Mimi Aguglia, her famous mother's footsteps in the theater performing supporting roles on stages...
— Suzanne
Production notes
The primary musical numbers ("Anything Goes", "You're the Top", "I Get a Kick Out of You", "It's De-Lovely" and "Blow, Gabriel, Blow") with updated arrangements appear in the film, while the lesser-known Porter songs were cut completely, and new songs, written by Jimmy Van Heusen and Sammy CahnSammy Cahn
Sammy Cahn was an American lyricist, songwriter and musician. He is best known for his romantic lyrics to films and Broadway songs, as well as stand-alone songs premiered by recording companies in the Greater Los Angeles Area...
, were substituted. These substitutions ranged from the lively tap number by Donald O'Connor
Donald O'Connor
Donald David Dixon Ronald O’Connor was an American dancer, singer, and actor who came to fame in a series of movies in which he co-starred alternately with Gloria Jean, Peggy Ryan, and Francis the Talking Mule...
with bouncy children and as many bouncy balls ("You Can Bounce Right Back") to the crazy kitsch ("Second-hand Turban"). Musical numbers were staged by Nick Castle
Nick Castle
Nick Castle is an American actor, screenwriter and film director, best known for his role as Michael Myers in Halloween. He also co-wrote Escape from New York with his friend, John Carpenter.-Early life:...
, with the "Anything Goes" number staged by Ernie Flatt, and Roland Petit
Roland Petit
Roland Petit was a French choreographer and dancer born in Villemomble, near Paris, France. He trained at the Paris Opéra Ballet school, and became well known for his creative ballets.-Biography:...
staging the Jeanmaire ballet and "I Get a Kick of You".
Soundtrack
Decca RecordsDecca Records
Decca Records began as a British record label established in 1929 by Edward Lewis. Its U.S. label was established in late 1934; however, owing to World War II, the link with the British company was broken for several decades....
released an album of the score, which includes a mix of soundtrack performances and studio re-creations.
- 1. Ya Gotta Give the People Hoke (Crosby & O'Connor) - taken from film soundtrack
- 2. Anything Goes (Gaynor) - the orchestra track is from the film but Gaynor overdubs a new and different vocal
- 3. I Get a Kick Out of You (Jeanmaire) - From the film soundtrack although the sound quality fluctuates wildly between the vocals and the dance music.
- 4. You're the Top (Crosby & Gaynor) - This is a studio recording with an arrangement totally different from what is presented in the film. On screen the number is done as a double duet with Crosby and Gaynor rehearsing in one room while O'Connor and Jeanmaire rehearse in an adjoining room. The recorded version is less complete and has some different lyrics.
- 5. It's Delovely (O'Connor & Gaynor) - Taken from the film soundtrack with dialogue removed.
- 6. All Through the Night (Crosby) - Studio re-recording with Crosby singing at a slightly faster tempo.
- 7. Dream Ballet (Orchestra) - Taken from the soundtrack with the addition "Let's Do It" at the very beginning, which was edited out of the final print of the film.
- 8. You Can Bounce Right Back (O'Connor) - From the film soundtrack.
- 9. A Second Hand Turban and a Crystal Ball (Crosby & O'Connor) - Full routine (with a few slight dialogue abridgments) taken from the film soundtrack.
- 10. Blow, Gabriel, Blow (Full cast) - More or less taken from the soundtrack but remixed to remove the chorus and adding some verses not heard in the finished film.
The album stayed in Decca's catalog until 1969 when it was discontinued. In 2004, Decca Broadway re-released the recording on CD.