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Kathryn Grayson, Howard Keel, Ann Miller, Keenan Wynn, Bobby Van ... see more see more... , James Whitmore , Tommy Rall , Kurt Kasznar , Bob Fosse , Ron Randell , Willard Parker , Dave O'Brien , Claud Allister , Ann Codee , Carol Haney , Jeanne Coyne , Mitchell Lewis , Hermes Pan

Cole Porter's Kiss Me Kate is a musical within a musical -- altogether appropriate, since its source material, Shakespeare's The Taming of the Shrew, was a play within a play. Howard Keel and Kathryn ... read more read more...Grayson star as famous Broadway singing team who haven't worked together since their acrimonious divorce. Keel, collaborating with Cole Porter (played by Ron Randell), plans to star in a musical version of The Taming of the Shrew titled "Kiss Me Kate." Both he and Porter agree that only one actress should play the tempestuous Katherine, and that's Grayson. But she isn't buying, especially after discovering that Keel's latest paramour, Ann Miller, is going to be playing Bianca. Besides, Grayson is about to retire from showbiz to marry the "Ralph Bellamy character," played not by Bellamy, but by Willard Parker. A couple of gangsters (James Whitmore and Keenan Wynn) arrive on the scene, convinced Keel is heavily in debt to their boss; actually, a young hoofer in the chorus (Tommy Rall) owes the money, but signed Keel's name to an IOU. But since Grayson is having second thoughts about going on-stage, Keel plays along with the hoods, who force Grayson at gunpoint to co-star with her ex-husband so that they'll get paid off. Later the roles are reversed, and the gangsters are themselves finagled into appearing on-stage, Elizabethan costumes and all, though that scene is less of a comic success. This aside, Kiss Me Kate is a well-appointed (if bowdlerized) film adaptation of the Porter musical. Virtually all of the play's songs are retained for the screen version, notably "So in Love," "Wunderbar," "Faithful in My Fashion," "Too Darn Hot," "Why Can't You Behave?," "Brush Up Your Shakespeare" (a delightful duet delivered delightfully by Keenan Wynn and James Whitmore), and the title song. Additionally, Porter lifted a song from another play, Out of This World, and incorporated it in the movie version of Kiss Me Kate; as a result, "From This Moment On" has been included in all subsequent stagings of Kate. This MGM musical has the distinction of being filmed in 3-D, which is why Howard Keel and Kathryn Grayson throw so many chairs, dishes, and pieces of fruit at the camera in their domestic battle scenes. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Flixster Users

72% liked it

7,788 ratings

Critics

80% liked it

10 critics

Unrated, 1 hr. 50 min.

Directed by: George Sidney

Release Date: November 26, 1953

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DVD Release Date: April 22, 2003

Stats: 298 reviews

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Grayson and Keel
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Flixster Reviews (298)

  • jennifxu
    July 30, 2011
    jennifxu
    This movie is freaking brilliant. Ann Miller lights up the stage every moment she's visible. She may not be as good a dancer as professional Bobby Van, but she's got more edge. In movies it's the combination of attitude and spunk AND talent that take you up a notch. Ann Miller we... read morears the star power on her sleeve. It's unfortunate she was never really given a leading role to project her talent but this is a pretty darn good substitute. "Too Darn Hot" and "Tom, Dick, and Harry" are without a doubt my favorite numbers, I swear I've watched each of them at least twenty times. But Cole Porter is an awesome composer and I also love "Why Can't You Behave," "We Open In Venice," and "Always True to You in My Fashion."

    However, the movie is really sexist. Why does Howard Keel's character treat Kathryn Grayson like crap and she still comes running back to him? Granted, they both behave rather badly but why does Kate have to give the concession?
  • ajv2688
    November 7, 2010
    ajv2688
    A good comedy musical about actors who's offstage lives are mirrored onstage in a production of taming of the shrew. It has it's funny moments, but sometimes the songs are boring. Overall a pretty good movie, though.
  • FrizzDrop
    August 2, 2010
    FrizzDrop
    Great music, but too many scenes where Howard Keel has to punish his ex-wife. What message does that send?
  • jjnxn
    March 4, 2010
    jjnxn
    Sprightly colorful throughly wonderful musical. Keel is perfect in the male lead and Kathryn Grayson in what along with Magnolia in Show Boat is her best role is terrifically loose and animated, a break from her normal persona, a shame than that this was almost the end of her fil... read morem career. All the supporting players deliver the goods and while almost every song or dance routine is a winner "From This Moment On" stands out as an exceptional number. A winner, see it!
  • hobster1
    July 26, 2008
    hobster1
    Bright, colorful, lively Cole Porter musical inspired by Shakespeare's The Taming of the Shrew. Originally filmed in 3D
  • littlecharmer1959
    April 13, 2010
    littlecharmer1959
    Ann Miller steals the show! Highly entertaining musical adaption of Shakespeare's Taming of the Shrew with some wonderful songs provided by Cole Porter. Look out for a small role by Bob Fosse, especially in the 'From This Moment On' sequence, where he gives a taster of what was t... read moreo come later in his career.
  • SunilJawahir
    April 3, 2009
    SunilJawahir
    A sweet movie musical about a couple putting on a musical despite their romantic drama offstage.
  • placeinthesun455
    January 22, 2012
    placeinthesun455
    apart from the "show within a show," I liked this movie. the characters were stock, but still fun (especially the two gangsters), the dancing was pretty awesome, and the music was, for the most part, catchy and enjoyable. I really didn't like the Taming of the Shrew, though--al... read morethough the costumes were fantastically over-the-top with strong commedia influences, the "musical adaptation" was really not impressive. the songs didn't fit in at all. if that was an actual production, I'd strongly recommend avoiding it. overall, though, this is an entertaining musical with a solid ensemble cast, great dance numbers, and a classic Cole Porter score.
  • mochizukisan
    December 17, 2009
    mochizukisan
    Having only seen this film version, I thought I hated this musical, until I saw a Broadway performance of it. "Kiss Me Kate" is a wonderful, fun, sexy, funny, romantic musical, but this film drained all of the charm and fun out of it. Lugubrious, dull, painful to watch. Hate the ... read moremovie, love the musical.
  • cavemanlawyer91
    May 28, 2009
    cavemanlawyer91
    If I didn't love The Taming of the Shrew or didn't know one thing about the theatre and Shakespeare then I don't think I would've like it as much. So before you see this film, brush up your Shakespeare!

View All Kiss Me Kate Reviews

Critic Reviews

Jessica Winter
January 1, 2000
Jessica Winter, Village Voice

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

Bosley Crowther
January 1, 2000
Bosley Crowther, New York Times

The picture's brio is quaint and disarming, for the most part getting its laughs when it needs them. Full Review

Dennis Schwartz
February 14, 2008
Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews

A mostly zippy showbiz paean. Full Review

Ross Anthony
September 26, 2006
Ross Anthony, Hollywood Report Card

A little weak in acting at first, but warms up nicely. Quite entertaining. And even more welcoming in 3D. Full Review

Christopher Null
October 31, 2004
Christopher Null, Filmcritic.com

The theatrical antics are a bit forced and the musical numbers aren't the best in the history of musical cinema, but this still stands as an 'important' film of its era, albeit a minor and relatively ... Full Review

Nell Minow
July 20, 2003
Nell Minow, Movie Mom at Yahoo! Movies

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

Bob Bloom
August 30, 2002
Bob Bloom, Journal and Courier (Lafayette, IN)

A fun musical with tuneful Cole Porter songs and a fun script.

George Perry
April 17, 2001
George Perry, BBC

A treat, on no account to be missed. Full Review

Harvey S. Karten
January 1, 2000
Harvey S. Karten, Compuserve

Thanks to the genius of George Sidney at the helm, there's never a dull moment nor a single instance of a song or dance simply shoehorned in with no bearing on the story. So brush up your Porter if yo... Full Review

Ann Hornaday
May 7, 2009
Ann Hornaday, Washington Post

Click to read the article Full Review

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Kiss Me Kate Trivia

  • Which MOVIE is not directed by Bob Fosse?  Answer »
  • mane the actor that played in,calamity jane,annie get your gun,seven brides for seven brothers and kiss me kate  Answer »
  • what two actors/actresses connect these old musicals? Show Boat and Kiss me Kate  Answer »
  • Who played the lead male role in the 1953 musical, Kiss Me Kate?  Answer »
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