Venus era una mujer

A very short and sweet version of the Kurt Weill musical play, omitting most of the songs. Ava Gardner plays the statue which comes to life after being kissed by window dresser Robert Walker, and crooner Dick Haymes is also in the cast, at least adding his pleasant voice to the proceedings.

Gardner is a lot of fun in this and certainly looks the part, although I have seen many reviews where she has been really slated. She gives ‘Venus' a healthy dose of playful charm as she leads Walker astray and threatens his position within the firm. Walker himself is a little uncomfortable in this – later roles would give him more range and opportunity to make an impression on the viewer.

Not all bad but the musical sequences seem heavy-handed in places, and with some voices dubbed and others not it just makes the songs sound a bit odd. Directed by William A Seiter, who had done musical comedies for RKO more than a decade earlier.