User reviews

During and after World War II, fantasy was big in Hollywood. It wasn't just escapism; it was all the thinking about death as many loved ones were lost. It's no wonder we had so many people coming back ("Here Comes Mr. Jordan"), facing the pearly gates or the hotter ones ("Heaven Can Wait"), or meeting angels in human form ("The Bishop's Wife"). We also had a visits from the big goddesses. How fitting that two women closest to being goddesses in human form actually played them - Rita Hayworth as Terpsichore in 1947's "Down to Earth," and of course, Ava Gardner as Venus in "One Touch of Venus." "One Touch of Venus" is based on the Broadway musical of the same name that was revived in London a few years ago with Melissa Errico, but never came to New York. Alas, there aren't many songs in this version but the most famous song, "Speak Low When You Speak Love" remains. The film stars Gardner, Robert Walker, Dick Haymes, Olga San Juan, Tom Conway, and Eve Arden. Walker works in a department store where a magnificent statue of Venus is about to be unveiled. On an impulse, he kisses it, and she comes to life. He falls madly in love with her, while his girlfriend (San Juan) flips out for his friend (Haymes). When the statue is discovered missing, the police assume that Walker knows something about it, since he was fixing the presentation curtain and claims that she then came to life.

Walker is an energetic delight as he chases Venus. After this film, he was institutionalized, and by 1951, his boyishness was gone as he entered what should have been the greatest part of his career with a magnificent performance in "Strangers on a Train." Instead, he only made one more film after that, dying in 1951. Looking at him in "One Touch of Venus," it's hard to imagine he had any demons. Eve Arden is hilarious as the secretary in unrequited love with her boss, Tom Conway. He's seen Venus sleeping in the home department and fallen for her as well. Haymes sings beautifully, and San Juan is pert and pretty as a young woman suddenly torn between two men. But all eyes are on Ava Gardner's dazzling beauty. She's a perfect embodiment of Venus with her flawless face, figure, and soft voice. Even though as a younger woman she had tried singing with a band, she wasn't a singer, so her voice is dubbed in this by Eileen Wilson. Like Hayworth, early in her career, she sometimes played roles that required vocals, and like Hayworth, she was always dubbed.

The best scene in the film takes place in the park toward the end. It's exuberant and thrilling - you won't want it to end. That scene sums up this lovely fantasy with a divine Ava, and you can't get any better than that.

Those who love the Broadway show will be disappointed by the screen adaptation of One Touch of Venus, with less than half the score being retained being one reason. Judging the film on its own merits, One Touch of Venus has a lot of nice things and is a lovely film on the whole.

Some of the direction is a little heavy-footed and dreary at times, and some of the story is both flimsy and convoluted, that would have been solved if the film was longer. While the film is crying out for the use of colour, the production values still look decent. The sets while not opulent is never what you call cheap either, the costumes(especially Gardner's) are tailored beautifully and the camera clearly loves Gardner, judging by how lovingly shot the whole film is. Unfortunately, less than half of the show's score is here in the film but what is retained here are breaths of fresh air and very well-placed. The highlight is the sublime Speak Low, which is elevated by Dick Haymes' magical rendition of it(it's repeated again by Eileen Wilson dubbing Gardner, but I prefer Haymes), one of Kurt Weill's most beautiful ever songs and now a popular jazz standard. The incidental score has many pleasant and characterful moments.

Choreographically, One Touch of Venus is never extraordinary but it's dependable and has enthusiasm, with the Central Park scene coming off best. The witty script with its smart comedy and sweet sentiment(didn't think it was that soap-opera-ish actually personally) serves the film very well, and while the story is not the most exceptionally executed stories for a film on the most part the infectious charm, heart-warming whimsy, exuberance, likability and heart more than make up for the occasional heaviness and convolution. The characters engage at least, and the stellar cast all give strong performances. There was the initial worry on my part that Robert Walker would be too intense(he went on to play one of the greatest screen villains in Hitchcock's Strangers on a Train) for a role where a light touch is necessary, but he actually is very earnest and likable and his comic timing is nimble.

Dick Haymes is very charming, Tom Conway is effortlessly suave(though on a side note few actors beat Conway's brother George Sanders in the 'suave' factor) and Olga San Juan plays plenty of energy and feistiness. The two best performances come from Eve Arden and Ava Gardner. Arden is a true scene-stealer and a breath of fresh air, she has some of the film's best lines and she is hilariously acerbic. Gardner is also fabulous, not only does she look absolutely wonderful but she plays Venus with a genuine warmth, alluring sexiness and womanly charm, she also handles the comic timing well if not ingeniously.

In summary, a lovely film and well worth giving a chance. Gardner, Arden and the song Speak Low are the high-points. This said, lighter direction, a longer length, the use of colour and more songs from the show may likely in my view have made things better. 7.5/10 Bethany Cox

"Eddie Hatch" (Robert Walker) is a well-meaning young man who just happens to be a low paid window dresser working at a large department store. One day he is given the job of fixing the drapes that surround a recently acquired--but very expensive--statue of Venus and after drinking some champagne he innocently kisses it prior to getting back to his work. Sure enough, the statue becomes the actual "Goddess of Love" (played by Ava Gardner) who takes an instant liking to the bumbling employee. Unfortunately, when Venus comes to life the priceless statue disappears and the rich owner "Whitfield Savory" (Tom Conway) automatically suspects Eddie of stealing it and has him immediately apprehended. But things get even worse for Eddie when Whitfield encounters Venus and falls madly in love with her. Now rather than reveal any more of the movie and risk spoiling it for those who haven't seen it I will just say that this was a cute musical-comedy which was tailor-made for such a gorgeous actress like Ava Gardner. Also worth mentioning are the performances of both Eve Arden (as "Molly Stewart") and Robert Walker who played their parts quite nicely as well. That said, while it is certainly dated it still remains a fun little movie and I rate it as slightly above average.

After being married to Jennifer Jones (who is/was my particular 1940's screen love goddess), Robert Walker stars opposite a very erotic Ava Gardner, described by film critics in "The Naked Contessa" (1954) as, "...the most beautiful woman in the world", so she was aptly cast to play Venus, the goddess of love, in this 1948 production.

Robert Walker plays Eddie Hatch a lowly paid window dresser at the store owned by Whitfield Savory II (played by Tom Conway -George Sanders cousin).Eddie is instructed to ensure that the curtain will not snag at the forthcoming unveiling ceremony of the recently acquired statue of Venus.When finished, he impulsively kisses the statue which promptly comes to life! Eddie is to marry Gloria (Olga San Juan), who irritatingly keeps reminding Eddie they are to marry.They have drifted into their relationship and marriage just seems the next logical move - but who said love is logical!! However, Eddie's friend Joe, (Dick Haymes), secretly is in love with Gloria himself but he doesn't know it.Whitfield Savory II is likewise ignorant of his subconcious love for his efficient secretary, Molly Stewart, played by Eve Arden in one of her typical wise-cracking roles; (see her as Mildred Pierce's manager in the Oscar winning film of the same name (1945) opposite Joan Crawford.

I was mesmerized by Ava Gardner as she spreads her instinctive love to bring all these true lovers together, while working her magic on Eddie himself who is soon in love with her.Her task over, Jupiter, the head of The Gods summons her back to Mount Olympus and she returns as a statue at the store much to the relief of the store boss who thinks Eddie has stolen her whilst she is in her alter-ego.This sub-plot gives rise to some comic Keystone Cops chase abouts.Watch out for Sara Algood who plays Eddie's landlady, (see her in previous roles as Mrs Beth Morgan in "How Green Was My Valley (1941) and as Mrs Maile in "Cluny Brown" (1946).The song "Speak Low" is sung by Dick Haymes miming to his own recording while Ava effectivly mimes to another singer's voice.Another song about men problems, sung as a trio, features Ava, Olga & Eve.

The audience feels strong sympathy for Eddie and he is finally given his divine award when a very beautiful new store recruit called "Venus Jones" (Ava),appears in human form to him there.We have to assume this will become another love match engineered by Mount Olympus!

I found this film hugely enjoyable as I love classic 1940's films having made something of a speciality of them.It is a difficult title to find.I obtained mine by winning an e-Bay auction after searching on Robert Walker.

An entertaining fantasy comedic romance starring Robert Walker and Ava Gardner interspersed with a few songs from the source Broadway musical of the same name.. In fact, pleasant as the Kurt Weill songs are, they rather get in the way of the main story itself and indeed it's almost half an hour into the film before the first song is introduced, making you wonder almost where it came from and whether it's wandered in from another film. A couple more tunes and reprises appear before the end but to no great effect making me think the numbers were included for contractual reasons or the director got caught between two stools in what he was trying to convey. The halfway house he ultimately arrives at us rather unsatisfactory in my view.

What's indisputable is the radiant beauty of Gardner who of course plays Venus, as for the most part she traipses about in diaphanous Roman style gowns, unsurprisingly bewitching Newton and his boss, Mr Savory who become rivals for her affections. Thankfully for Newton's $43.75 per week lowly department store window-dresser, Venus stays true to the first guy she meets and falls in love with rather than the urbane, expensively dressed millionaire store owner Savory.

The story satisfactorily sets up and resolves three slightly tangled pairings with several amusing moments along the way. Gardner as stated commands the attention and contributes a winningly amusing performance while Walker, who I've only ever seen before as the psychopathic Bruno in Hitchcock's classic "Strangers On A Train", shows a natural flair for light comedy as the befuddled Eddie.

The two other couples in support are crooner Dick Haymes as Eddie's conflicted best pal, Olga San Juan as Eddie's conflicted long-suffering girl, Tom Conway as the smooth boss used to getting what he wants and best of all Eve Arden as his pining but acid-tongued secretary who gets her reward in the end.

It's all good clean fun and ends happily for all concerned, viewers included.

I like Robert Walker, he is always nice to watch, and Ava Gardner is great as the sexy Venus of this film. Yet the film strains continuously to be funny but doesn't quite make it a lot of the time, meaning that the film starts to get boring after a while. I am not a massive fan of Dick Haymes which didn't help my opinion of the film get any better. Yet nevertheless this film manages somehow to be reasonably entertaining, with occasional funny gags (like the police in the park pulling snoggers apart to find Robert Walker) and the thing which I liked most about this film was the inclusion of the famous song "Speak Low (When You Speak Love)", a truly lovely melody. Even Dick Haymes gives a reasonable performance of it (oh alright, Dick Haymes wasn't that bad). "That Touch of Venus" will give reasonable entertainment when it doesn't lapse into soppy schmaltz. Enjoy it! 7/10

To me, the movie felt very dated, even considering it is a 40's production. The action developed very slow, and situations that were supposed to be funny, looked very forced like in a bad sitcom. I knew Kurt Weills music for the musical, and was hoping to see an equally genius context. This movie, however, was a bit disappointing...

Ava was never more beautiful. Robert Walker is at his lucky best. Dick Haymes was never in better voice. And, oh, that beautiful Kurt Weill-Ogden Nash score. Not only is "Speak Low" offered, but, the musical scene in Central Park as well, so masterfully handled and performed, will have you gliding and falling in love with the thought of falling in love.

This was a little recognized gem.

Stars Ava Gardner and Robert Walker. Walker gives a flawless comedic performance as a department store window dresser who kisses a statue of Venus which then comes to life (gee, think "Mannequin" ripped this off).

A wonderfully written intelligent script, the most beautiful love song, written by Bertohlt Brecht, as it's theme music, a supporting cast that boasts one of Eve Arden's most brilliant performances and '40's singing heartthrob Dick Haymes, as well as the most glorious wardrobe for the 3 female leads, all add up to an evening on Olympus.

It is, however, Ava Gardner who will captivate your heart, capture your soul, and make you believe in magic. It really is a once in a lifetime performance - her look, her vocal inflection, and her miraculous stance and walk will convince you that she IS the Goddess of Love. A classic beauty.

One of the best romantic comedies ever!

I'll never understand why when a studio like Universal buys a musical it then butchers it when bringing it to screen. My first thought when seeing Ava Gardner and Robert Walker were starring I would be seeing something from MGM which did musicals best at that time. Boy was I wrong and disappointed.

One Touch Of Venus which starred Mary Martin, Kenny Baker, and John Boles on Broadway ran for 567 performances in the 1943-1945 season and Gardner, Walker, and Tom Conway play the roles that Martin, Baker, and Boles did on stage. The Kurt Weill-Ogden Nash musical with book by Nash and S.J. Perelman was a comeback vehicle for Mary Martin who reestablished herself as the Queen of Broadway after a disappointing venture in Hollywood.

Look at the names that went into this show. Given who was responsible for the book I expected to see some sparkling wit in this production. Instead I got a rather pedestrian screenplay, it was like all the wit was drained out of it. Doing her best to make up for it is Eve Arden playing her usual girl Friday role with Tom Conway, but it's even too much for Eve.

The story concerns department store window dresser Robert Walker who kisses a very valuable statue of Venus who springs to life in the person of Ava Gardner. Of course when the statue goes missing, Conway yells for the law and is suspicious of Walker, the last person to be with the statue.

The rest of the film is Walker dealing with Gardner and what will happen to both of them. For reasons I don't understand, Ava was of course dubbed by Eileen Wilson and Walker sings only a couple of lines. The singing is carried by Dick Haymes and Olga San Juan playing Walker's friends and coworkers. Of course on Broadway the songs were done by singers Mary Martin and Kenny Baker. You would kind of think that Haymes would be playing Walker's role at least. It was awkward to say the least.

Only three songs survived from the score, Don't Look Now, But My Heart Is Showing, That's Him, and the incomparable Speak Low. Haymes's silken baritone is shown to best advantage in Speak Low which was sung as a duet by Martin and Baker on Broadway. For some reason the lyrics of one of the greatest men of verse of the last century, Ogden Nash, were done over by Ann Ronnell. I suspect the infamous Code was at work here.

In Lee Server's biography of Ava Gardner he makes mention of a brief fling Ava had with Robert Walker when she had had a spat with her current man, Howard Duff. When Duff and Gardner reunited, Walker took it badly and didn't speak at all to Gardner off camera. I'm sure the fact that both of them were not in their best work didn't help matters either.

Hopefully some repertoire company will do One Touch Of Venus and you'll get to see it the way, Weill, Nash, and Perelman wrote it.

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.

It is interesting that this film is not better written, having been based on the work of two of the most acclaimed writers of the day, S.J. Perelman and Ogden Nash. Fans of romantic farce seem to find this movie quite satisfying. To me it is more an exercise in watching Hollywood's star-maker machinery at work on Ava Gardner, starring as a statue of Venus, goddess of love in Roman mythology, come to life. Robert Walker is quite likeable as the fluff-brained window dresser who breathes life into Venus with a kiss. Eve Arden quips her way through the film with her usual aplomb. And the fascinating Olga San Juan is perfectly cast as Walker's jealous girlfriend; she and Dick Haymes seem to be the only two cast members who can actually sing. With music by Kurt Weill and lyrics by Nash, it is unfortunate that there are only three musical numbers in the entire movie, and only one is truly memorable, namely "Speak Low," but Ava Gardner is obviously dubbed as she sings it.

...who always adds spice and biting wit to any film, be it comedy or drama. I just had to mention her because I think she is so overlooked and underrated.

Eddie Hatch (Robert Walker) is a verbally abused unappreciated and underpaid display dresser at Savory's department store. His girlfriend Gloria, also an employee at the store, wants to marry him. However, it seems she is more interested in starting her own personal post-war baby boom than she is interested in Eddie himself. One night, while dressing the display for store owner Whitfield Savory's new two hundred thousand dollar statue of Venus, Eddie kisses the statue on a whim and it comes to life (Ava Gardner). Venus is instantly smitten with Eddie, and causes him all kinds of trouble, starting with the fact that she won't get back on her pedestal. This brings Eddie under suspicion of stealing the statue, and anybody who heard the truth of the matter would either think he's lying or crazy. All kinds of comedic and romantic complications ensue.

This film is based on a musical play, thus the three or so odd musical numbers that, to me, didn't seem to fit with the rest of the film and are actually a distraction, but not an awful one. With Tom Conway as the suave lady's man owner of the department store, Eve Arden as his efficient secretary who also carries a torch for the guy, and James Flannigan as a bumbling cop who is no match for Venus's wit or magical powers, it certainly is unique. I'd recommend it.

The Roman poet, Ovid, wrote a story about a sculptor, Pygmalion. In the story, this sculptor is making a statue of Galatea and he is smitten with his work. Impulsively, he kisses the statue and the goddess Venue intervenes...and makes the statue come to life!

I mention this because clearly the writers of the original Broadway musical on which "One Touch of Venus" is based knew of Pygmalion and Galatea. Instead, however, a meek window dresser (Robert Walker) falls for a statue of Venus at the department store where he works. Impulsively, he kisses it and it magically comes to life!

So is this film any good? Absolutely. Walker and Ava Gardner (Venus) are lovely in the story and it is just a nice, fun story. Deep? Nah...but quite enjoyable.

There was a time when I looked at pictures of Ava Gardner, and thought "What's all the fuss? She's not so hot." But this is one of the pictures that makes me "get it". Her face and figure are undeniably exquisite in this, and her voice exudes sultry, smoldering sexuality. I'm talking about her speaking voice, of course. I assume her singing voice was dubbed. The movie as a whole is ok. It's a fantasy comedy about a man who kisses a statue of the goddess Venus, which magically comes to life. Robert Walker is ok as the befuddled department store employee who kisses the statue, and initially wants nothing to do with the goddess, since he has a girlfriend. Eventually, however, he succumbs to her charms ( who wouldn't?), and her mere presence in the city causes many people to fall in love, including Walker's boss, the owner of the department store. Eve Arden is her usual excellent wise cracking self, who gets a chance for once to find love, thanks to Venus. The song Speak Low is nice.

One Touch Of Venus, touched my heart as a young girl who lived for the Black & White fantasy world that movie makers created. All the casting was perfection. The continuity of the movie was flawless.

Robert Walker's portrayal of a young man muddling through life suddenly & totally captivated by the spell of love produced by the visage of the statue of Venus. Ava Gardner's classic beauty along with her very talented acting and voice. She was utter feminine charm encased in an absolutely beautiful body. She was a Goddess, she was 'The' Goddess that brings to mind the poetic line: She walks in beauty, like the night Of cloudless climes and starry skies; And all that's best of dark and bright Meet in her aspect and her eyes:A Poem by Lord Byron. (No actor today can capture the abilities of yesterday's greats.)

Eve Arden's acerbic wit, which no one else since has ever done better (& believe me many have tried). Tom Conway as the suave womanizing store owner with the sexy voice. Dick Haymes was perfect as the backstabbing 'best' friend. This movie could possibly make a believer out of a cynic.

When Universal-International decided to film ONE TOUCH OF VENUS from the Broadway musical by Kurt Weill they dropped most of the songs, gave it the B&W treatment instead of Technicolor, cast AVA GARDNER in the title role (a non-singer dubbed by Eileen Wilson), and gave boyish ROBERT WALKER, then at the height of his earnest charm as a young leading man and produced it on a low-budget scale.

Aside from giving viewers a generous look at AVA GARDNER's charms, it does little else but provide tepid entertainment depending on one memorable song for its sole distinction as a musical: "Speak Low".

It's passable enough but the one joke theme of the plot whereby a department store mannequin turns into the real life "Venus" when an adoring employee kisses her, is about all there is to the so called book of this musical.

If looking at Ava is enough, you'll have plenty of time to do exactly that--while DICK HAYMES, OLGA SAN JUAN and TOM CONWAY do little to stir things up in any other direction. Haymes is wasted on a couple of forgettable songs.

Too bad the studio didn't have more faith in transferring the original to the screen including the Kurt Weill score. As it is, it definitely falls far short of the mark.

If you don't fall in love with Ava Gardner after seeing the movie you don't have a chance of falling in love. Harmless entertainment, the dialog is classy and represents a time when people listened to words. The music and words for "Speak Low. darling speak low" are the kind that makes you hum all day. But this movie is all Ava Gardner. No wonder Frank Sinatra only had one love, Ava.

Semi-musical romantic-comedy "One Touch of Venus" is rather one-dimensional, and looks like an old episode of "Playhouse 90" to boot. Robert Walker is a tough actor to get a hold on in this early role: striking a boyish, diminutive figure, his nebbish voice doesn't reveal anything deep, and there's no core of tension in his work (he tries hard, but he's a nervously self-conscious amateur); worse yet is a young Ava Gardner, not quite the dazzling Goddess of Love she's supposed to be. Based on the book "The Tinted Venus", film about a statue coming to life was previously done as a musical play and could actually use more singing to give it some lift (despite comedy vet Frank Tashlin as one of the screenwriters). It's cheaply-produced (even for 1948) and has little vitality. Only Eve Arden, as a sarcastic working girl, spices things up. ** from ****

I think that this was the first movie 'musical' I ever saw, and I loved it immediately. The script is so perfect and the actors to matched to their parts that the whole thing is lyrical.

Robert Walker is a great actor who does comedy the way he does drama...sincerely. Ava Gardner is young and beautiful as....well...as Venus! I was very disappointed when I found out she didn't sing the songs herself, but it sure looks like she does.

Eve Arden is the real star of this movie. Every line that she delivers is either a great wisecrack or lets us know more about her. Olga San Juan and Dick Haymes are wonderful particularly when they sing, "Don't Look Now But My Heart is Showing."

In the 'old days' they could make wonderful, inexpensive black and white musicals and everyone had a good time. Too bad we've all gotten to jaded.

I had never seen this film in its entirety before today, I had only caught the end of it as a child, about 25 years ago. But even having only seen it fleetingly back then, it made an impression and I always wanted to see it from start to finish.

Watching this film is quite a bit like falling in love! The 79 minutes seemed to pass so quickly, I was so enraptured by the audio and visuals! The stunningly beautiful Ava Gardner plays Venus to perfection, she's positively delicious to watch as she playfully taunts the shy but sweet Robert Walker, as well as his boss Tom Conway.

The casting is perfect - the three stars mentioned above deliver spot-on performances, and also the parts of the girlfriend Olga San Juan and the boss' assistant Eve Arden are superbly played.

My favorite scene is when the three girls get together while they are doing Ava Gardner's hair - it reminded me a little of the slumber party scene in Grease (interesting coincidence that Eve Arden is in that movie too - made 30 years later!).

I got this movie on a Region 0 DVD from Spain and the picture and sound quality is about 8 out of ten, so if your player can cope with PAL DVDs, it's definitely worth getting as it is remastered from the original film source. But I hope they give this film the full restoration treatment it deserves one day!

I highly recommend this film and give it 10 out of 10 as it's a truly delightful way to spend 79 minutes of your time, and I know I'll be watching it over and over again!