maronickjp

Watching older movies, I'm not always looking / expecting great comedy intrigue or story line (see some great Fred & Ginger movies of the 30s). Here, they did well with the views streets and a couple parks of San Francisco, at a particularly beautiful period (early 60s, a couple yrs after Vertigo's seminal SF). The early Ray Charles pieces.with entire ensemble, were outstanding, and Barbara Eden is beautiful and delightful on screen, as she was in a few other small early roles, pre-Jeannie. And I'll give an honorable mention to Connie Gilchrist, who literally slaved in her many stereotype supporting roles her whole career, always making the most of what she was given, took advantage of the opportunity here in a real role. And watch for early Ted Knight as a ... Gives it a minimum of 6 for me, and kept my attention while I worked - so 7.

Occasionally you see a film with a couple sparkles in otherwise forgettable drivel, often 2 minutes of very funny in something really silly (lesser Mel Brooks films), or 1 special effect, or 1 acting performance that pierces thru the mediocrity. This is an exquisite example of that, in a film for Frank Sinatra parallel to Paul Newman's The Chalice, in the star's disdain for it. BUT as I lost attention as the film was on, at about 1:20 into it, thank God for DVR and smart-phone video (since I had little interest in recording whole movie), I suddenly felt as if I were watching something rarely seen before, I was one of the few witnessing this 4am gem. I know most of Ann Miller's and possibly all Cyd Charisse film dances (now), but this Fiesta dance was truly a choreographic 3-person marvel, truly unique, colorful, and stunning. Find the film, set your DVR to 1:10-1:25 section of the movie, and view a diamond of MGM beauty. You on't regret it !