Montmarte, the historic artist and entertainment section of Paris, in the 1890s. Sinatra is François, reminiscing with his buddy Paul (Chevalier). Risqué acts are prohibé, but this club bends the rules and dances the cancan anyway. Simone (MacLaine) runs the joint, and up to now has been able to deflect trouble. Paul and Louis Jourdan are the judges that will oversee the trial. but... they can't seem to get the cooperation they need to shut the nightclub down; but Forrestier (Jourdan) isn't giving up. Juliet Prowse is in here as one of the dancers. nominated for Best Costume and Best Music. it's a musical, so song and dance numbers keep breaking out. in this case, the story actually revolves around a naughty dance, so I guess it can be fogiven. it's another film where MacLaine may play a madam (is she, in the original story?) ... she was also rather naughty in "The Apartment". directed by Walter Lang... this was one of the last films he directed. had also done the AMAZING Desk Set and King and I. it's pretty good! in spite of all those bloody songs and dances. showing on Fox Retro Metro, but it also shows on Turner Classics now and then.
