It's 1896 Montmartre, Paris. Simone Pistache (Shirley MacLaine) is a leading Can-Can dancer in her nightclub. François Durnais (Frank Sinatra) is her lover and lawyer. They are shocked to be raided by the cops. Young Judge Philippe Forrestier (Louis Jourdan) had signed off on the charge of lewd dancing. The law is almost 100 years old and few wanted to enforce it other than Forrestier.
This is adapted from a musical play with music from Cole Porter. With the actors involved, all the parts for a classic musical is here. The issue is that the sum of the parts add up to be less than a whole. There is a central problem. Forrestier keeps going back and forth. It's hard to be sure about him. One could root for Simone to go with him except he keeps backtracking. Neither side of the love triangle is that appealing. Maybe the plot needs an actual villain who isn't in the triangle and isn't willing to back down. He needs to be dangerous. The threat needs to be higher and more constant for the stakes to be elevated. Overall, it's a lesser musical with some forgettable fun.
This is adapted from a musical play with music from Cole Porter. With the actors involved, all the parts for a classic musical is here. The issue is that the sum of the parts add up to be less than a whole. There is a central problem. Forrestier keeps going back and forth. It's hard to be sure about him. One could root for Simone to go with him except he keeps backtracking. Neither side of the love triangle is that appealing. Maybe the plot needs an actual villain who isn't in the triangle and isn't willing to back down. He needs to be dangerous. The threat needs to be higher and more constant for the stakes to be elevated. Overall, it's a lesser musical with some forgettable fun.