After making the 1952 smash hit musical, Singin’ in the Rain, Stanley Donen directed Give a Girl a Break, a middling romantic musical starring Debbie Reynolds and the dance team of Marge and Gower Champion.
Grade: C+ (*1/2* out of *****)
Give a Girl a Break
Theatrical release poster
The premise is overly familiar, and the story ultra-slender. When the temperamental star of a new Broadway musical revue in rehearsals walks out, director and choreographer Ted Sturgis suggests casting an unknown.
Many hopefuls show up, singing about their hopes in the song, “Give a Girl a Break.”
Revue’s musical composer Leo Belney favors ballerina Joanna Moss, while gofer Bob Dowdy roots for novice Suzy Doolittle (Debbie Reynolds).
Leo, Bob, and Ted sing about the challenges of re-writing the show for a new performer in “Nothing is Impossible.”
There’s a new obstacle, however, when producer Felix Jordan persuades Ted’s former dance partner Madelyn Corlane to come out of retirement.
A step down for director Donen, the movie proved to be a commercial flop, and did nothing for the careers of the acting talents, both older and younger, involved.
Donen would reclaim his status the following year with the blockbuster musical, Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, which also r=earned Best Picture nomination.
Casting: Curio Facts
A young Bob Fosse, who would become a major choreographer and filmmaker (Cabaret) has a featured role.
One of lead actresses, Helen Wood, would leave Hollywood for stage work in New York, including dancing at Radio City Music Hall. Perhaps more interesting, under the pseudonym “Dolly Sharp” she later co-starred in the infamous 1973 porn picture, Deep Throat.
Credits:
Directed by Stanley Donen
Screenplay by Albert Hackett. Frances Goodrich, based on story by Vera Caspary
Produced by Jack Cummings
Cinematography William C. Mellor
Edited by Adrienne Fazan
Music by Burton Lane
Distributed by MGM
Release date: Dec 3, 1953
Running time: 84 minutes
Budget $1.7 million
Box office $1.3 million
Give a Girl a Break (1953): Stanley Donen’s Middling Musical, Starring Debbie Reynolds, Marge and Gower Champion, and Young Bob Fosse
After making the 1952 smash hit musical, Singin’ in the Rain, Stanley Donen directed Give a Girl a Break, a middling romantic musical starring Debbie Reynolds and the dance team of Marge and Gower Champion.
Grade: C+ (*1/2* out of *****)
The premise is overly familiar, and the story ultra-slender. When the temperamental star of a new Broadway musical revue in rehearsals walks out, director and choreographer Ted Sturgis suggests casting an unknown.
Many hopefuls show up, singing about their hopes in the song, “Give a Girl a Break.”
Revue’s musical composer Leo Belney favors ballerina Joanna Moss, while gofer Bob Dowdy roots for novice Suzy Doolittle (Debbie Reynolds).
Leo, Bob, and Ted sing about the challenges of re-writing the show for a new performer in “Nothing is Impossible.”
There’s a new obstacle, however, when producer Felix Jordan persuades Ted’s former dance partner Madelyn Corlane to come out of retirement.
A step down for director Donen, the movie proved to be a commercial flop, and did nothing for the careers of the acting talents, both older and younger, involved.
Donen would reclaim his status the following year with the blockbuster musical, Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, which also r=earned Best Picture nomination.
Casting: Curio Facts
A young Bob Fosse, who would become a major choreographer and filmmaker (Cabaret) has a featured role.
One of lead actresses, Helen Wood, would leave Hollywood for stage work in New York, including dancing at Radio City Music Hall. Perhaps more interesting, under the pseudonym “Dolly Sharp” she later co-starred in the infamous 1973 porn picture, Deep Throat.
Credits:
Directed by Stanley Donen
Screenplay by Albert Hackett. Frances Goodrich, based on story by Vera Caspary
Produced by Jack Cummings
Cinematography William C. Mellor
Edited by Adrienne Fazan
Music by Burton Lane
Distributed by MGM
Release date: Dec 3, 1953
Running time: 84 minutes
Budget $1.7 million
Box office $1.3 million