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Silk Stockings

DVD cover
Directed by Rouben Mamoulian
Written by Leonard Gershe
Leonard Spigelgass
Abe Burrows (play)
Starring Fred Astaire
Cyd Charisse
Distributed by MGM
Release date(s) July 18, 1957 (1957-07-18)
Running time 117 minutes
Country United States
Language English

Silk Stockings is a 1957 MGM musical film remake of Ninotchka. It was directed by Rouben Mamoulian and starred Fred Astaire and Cyd Charisse. The supporting cast included Janis Paige, Peter Lorre, Jules Munshin, and George Tobias repeating his Broadway role.

It received Golden Globe Award nominations for Best Film and Best Actress (Charisse) in the Comedy/Musical category.

The score was embellished with the song "The Ritz Roll and Rock," a parody of the then-emerging rock and roll genre. The number ends with Astaire symbolically smashing his top hat, considered one of his trademarks, signaling his retirement from movie musicals, which he announced following the film's release.

Plot summary

Movie producer Steve Canfield (Fred Astaire) wants Russian composer Peter Illyich Boroff (Wim Sonneveld) to write music for his next picture. However, Comrades Brankov (Peter Lorre), Bibinski (Jules Munshin) and Ivanov (Joseph Buloff), have been sent by Moscow to take Boroff back. Canfield corrupts them with decadent western luxuries and talks them into allowing Boroff to work with him. He also arranges for his star, Peggy Dayton (Janis Paige), to convince Boroff to cooperate.

Finally, another, much more dedicated Communist, Ninotchka Yoschenko (Cyd Charisse), is sent to bring in all four men. Though she proves a much bigger challenge, Canfield eventually succeeds in romancing her. He proposes marriage, but after she and Boroff are horrified by the changes that have been made to the music, the Russians all go home.

Canfield does not give up though, arranging for the pliable Brankov, Bibinski and Ivanov to be sent to Paris, knowing that they will be seduced by the city's charms. Once again, Ninotchka is sent after them, giving Canfield time to convince her to give in to her love for him.

External links

v • d • e
Arthur Freed musical productions
1930s
Babes In Arms (1939)

1940s
Strike Up The Band (1940) • Little Nellie Kelly (1940) • Lady Be Good (1941) • Babes On Broadway (1941) • Panama Hattie (1942) • For Me & My Gal (1942) • Cabin In The Sky (1943) • Du Barry Was A Lady (1943) • Best Foot Forward (1943) • Girl Crazy (1943) • Meet Me In St. Louis (1944) • Yolanda & The Thief (1945) • The Harvey Girls (1946) • Ziegfeld Follies (1946) • Till The Clouds Roll By (1946) • Good News (1947) • Summer Holiday (1948) • The Pirate (1948) • Easter Parade (1948) • Words & Music (1948) • Take Me Out To The Ball Game (1949) • The Barkleys Of Broadway (1949) • On The Town (1949)

1950s
Annie Get Your Gun (1950) • Pagan Love Song (1950) • Royal Wedding (1951) • Show Boat (1951) • An American In Paris (1951) • The Belle Of New York (1952) • Singin' In The Rain (1952) • The Band Wagon (1953) • Brigadoon (1954) • It's Always Fair Weather (1955) • Kismet (1955) • Invitation To The Dance (1956) • Silk Stockings (1957) • Gigi (1958)

1960s
Bells Are Ringing (1960)

Uncredited as producer
The Wizard Of Oz (1939) • Meet The People (1944)

Non musicals
The Clock (1945) • Any Number Can Play (1949) • Crisis (1950) • The Subterraneans (1960) • The Light In The Piazza (1962)

   
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