It’s no secret that the Hollywood Comet loves musicals.
In 2010, I revealed I had seen 400 movie musicals over the course of eight years. Now that number is over 600. To celebrate and share this musical love, here is my weekly feature about musicals.

This week’s musical:
Anything Goes (1956) – Musical #785

Studio:
Paramount Pictures

Director:
Robert Lewis

Starring:
Bing Crosby, Donald O’Connor, Mitzi Gaynor, Zizi Jeanmaire, Phil Harris, Kurt Kasznar, Richard Erdman, Walter Sande, Archer MacDonald, Argentina Brunetti, Alma Macrorie, Dorothy Neumann, James Griffith, Macel Dalio (uncredited), Nancy Kulp (uncredited), Ruta Lee (uncredited)

Plot:
Broadway veteran Bill Benson (Crosby) is soon to be cast in a show with up-and-coming television star, Ted Adams (O’Connor). They just need to find a leading lady for the show. Separately, Bill signs Patsy Blair (Gaynor) as the leading lady and Ted signs Gaby Duval (Jeanmaire). The two then have to figure out how to pick the best actress and break the news to the girl not selected for the show.

Trivia:
• Based on the 1934 Broadway stage musical of the same name. A 1936 feature film version of this film was made starring Bing Crosby and Ethel Merman
• While the music for this show was written by Cole Porter, some of the lesser known songs were cut and new songs were written by Jimmy Van Heusen and Sammy Cahn, including “Ya Gotta Give The People Hoke,” “You Can Bounce Right Back” and “A Second Hand Turban and a Crystal Ball.”
• Bing Crosby’s final film for Paramount Pictures, where he had been under contract for 22 years.
• Filmed in VistaVision

Highlights:
• The credits
• Mitzi Gaynor
• Mitzi Gaynor and Donald O’Connor singing and dancing to “De-lovely”

Notable Songs:
• “Ya Gotta Give The People Hoke” performed by Bing Crosby and Donald O’Connor
• “Anything Goes” performed by Mitzi Gaynor
• “De-lovely” performed by Mitzi Gaynor and Donald O’Connor
• “You’re the Top” performed by Bing Crosby, Mitzi Gaynor, Donald O’Connor, Zizi Jeanmaire
• “Blow, Gabriel, Blow” performed by Bing Crosby, Mitzi Gaynor, Donald O’Connor, Zizi Jeanmaire
• “You Can Bounce Right Back” performed by Donald O’Connor

My review:
Actress Mitzi Gaynor, who passed away on Oct. 17, 2024, always exhibited boundless energy and joy, which was exhibited in her performances and interviews. This shines through in this week’s Musical Monday, ANYTHING GOES (1956).

ANYTHING GOES (1956) is a loose adaptation of the 1934 Broadway show of the same name. A straight film version of the show had already been made in 1936 — co-starring Bing Crosby. While this includes Cole Porter songs from the show and the characters go on an ocean voyage, it is a very loose adaptation. But it doesn’t matter, it’s still a great time.

In this 1956 film version, Broadway veteran Bill Benson (Crosby) is soon to be cast in a show with up-and-coming television star, Ted Adams (O’Connor). They just need to find a leading lady for the show. Separately, Bill signs Patsy Blair (Gaynor) as the leading lady and Ted signs Gaby Duval (Jeanmaire). The two then have to figure out how to pick the best actress and break the news to the girl not selected for the show.

This whole movie is a stunning, color vision with costumes by Edith Head, and vibrant musical numbers.

Mitzi Gaynor is just adorable and stunning in this. Gaynor could ALWAYS sell a number, whether it’s in a film or on one of her TV specials. And as soon as she performs “Anything Goes,” you want to stand up and applaud. Wow! I loved watching her dance, and she’s outstanding.

Gaynor and Donald O’Connor are well matched in this and their number “De-Lovely” is wonderful. The dancing in this scene is just wonderful. While O’Connor started his career as a child and is in one of the most famous films ever made (Singin’ in the Rain), I still feel like he is underappreciated as a comedic actor, dancer and singer. He’s just so good in this movie.

Bing Crosby is his usual Bing Crosby-self, which is always reliable, fun and great. Crosby can also always sell a song.

The songs are fun, but that “Blow, Gabriel, Blow” as a closing number is filled with energy.

What’s funny, is as soon as this color Paramount Pictures film started, touting that it was filmed in VistaVision, I almost felt like I was watching “White Christmas” (1954). The overall vibe is just similar, fun and cozy. It’s funny too, because during the “Ya Gotta Give The People Hoke” number, O’Connor juggles the tambourines used in the “Mandy” number in “White Christmas,”

The only downside to me is that the magic routine number at the end slows the film down at the end. I also only felt lukewarm about Zizi Jeanmaire. I also wish Phil Harris had more to do, or at least a song.

Overall though, ANYTHING GOES (1956) was a joy to watch and filled with excellent song and dance numbers. For Broadway purists, it may be an insult since it appears to be nothing like the show, but if you look at it like it’s own story, it’s a wonderful time.

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