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Powerful

It's an amazing and heartbreaking story.

It's easily one of the freshest, sharpest and most enjoyable films of this year.

It's a movie as timely as it is provocative and amazingly, for much of its running time, it is weirdly funny.

MEET ME IN LAS VEGAS comes in toward the end of MGM's golden age. A fun story here about a gambler (Dan Dailey) who only has luck while holding the hand of ballerina Cyd Charisse. Cyd has several gorgeous dance numbers here, including a stunning "Frankie and Johnny" with vocal by Sammy Davis, Jr. The film is crammed to the gunwales with guest stars including Lena Horne, Jerry Colonna, Frankie Laine, and an adorable young Japanese singer named Mitsuko Sawamura. There are many fleeting cameos, too including Peter Lorre, Frank Sinatra and Debbie Reynolds. Special mention should be made of Cara Williams' smashing rendition of "I Refuse To Rock And Roll," where she sets the screen on fire. Agnes Moorehead is effective as Dailey's Mother. A sharp eye will notice Betty Lynn (Thelma Lou from THE ANDY GRIFFITH SHOW) in a tiny part. This film is a product of 1956, set in the US's gaudiest city, and the colorful decor is properly gaudy. Car lovers will swoon over the red 1956 Lincoln convertible Dan Dailey drives in the picture. This is done in Eastman Color, which is notorious for fading, but this print has gorgeous color that could easily be mistaken for Technicolor. The sound is clear and robust, and does justice to the many musical numbers. You could find many worse ways to spend two hours than by enjoying the many charms of MEET ME IN LAS VEGAS.

There is a reason this is a practically unknown and rarely shown on TV. While there is nothing terribly wrong about this movie, there is also nothing terribly right about it either. It is a throwaway production from start to finish.It succeeds only as modest entertainment. None of the songs are particularly memorable. One song, "The Girl with the Yaller Shoes" is downright annoying. The script is especially weak - even by movie musical standards. It does not serve wither of the leads very well. Dan Daily is about twenty years too old to be playing a "young rancher". Cyd Charisse's character is very cranky and negative at the start of the film. It is very difficult to feel any empathy for characters who have no positive energy. Especially silly is the casting of Agnes Morehead as Mr. Dailey's Mother - even though they are roughly the same age.Fans of modern dance will no doubt enjoy the dance numbers. To my untrained eye they just seemed very dated and out of place.

This movie has gotten such a bad rap. No, it's not a Classic MGM musical lin the vain of AN American IN Paris or SINGIN' IN THE RAIN. However, for what it is it stands on its own. Cute story line, lots of cameos from the roaster of MGM stars at the time and some wonderful musical numbers, especially the FRANKIE AND JOHNNIE ballet. That's a must see. Cyd Charisse wasn't the greatest actress but she excels here in her "icy" demeanor and it works well here. Her drunk scene is a stand out. The under rated Cara Williams is a delight and she should have been a bigger star. A reader pointed out that Cyd's husband Tony Martin should have played the role Dan Daily played. Daily was an excellent dancer. Tony doesn't dance, so that would not have worked at all. Why this hasn't been released on DVD is beyond me since so many musicals not as good as this, have been. This is really fine, light, funny entertainment, so unlike movies made today. Lighten up and enjoy.

Cyd Charisse has always knocked us off balance with one of the greatest pair of legs in show business. In this film she shows us a human side which, from what I have seen, has always been lacking. She gets drunk as a skunk in a hilarious scene and gets up on the stage with the show girls and instantly outclasses them. She and Dan Dailey really work well together. It seems, in the movie, if they hold hands they will have unbeatable luck in Las Vegas. It creates a situation which everyone who has ever gambled (and there are a few of us) would love to be in. I will play the tape just to watch the tipsy scene but the rest of the picture is also very rewarding. I've always liked Dan Dailey as an actor and performer. Sammy Davis Jr.'s voice is used in a great sexy ballet number "Frankie and Johnny", in which Cyd really wows 'em. I can't imagine anyone doing a better vocal rendition of this particular number. It is a classic. Treat yourself to a better Cyd, a nifty Dan and Sammy's terrific, raucous rendition of "Frankie and Johnny." ... get the video. comment welcome ... [email protected]