jacobs-greenwood Directed by Roy Rowland and written by Isobel Lennart, this average musical comedy romance's Score received an Academy Award nomination. Though it features the beautifully talented Cyd Charisse as an aloof ballet dancer who's just discovering the world outside of her own sheltered existence, Dan Dailey seems an odd (unworthy?) choice as her top billed co-star.Even though their lead characters' magical romance is purposefully a pairing of unequals, I think you have to be a fan of Dailey's to accept his folksy, homespun, losing gambler cowboy (let alone his singing) that's suddenly found his lucky charm in Charisse. Plus, Agnes Moorehead plays his (vibrantly dyed) red-headed mother back at the ranch! Jim Backus as a frustrated hotel manager, Lili Darvas as a Las Vegas-style dance talent, and Paul Henreid (among others) also appear.It's not a total washout though: it's fun trying to spot the various uncredited Las Vegas star cameos (including Peter Lorre, Debbie Reynolds and Frank Sinatra) sprinkled throughout, Lena Horne and Frankie Laine (and Mitsuko Sawamura) perform, and Sammy Davis Jr. (also uncredited) narrates Charisse's "Frankie and Johnny" routine. Plus, there's an hilarious bit where Charisse's ballerina character, tired of competing with Sari Hatvani (Darvas) for Dailey's attentions, gets a bit tipsy and joins some cancan showgirls on stage; this scene is topped by her demonstration of it to Lili (Liliane Montevecchi), a former ballet star that chaperons Maria Corvier (Charisse) for manager (Henreid).Oskar Karlweis plays Lotzi, a blackjack dealer at the Sands, where Maria performs, who's friends with Chuck Rodwell (Dailey), and even holds the winnings. George Chakiris plays a young groom who's honeymooning with his young bride (Betty Lynn). Dick Elliot (uncredited) plays one of the Sands co-owners for whom Tom Culdane (Backus) works.Chuck is a gambler who never wins until he grabs the passing ballerina's hand for luck and finds he can't lose when he's holding it. This eventually creates a spark of romance between the two and Maria learns that Chuck is actually a successful rancher who gambles away his profits to fill up his empty life. He takes her to his ranch where uncredited Roscoe Ates and Lee Tung Foo play a ranch hand and a cook, respectively, and his "cranky" mother, Miss Hattie (Moorehead), runs things in his absence.Their magic continues there: when Chuck holds Maria's hand, the chickens lay eggs, a cow with an upset stomach gives birth to a calf, and a hole in the ground starts to spout black gold (e.g. oil). When they return to the Sands, Maria's absent manager has arrived but the couple's magic has disappeared.Want to guess whether it all works out in the end?

marcslope All I remembered was a silly plot, with gambler Dan Dailey and ballerina Cyd Charisse winning at roulette every time they hold hands. It's unimposing stuff, and while screenwriter Isobel Lennart always gave her women characters more to act than most of her male counterparts, this is a pretty thin plot peg. But this wide-screen MGM musical from 1956 does have a lot to recommend it. Dailey, much more of an actor than most dancers, is at his most appealing here, in a glove-fitting role (you only wish he had more to dance), and Charisse, never the most nimble of actresses, loosens up more than usual, looks as sensational as ever, and dances like a dream. There's a fun supporting cast including Lili Darvas, Agnes Moorehead, Jim Backus, a scheming Paul Henreid, and Liliane Montevecchi (decades later, Charisse would replace her on Broadway in "Grand Hotel"), a slew of specialty acts, and, best of all, a Cinemascope look at what Vegas looked like in the '50s. What great cars, great clothes, great colors, how luxe and overstuffed it all is. Produced by Joe Pasternak, who never had as sure a touch as his Metro counterpart Arthur Freed, and directed anonymously by Roy Rowland, it's longer than it has to be and has few surprises. But there's plenty to look at, and we do buy the central romance and want these two to end up together.

jotix100 "Meet me in Las Vegas" was not one of MGM's most elaborate musicals. As directed by Roy Rowland, this film, seen today, is like a trip down memory lane as it gives the viewer an opportunity to see the way Las Vegas looked back in the days when the film was done. That little town is nowhere to be found in the new Las Vegas, a city that, at best, looks like a theme park today. Isobel Lennart is credited with the screen play.The story centers around two opposites that are as different as day and night. If we believe that Maria Corvier, a first class ballerina has been asked to appear, in all places, one of the big rooms of a hotel, then everything is possible. That she will find love when she meets the down to earth rancher, Chuck Rodwell, that's stretching it a bit too much. But we are not in a real place, we are in movie land where everything is possible.As a musical, there are a few good moments, especially the "Frankie and Johnny" ballet, in which Cyd Charisse does a marvelous job. The other fun thing in the film is the way some Hollywood stars are seen in cameo roles that come and go too quickly. Thus we see Frank Sinatra, Peter Lorre, Debbie Reynolds, Tony Martin, Vic Damone in fleeting moments throughout the film.Dan Dailey plays Chuck with his usual ease. The best thing in the film though, is Cyd Charisse, a lovely dancer, and actress that never got her due in the movies. We also see some familiar faces in minor roles, Agnes Moorehead, Lili Darvas, Jim Backus, Cara Williams, and the fine singers Lena Horne and Frankie Laine."Meet me in Las Vegas" could have used some trimming, then, perhaps, it might have made a better trip to Vegas.

sandibiaso I saw this movie just to see a cameo of Pier Angeli. I ended up loving the movie but I wondered where Ms. Angeli was in this motion picture. Was she wearing the red dress in the audience of the first performance? I am pretty sure she was. If anyone knows for certain where Pier Angeli was in the movie let me know in a future comment about this film.I thought this film was going to be a lame MGM musical but I was pleasantly surprised to find the plot and the dialogs in the motion picture well-developed. Cyd Charisse is very fascinating as the ballerina turned Las Vegas performer. Dan Dailey was convincing as a gambling man who tried his luck with the beautiful Cyd Charisse.