Movie spotlight
While touring a museum, Rodney Hatch, an unremarkable barber, places an engagement ring intended for his girlfriend on the hand of a statue of Venus, the goddess of love and beauty. From Mount Olympus, Venus witnesses the event and decides to visit Rodney on Earth by magically inhabiting the statue. Hilarity ensues when she starts to fall in love with Rodney and competes with his girlfriend for his attentions. This television version of Kurt Weill's successful Broadway musical is much more faithful to the stage version than the 1948 Ava Gardner film, which changed the story considerably and cut most of the songs.
A barber accidentally brings to life a statue of Venus, who then falls in love with him. However, his fiancée and a wealthy art collector create complications in their unusual romance. The film follows the humorous and magical misadventures as Venus navigates the modern world and its social customs.
Critically, 'One Touch of Venus' received a mixed reception. While Ava Gardner's performance and the musical numbers were often praised, the film was criticized for its weak plot and pacing. It was not a major box office success.
Ava Gardner's striking presence and musical numbers were highlights.
The film suffered from a sluggish pace and a thin narrative.
Despite its fantasy premise, it failed to enchant audiences or critics.
Google audience: Audience reviews are scarce, but general sentiment suggests that while the premise had potential and Ava Gardner was a draw, the execution did not fully capitalize on its charms, leading to a somewhat underwhelming viewing experience.
The film is an adaptation of the 1943 Broadway musical of the same name, though many of the original songs were omitted from the movie version.
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This is probably most notable as an example of a televised live performance. Neither the story nor the cast deliver anything particularly scintillating, otherwise. The story is quite fun: "Rodney" (Russell Nype) tries out his soon-to-be-fia...