Anything Goes (1956 film)
| Anything Goes | |
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Theatrical release poster
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| Directed by | Robert Lewis |
| Produced by | Robert Emmett Dolan |
| Screenplay by | |
| Based on |
Anything Goes by Guy Bolton and P.G. Wodehouse |
| Starring | |
| Music by | |
| Cinematography | John F. Warren |
| Edited by | Frank Bracht |
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Production
company |
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| Distributed by | Paramount Pictures |
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Release date
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Running time
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106 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Box office | $2.1 million (USA) |
| Anything Goes | |
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| Soundtrack album by the Original Cast | |
| Released | June 1956 |
| Recorded | 1956 |
| Genre | Stage and screen |
| Length | 45:10 |
| Label | Decca Records |
| Producer | Joseph Lilley |
Anything Goes is a 1956 American musical film directed by Robert Lewis and starring Bing Crosby, Donald O'Connor, Jeanmaire, and Mitzi Gaynor. Adapted from the 1934 stage play Anything Goes by Cole Porter, Guy Bolton, and P.G. Wodehouse, the film is about two entertainers scheduled to appear in a Broadway show together who travel to Paris, where each discovers the perfect leading lady for the female role—each promising the role to the girl they selected without informing the other. On the return voyage, with each man having brought his leading lady along, the Atlantic becomes a stormy crossing when each man must tell his discovery that she might not get the role.
The book was drastically rewritten for this second film version, which was also released by Paramount. Although this version again stars Bing Crosby (whose character was once more renamed), Donald O'Connor, and comedian Phil Harris in a cameo appearance, the film almost completely excises the rest of the original characters in favor of a new plot. The film features almost no similarities to the play or the stage production, apart from some songs and the title.
Showbiz partners Bill Benson and Ted Adams each travel to Paris to sign a dancer to star in their new show. The problem? There is only one role, and the men have unknowingly cast two dancers, Patsy Blair and Gaby Duval. It is up to the men to sort out their mess on the cruise back to America.
Filming took place between April and May 1955. The primary musical numbers ("Anything Goes", "You're the Top", "I Get a Kick Out of You", "It's De-Lovely" and "Blow, Gabriel, Blow") appear in the film with updated arrangements, while the lesser-known Porter songs were cut completely, and new songs, written by Jimmy Van Heusen and Sammy Cahn, were substituted. These substitutions ranged from the lively tap number by Donald O'Connor with bouncy children and as many bouncy balls ("You Can Bounce Right Back") to the crazy kitsch ("Second-hand Turban"). Musical numbers were staged by Nick Castle, with the "Anything Goes" number staged by Ernie Flatt, and Roland Petit providing the choreography of "I Get a Kick Out of You" for his wife Zizi Jeanmaire.
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