Can-Can (1960)

Set in 1896 Montmartre, the risque dance Can-Can is all the sensation but it is also illegal to perform because it is considered an offense to public morality. When the brazen owner (Shirley MacLaine) of a cabaret has it performed, she is arrested. One of the judges (Maurice Chevalier) is her friend and favorably disposed to her while another judge (Louis Jourdan) seeks to follow the letter of the law. Based on the Broadway musical by Cole Porter and directed by Walter Lang (THE KING AND I). Porter's hit musical (not one of his best) had almost all of its songs dumped and replaced with more familiar Porter hits. It's a Montmartre via the 20th Century Fox back lot with fairly little concession of being "French". Certainly not in the casting. While Chevalier and Jourdan (fresh off GIGI) lend authenticity, Frank Sinatra doesn't even try to alter his "ring a ding ding" persona and MacLaine may as well be straight off a Virginia farm. Still, if you can suspend your disbelief, it's quite a colorful and splashy entertainment. The Porter tunes are irresistible, Hermes Pan's choreography high kicking, Irene Sharaff's costumes eye popping. and it's all risible fun. With the leggy Juliet Prowse, Marcel Dalio and Ann Codee.