Invitation to the Dance (film)

Last updated
Invitation to the Dance
Invitation to the dance.jpg
Theatrical release poster
Directed by Gene Kelly
Written byGene Kelly
Produced by Arthur Freed
StarringGene Kelly
Tamara Toumanova
Igor Youskevitch
Tommy Rall
Cinematography Joseph Ruttenberg
Freddie Young
Edited by Adrienne Fazan
Raymond Poulton
Robert Watts
Music by André Previn
Jacques Ibert
Nicolai Rimsky-Korsakov
Conrad Salinger
John Hollingsworth
Production
companies
Distributed by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Release date
  • May 22, 1956 (1956-05-22)
Running time
93 minutes
CountryUnited States
Budget$2,822,000 [1]
Box office$615,000 [1]

Invitation to the Dance is a 1956 American dance anthology film consisting of three distinct stories, all starring and directed by Gene Kelly. It was the first film Kelly directed on his own, after co-directing three films with Stanley Donen.

Contents

The film is unusual in that it has no spoken dialogue, with the characters performing their roles entirely through dance and mime. Kelly appears in all three stories, which feature leading dancers of the era, including Tommy Rall, Igor Youskevitch, Tamara Toumanova and Carol Haney.

The film's shooting was completed in 1954, [2] [3] but its release was delayed until 1956 because of doubts at Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. The movie performed poorly at the box office, and it generally is regarded as an artistic as well as commercial failure.

The film takes its name from a piano composition of the same name by Carl Maria von Weber, portions of which are played during the opening credits.

Plot

"Circus"

The first segment, set to original music composed for the film by Jacques Ibert, is a tragic love triangle set in a mythical land sometime in the past. Kelly plays a clown, who is in love with another circus performer, played by Claire Sombert. She, however, is in love with an aerialist, played by Youskevitch. The clown, after entertaining the crowds with the other clowns, sees his love and the aerialist kiss, and then wanders into a crowd in shock. That night, he watches them dance together, and after the lady finds him with her shawl, he confesses his love to her. The aerialist finds them and thinks she has been unfaithful and leaves her. The clown sees her affection for the aerialist.

Determined to win her, the clown tries to walk the aerialist's tightrope, only to fall to his death. Dying, he urges the two lovers to forgive each other.

"Ring Around the Rosy"

The second segment, named after the nursery rhyme "Ring Around the Rosy" was based upon Arthur Schnitzler's La Ronde, [4] and it is set to original music by André Previn, who is off-camera at the piano. It tells romantic stories tied by the exchange of a gold bracelet. The bracelet originally is given by a husband (David Paltenghi) to his flirtatious and apparently unfaithful wife (Daphne Dale). She gives it to her paramour, an artist (Youskevitch), at a party. The husband sees this and stalks off. The artist gives the bracelet to a model (Claude Bessy), who gives it to her boyfriend the Sharpie (Tommy Rall), who is introduced giving an acrobatic dance at a stage door. He in turn gives it to the femme fatale (Belita), only to have her present it to a crooner (Irving Davies) after his performance. He gives the bracelet to a hatcheck girl (Diana Adams) She returns home to her boyfriend, a Marine (Kelly).

When the Marine sees the bracelet, he angrily takes it and storms out. Coming out of a bar, he encounters a streetwalker (Tamara Toumanova) and dances with her, giving her the bracelet before walking off again. The husband encounters the streetwalker and sees the bracelet. He buys it from her and reunites with his wife, returning it to her.

"Sinbad the Sailor"

The third segment takes its name from the Arabian Nights hero. It is a fantasy consisting of live action and Hanna-Barbera-directed cartoons set in the casbah of a Middle Eastern country. Kelly plays a sailor who is sold a magic lantern. Rubbing the lamp, he discovers a childlike genie (David Kasday). Put off by the genie at first, the sailor soon befriends him and changes his clothes into a miniature sailor suit to match his. The genie uses his magic to transport them both inside a book of One Thousand and One Nights. This puts him in conflict with a cartoon dragon, and then two palace guards wielding swords, and falling in love with a cartoon harem girl. With the genie's help, he defeats the two guards by out-dancing them. The harem girl then joins him and the genie after the latter changes her clothes into a women's naval uniform. The film ends with the three of them as they dance into the distance together.

This segment includes complex dance sequences showing a live Kelly dancing with cartoon characters in the picture. Use is also made of the original themes of Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov's Scheherazade by the MGM music department team of adapter Roger Edens, conductor Johnny Green and orchestrator Conrad Salinger.

Cast

Production

Kelly had gone to England for tax reasons, and Invitation to the Dance was one of three films that he made there. From the beginning, he intended it to be an all-dance film with no dialogue. This concept caused apprehension at MGM, because "dance, particularly ballet, was then considered longhair at best, homosexual at worst." Kelly initially had not wanted to appear in any of the segments because he "wanted to show the world that other people danced besides himself and Fred Astaire," but he was forced by the studio to appear in the film himself. [4]

The movie began filming on August 19, 1952 at MGM studios in London and continued there until December 19, with shooting also taking place at MGM in California in October 1952. [5] Shooting continued into 1953 on the "Sinbad" sequence, which made it MGM's second longest shooting schedule at the time. [2] MGM announced in March 1954 that the sequence would be completed by June 15, 19 months after filming began. [3]

Difficulties arose during production of the "Ring Around the Rosy" segment. The original score, by British composer John Addison, was not judged suitable, and "the ballet was finished to bits of the Addison score and counts," with Andre Previn brought in to "tack the music onto the existing choreography." [4]

The film originally was designed to have four segments, ending with "Sinbad." A 28-minute third segment titled "Dance Me a Song" was filmed. It consisted of popular songs interpreted through dance. The songs would have included "They Go Wild, Simply Wild About Me," "The Wiffenpoof Song," "Sunny Side of the Street," Wedding Bells Are Breaking Up That Old Gang of Mine," and "Sophisticated Lady." This sequence was filmed, but later cut. [5]

The film was planned to be released in 1954, but it was not viewed favorably by MGM and was not released until May 1956. New York Times critic Clive Barnes later observed that "when it was let out, gave it fanfares that would be appropriate to the birth of a mouse, not even a cartoon mouse at that," and was "distributed desultorily." It was exhibited in Great Britain as a 62-minute feature composed of the first two segments. [4] [5] According to author Larry Swindell, the film "was effectively thrown away by MGM because it didn't know how to market it." [6]

Reception

Critical

At the time of its release in May 1956, Invitation to the Dance was not well-received by critics. [4] Kelly's choreography was described by reviewers as the weakest aspect of the film. Dance Magazine critic Arthur Knight criticized Kelly's "artistic pretensions" and wrote that his choreography "rarely rises about the obvious." [7]

The New York Times film critic Bosley Crowther wrote that the idea of an all-dance, no-dialogue film was "exciting and refreshing," but called the film "a jumble of stories and styles." Crowther added that Kelly was "not a particularly imaginative choreographer...his story ideas are somewhat hackneyed and his dances are too elaborate." However, he praised Kelly for "having the urge and nerve to try this film." [8]

Time's critic wrote that the Sinbad sequence indicated that "Hollywood just cannot bring itself to bring the art before the coarse," [7] and New York Daily News critic Wanda Hale wrote that the film would have difficulty appealing to a wide audience and said that "since this arty experiment is out of his system, I hope [Kelly] will leave selection of his vehicles to MGM." [9]

Box office

The film was a financial failure. According to MGM records, it earned $200,000 in the U.S. and Canada and $415,000 in other markets, recording a loss of $2,523,000 and making it the studio's biggest flop of the year. [1] Kelly's later stated that "the public wasn't ready for a serious dance film, and besides, by the time it came out, the popularity of film musicals had declined." [10]

Awards

AwardDate of ceremonyCategoryRecipientResultRef.
Berlin International Film Festival 3 July 1956 Golden Bear Gene Kelly Won [11]

Legacy

Invitation to the Dance generally is viewed as not among Kelly's better work. [10] It was rarely revived or shown on television in the years after its release. [4]

Writing in the New York Times in 1977, dance critic Clive Barnes wrote that the film was Kelly "at his most pretentious and least convincing ... the choreography throughout is shallow and facile, and the long‐awaited cartoon segment little but a tiresome gimmick". At the same time, he wrote, "the movie is required watching for everyone interested in movies, in dance or, for that matter, simply in the career of Gene Kelly,' because Invitation to the Dance "was a watershed movie, which even now demands to be seen." Barnes claimed that the film was more ambitious than The Red Shoes because it has no unifying plot, and because it features an international cast of dancers mostly not used to film work. He added, "because at his own level [Kelly] understands dance in way very few directors have ever understood dance, even in Invitation to the Dance he can devise some really beautiful and arresting shots cinematically a pure joy." [4]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gene Kelly</span> American actor, dancer, singer, and producer (1912–1996)

Eugene Curran Kelly was an American dancer, actor, singer, director and choreographer. He was known for his energetic and athletic dancing style and sought to create a new form of American dance accessible to the general public, which he called "dance for the common man". He starred in, choreographed, and, with Stanley Donen, co-directed some of the most well-regarded musical films of the 1940s and 1950s.

<i>Anchors Aweigh</i> (film) 1945 film by George Sidney

Anchors Aweigh is a 1945 American musical comedy film starring Frank Sinatra, Kathryn Grayson, and Gene Kelly, with songs by Jule Styne and Sammy Cahn. Directed by George Sidney, the film also features José Iturbi, Pamela Britton, and Dean Stockwell.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Stanley Donen</span> American film director and choreographer (1924–2019)

Stanley Donen was an American film director and choreographer. He received the Honorary Academy Award in 1998, and the Career Golden Lion at the Venice Film Festival in 2004. Four of his films have been inducted into the National Film Registry at the Library of Congress.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Michael Kidd</span> American choreographer

Michael Kidd was an American film and stage choreographer, dancer and actor, whose career spanned five decades, and who staged some of the leading Broadway and film musicals of the 1940s and 1950s. Kidd, strongly influenced by Charlie Chaplin and Léonide Massine, was an innovator in what came to be known as the "integrated musical", in which dance movements are integral to the plot.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jerry Mouse</span> Fictional mouse

Gerald Jinx "Jerry" Mouse is an American cartoon character and one of the two titular characters in Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer's series of Tom and Jerry theatrical animated short films and other animated media, usually acting as the protagonist opposite his rival Tom Cat. Created by William Hanna and Joseph Barbera, Jerry is an anthropomorphic brown house mouse, who first appeared as a mouse named Jinx in the 1940 MGM animated short Puss Gets the Boot. Hanna gave the mouse's original name as "Jinx", while Barbera claimed the mouse went unnamed in his first appearance.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tamara Toumanova</span> Georgian-American ballerina (1919–1996)

Tamara Toumanova was a Russian-born Georgian-American prima ballerina and actress. A child of exiles in Paris after the Russian Revolution of 1917, she made her debut at the age of 10 at the children's ballet of the Paris Opera.

<i>Thats Entertainment!</i> 1974 film by Jack Haley Jr.

That's Entertainment! is a 1974 American compilation film released by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer to celebrate the studio's 50th anniversary. The success of the retrospective prompted a 1976 sequel, the related 1985 film That's Dancing!, and a third installment in 1994.

<i>Thats Dancing!</i> 1985 film directed by Jack Haley Jr.

That's Dancing! is a 1985 American compilation film produced by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer that looked back at the history of dancing in film. Unlike the That's Entertainment! series, this film not only focuses specifically on MGM films, but also included films from other studios.

<i>An American in Paris</i> (film) 1951 film by Vincente Minnelli

An American in Paris is a 1951 American musical romantic comedy film inspired by the 1928 jazz-influenced symphonic poem An American in Paris by George Gershwin. Starring Gene Kelly, Leslie Caron, Oscar Levant, Georges Guétary, and Nina Foch, the film is set in Paris, and was directed by Vincente Minnelli from a script by Alan Jay Lerner. The music is by George Gershwin, with lyrics by his brother Ira, with additional music by Johnny Green, and Saul Chaplin, the music directors.

<i>Singin in the Rain</i> 1952 American musical-romantic comedy film

Singin' in the Rain is a 1952 American musical romantic comedy film directed and choreographed by Gene Kelly and Stanley Donen, starring Kelly, Donald O'Connor and Debbie Reynolds, and featuring Jean Hagen, Millard Mitchell, Rita Moreno and Cyd Charisse in supporting roles. It offers a lighthearted depiction of Hollywood in the late 1920s, with the three stars portraying performers caught up in the transition from silent films to "talkies".

Thomas Edward Rall was an American actor, ballet dancer, tap dancer, and acrobatic dancer who was a prominent featured player in 1950s musical comedies. He later became a successful operatic tenor in the 1960s, making appearances with the Opera Company of Boston, the New York City Opera, and the American National Opera Company.

<i>Ziegfeld Follies</i> (film) 1945 film

Ziegfeld Follies is a 1945 American musical comedy film released by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, primarily directed by Vincente Minnelli, with segments directed by Lemuel Ayers, Roy Del Ruth, Robert Lewis, and George Sidney, the film's original director before Minnelli took over. Other directors that are claimed to have made uncredited contributions to the film are Merrill Pye, Norman Taurog, and Charles Walters. It stars many MGM leading talents, including Fred Astaire, Lucille Ball, Lucille Bremer, Fanny Brice, Judy Garland, Kathryn Grayson, Lena Horne, Gene Kelly, James Melton, Victor Moore, William Powell, Red Skelton, and Esther Williams.

<i>Thats Entertainment, Part II</i> 1976 film directedby Gene Kelly

That's Entertainment, Part II is a 1976 American compilation film released by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer and a sequel to That's Entertainment! (1974). Like the previous film, That's Entertainment, Part II was a retrospective of famous films released by MGM from the 1930s to the 1950s. Some posters for the film use Part 2 rather than Part II in the title.

<i>The Pirate</i> (1948 film) 1948 film by Vincente Minnelli

The Pirate is a 1948 American musical film produced by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. With songs by Cole Porter, it stars Judy Garland and Gene Kelly with costars Walter Slezak, Gladys Cooper, Reginald Owen, The Nicholas Brothers, and George Zucco.

<i>Thousands Cheer</i> 1943 film by George Sidney

Thousands Cheer is a 1943 American musical comedy film directed by George Sidney and released by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. Produced during the Second World War, the film was intended as a morale booster for American troops and their families.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Igor Youskevitch</span> Ukrainian-American ballet dancer, navy veteran, film performer, and artistic director

Igor Youskevitch was a ballet dancer and a choreographer of Russian-Ukrainian origin, famous as one of the greatest male ballet dancers of the 20th century, as a master of the classic style, e.g., in Afternoon of a Faun, and as a dance partner to Alicia Alonso.

<i>Its Always Fair Weather</i> 1955 film by Stanley Donen, Gene Kelly

It's Always Fair Weather is a 1955 Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer musical satire scripted by Betty Comden and Adolph Green, who also wrote the show's lyrics, with music by André Previn and starring Gene Kelly, Dan Dailey, Cyd Charisse, Dolores Gray, and dancer/choreographer Michael Kidd in his first film acting role.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gene Kelly filmography</span>

Gene Kelly (1912–1996) was an American dancer, actor, singer, director, producer and choreographer whose work in motion pictures spans from 1942 to 1996. He is probably best known today for his performances in musicals, notably An American in Paris (1951) and Singin' in the Rain (1952).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Derek Rencher</span> British ballet dancer

Derek Rencher was a British ballet dancer. A commanding figure among Royal Ballet character dancers for more than four decades, he was probably the most prolific performer in the company's history.

Alan Carter, was an English ballet dancer, choreographer, teacher, and company director, active in numerous countries in Europe and the Middle East. Perhaps best remembered for his work in films, notably The Red Shoes and The Tales of Hoffmann, he was known in his later years as a ballet master and as a gifted painter, pianist, composer, and writer.

References

  1. 1 2 3 The Eddie Mannix Ledger, Los Angeles: Margaret Herrick Library, Center for Motion Picture Study.
  2. 1 2 "Inside Stuff - Pictures". Variety . October 21, 1953. p. 14.
  3. 1 2 "Some 'Dance'". Variety . March 17, 1954. p. 3.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Barnes, Clive (1977-07-29). "Movies Revisited: 'Invitation to Dance'". The New York Times. ISSN   0362-4331 . Retrieved 2022-09-26.
  5. 1 2 3 Reid, John Howard (2006). Hollywood Movie Musicals. Lulu.com. pp. 79–84. ISBN   978-1-4116-9762-1.
  6. ↑ Swindell, Larry (1996-02-11). "Dancing into history: Gene Kelly made 'em laugh, and that made a big difference". Fort Worth Star-Telegram. p. 111. Retrieved 2022-09-27– via Newspapers.com.
  7. 1 2 McLean, Adrienne L. (2008-02-19). Dying Swans and Madmen: Ballet, the Body, and Narrative Cinema. Rutgers University Press. p. 209. ISBN   978-0-8135-4467-0.
  8. ↑ Crowther, Bosley (1956-05-27). "AN 'A' FOR EFFORT; Gene Kelly Tries to Do An All-Dancing Film". The New York Times. ISSN   0362-4331 . Retrieved 2022-09-26.
  9. ↑ Hale, Wanda (1956-05-23). "Gene Kelly's Dance Film Opens at Plaza". Daily News. p. 63. Retrieved 2022-09-26– via Newspapers.com.
  10. 1 2 Krebs, Albin (1996-02-03). "Gene Kelly, Dancer of Vigor and Grace, Dies". The New York Times. ISSN   0362-4331 . Retrieved 2022-09-26.
  11. ↑ "6th Berlin International Film Festival: Prize Winners". berlinale.de. Retrieved 2009-12-26.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.