MGM had some success with Mario Lanza opposite Kathryn Grayson in the late 1940s, so Paramount were presumably hoping some of that Grayson touch might rub off on Oreste, their new singing sensation who stars in this movie. It didn't work - the film was a flop - but then this is an idiotic musical.
It's set in the middle ages, with costumes from fairie tale theatre, and silly dances and lots of opera. The story is based on an old stage musical about Francois Villion, king of the beggars, appointed king for a day by Louis XI. He falls in love with a high born girl (Grayson) despite being loved by a tavern wench (Rita Moreno).
There's an awful lot of plot and action for a musical - it could work without it (and has - the original play was done a bunch of times). There's various escapes and action driven by characters making unrealistic wagers and bits (eg king for a day, people announcing their own death sentence) which smells like old Broadway, and songs and dances, and Leslie Nielsen as a Burgundian.
I was never sure why we were supposed to like Oreste, or hope he hooks up with Grayson when Moreno was so much braver and better suited (but in line with snobbishness of the time, Moreno cops a spear while Grayson gets the guy); it was also unclear which side was the goodies as Louis XI was such an obviously treacherous bloke but the Burgundians were little better, and no one was looking out much for the people.
Grayson doesn't look that interested in what's going on, or have much chemistry with her male lead, who looks like an idiot. Moreno gives it her all as does Walter Hampden as the king.
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