The film responsible for the brief stardom of Edmund Purdom, which was quickly undone by The Egyptian, Athena and The Prodigal. And you know something? Purdom never should have been considered a star anyway - he fluked it with this movie, which became a hit, not because of its dopey star, but the colour, story, support cast and Mario Lanza versions of the songs.
I am sympathetic to MGM having to deal with Lanza, he sounds like a handful, and no doubt was a human resources nightmare, but still... you can't help wish he played the title role. He would have been a natural, with the arrogance, charisma and kindness required by the part. At least we have the songs, which he sings the hell out of.
Ann Blyth has a pretty smile but isn't that awesome a co star. However there's a very strong array of character actors: Cuddles Sakall, Louis Calhern, John Williams, Edmund Gwenn, plus impressive colour and production design. The story is hokey but effective and the music first-rate.
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