This is one for the 'if it ain't broke don't fix it' department. Kurt Weill was one of two European classical composers (the other was Vladimir Dukelsky aka Vernon Duke) who fled tyranny in their respective homelands - Germany and Russia respectively - and settled on Broadway where both turned out memorable songs (April In Paris, September Song, Autumn In New York, Speak Low) and enjoyed mixed fortunes. In the case of Kurt Weill two of his popular Broadway shows - Lady In The Dark and this one - were snapped up by Hollywood and promptly emasculated, in this case, for example, only three songs survice from a full score albeit on the plus side they needn't hire another composer as was often the case. Eve Arden, as was her wont, walks away with the film acting-wise just as Ava Gardner steals any beauty going. It's a pleasant crowd-pleaser that could have been so much better.
Review of One Touch of Venus
