Silk Stockings (film)

Silk Stockings is a 1957 Metrocolor Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer CinemaScope musical film adaptation of the 1955 stage musical of the same name, which itself was an adaptation of the film Ninotchka (1939). Silk Stockings was directed by Rouben Mamoulian and stars Fred Astaire and Cyd Charisse. The supporting cast includes Janis Paige, Peter Lorre, Jules Munshin, and George Tobias repeating his Broadway role.[2]

It received Golden Globe Award nominations for Best Film and Best Actress (Charisse) in the Comedy/Musical category.[3]

The score was embellished with the song "The Ritz Roll and Rock," a parody of the then-emerging rock and roll genre. The number ends with Astaire symbolically smashing his top hat, considered one of his trademarks, signaling his retirement from movie musicals, which he announced following the film's release.

Contents

 * 1 Plot summary
 * 2 Cast
 * 3 Production
 * 4 Reception
 * 5 References
 * 6 External links

Plot summary
A brash American film producer, Steve Canfield (Fred Astaire), wants Russian composer Peter Illyich Boroff (Wim Sonneveld) to write music for his next picture, which is being made in Paris. But when the composer expresses his wish to stay in Paris, three comically bumbling operatives, Comrades Brankov (Peter Lorre), Bibinski (Jules Munshin) and Ivanov (Joseph Buloff), are sent from Moscow to take Boroff back.

Canfield manages to corrupt them with decadent western luxuries (champagne, nightclubs etc.) and talks them into allowing Boroff to stay. He also arranges for his leading lady, Peggy Dayton (Janis Paige), to ‘convince’ Boroff to cooperate.

Fearful of his own precarious position, a commissar at the Ministry in Moscow summons a dedicated and humourless workaholic operative, Nina ‘Ninotchka’ Yoschenko (Cyd Charisse), to bring all four men back home. Canfield succeeds in romancing her, despite her determination not to fall prey to the decadent attractions of Paris. He even proposes marriage. She and Boroff are horrified when they realise what changes have been made to Boroff’s music. They decide to return to Moscow.

Canfield does not give up, arranging for the pliable Brankov, Bibinski and Ivanov to be sent back to Paris, knowing that they will be seduced again by the city's charms. Ninotchka is sent after them, giving Canfield time to convince her to give in to her love for him.

Cast[edit]

 * Fred Astaire as Steve Canfield
 * Cyd Charisse as Ninotchka Yoschenko
 * Janis Paige as Peggy Dayton
 * Peter Lorre as Brankov, Commisar
 * George Tobias as Vassili Markovitch, Commisar of Art
 * Jules Munshin as Bibinski, Commisar
 * Joseph Buloff as Ivanov, Commisar
 * Wim Sonneveld as Peter Ilyitch Boroff

Production[edit]
MGM bought the film rights to the musical for $300,000. Dance rehearsals started 18 September 1956 and filming ended 31 January 1957.[4]

Reception[edit]
According to MGM records the film earned $1,740,000 in the US and Canada and $1,060,000 elsewhere resulting in a loss of $1,399,000.