While touring a museum, Rodney Hatch, an unremarkable barber, places an engagement ring intended for his girlfriend on the hand of a statue of Venus, the goddess of love and beauty. From Mount Olympus, Venus witnesses the event and decides to visit Rodney on Earth by magically inhabiting the statue. Hilarity ensues when she starts to fall in love with Rodney and competes with his girlfriend for his attentions. This television version of Kurt Weill's successful Broadway musical is much more faithful to the stage version than the 1948 Ava Gardner film, which changed the story considerably and cut most of the songs.
- 7.3
- 1955
- Released
- 1h 19m
Janet Blair
Venus
Russell Nype
Rodney Hatch
George Gaynes
Whitelaw Savory
Laurel Shelby
Molly GrantMort Marshall
Taxi Black
Iggie Wolfington
Stanley
Val Avery
Bus StarterLen Doyle
Officer
Arny Freeman
AnatolianPeter Gumeny
Second TruckerFred Hillebrand
Major DomoGlenn Kezer
Police LieutenantWilliam LeMassena
Zuvetli
Louis Nye
Dr. RookAdnia Rice
Mrs. Kramer
Georgia Simmons
Mrs. MoatsMildred Trares
Gloria Kramer
Dick Wilson
First Trucker
Released
en
- #jealousy
- #live broadcast
- #live television
- #broadway musical
- #engagement ring
- #roman mythology
- #venus the goddess
- #tv special
Reviews
This is probably most notable as an example of a televised live performance. Neither the story nor the cast deliver anything particularly scintillating, otherwise. The story is quite fun: "Rodney" (Russell Nype) tries out his soon-to-be-fiancée's engagement ring on a statue of Venus. She (Janet Blair) promptly comes alive and decides to get shot of the girlfriend and claim him for herself. Blair i