Cyd Charisse hosts this Warner Home Video short, "Cole Porter in Hollywood: Satin and Silk." It has a couple of interviews with Janis Paige and Andre Previn. It has film clips from the 1957 movie, "Silk Stockings," along with some news clips. This is a modest behind the scenes look at the movie and Porter's music. In 10 minutes, it can't go much into detail or depth.
Charisse opens the short by saying, "Silk Stockings is Cole Porter's tribute to love during the Cold War." She notes it was one of MGM's last great musicals. One can understand Charisse's affection for the film – she was one of the good things about it. But, "Silk Stockings" hardly rates with the great musicals that MGM made over the years.
Charisse explained the reluctance of MGM to have Rouben Mamoulian direct because of a recent huge budget overrun he directed. But, Mamulian delivered this film on time and under budget. (Still, it didn't fare that well and lost MGM about $1.4 million – but this isn't mentioned in this short.)
One of the gems of this short is Charisse's telling of Fred Astaire's new romance. "Fred was widowed at the time," she says, "and he fell madly in love with a very pretty young dancer in the chorus, named Barrie Chase. He was so crazy about this girl that the following year he created a television special entitled, 'An Evening with Fred Astaire and Barrie Chase.'"
Charisse opens the short by saying, "Silk Stockings is Cole Porter's tribute to love during the Cold War." She notes it was one of MGM's last great musicals. One can understand Charisse's affection for the film – she was one of the good things about it. But, "Silk Stockings" hardly rates with the great musicals that MGM made over the years.
Charisse explained the reluctance of MGM to have Rouben Mamoulian direct because of a recent huge budget overrun he directed. But, Mamulian delivered this film on time and under budget. (Still, it didn't fare that well and lost MGM about $1.4 million – but this isn't mentioned in this short.)
One of the gems of this short is Charisse's telling of Fred Astaire's new romance. "Fred was widowed at the time," she says, "and he fell madly in love with a very pretty young dancer in the chorus, named Barrie Chase. He was so crazy about this girl that the following year he created a television special entitled, 'An Evening with Fred Astaire and Barrie Chase.'"
