Silk Stockings (1957 film)
Silk Stockings is a 1957 American musical romantic comedy film directed by Rouben Mamoulian and starring Fred Astaire and Cyd Charisse. It is based on the 1955 stage musical of the same name, which had been adapted from the film Ninotchka (1939). The film was choreographed by Eugene Loring and Hermes Pan. The film received Golden Globe Award nominations for Best Film and Best Actress (Charisse) in the Comedy/Musical category. The score was embellished with the new song "The Ritz Roll and Rock", a parody of the emerging rock and roll music genre. The number ends with Astaire symbolically smashing his top hat, considered one of his trademarks, signaling the retirement from movie musicals that he announced following the film's release. Plot
Brash American film producer Steve Canfield wants Russian composer Peter Illyich Boroff to write music for his next film, which is being shot in Paris. When Boroff expresses his wish to stay in Paris, three comically bumbling operatives, Brankov, Bibinski, and Ivanov, are sent from Moscow to retrieve Boroff. Canfield corrupts the Russians with decadent Western luxuries and convinces them to allow Boroff to remain. He also arranges for his leading lady Peggy Dayton to gently persuade Boroff to cooperate. A commissar in Moscow summons dedicated and humorless operative Nina "Ninotchka" Yoschenko to retrieve all four men. Canfield succeeds in romancing her despite her resistance to the decadent attractions of Paris. Ninotchka and Boroff are horrified when they realize the changes that have been made to Boroff's music, and they decide to return to Moscow. However, Canfield persists, arranging for Brankov, Bibinski, and Ivanov to be returned to Paris, knowing that they will be seduced again by the city's charms. Ninotchka is sent after them, allowing Canfield time to convince her to surrender to her love for him. Cast

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

Songs
Music and lyrics by Cole Porter:
 "Too Bad"
 "Paris Loves Lovers"
 "Stereophonic Sound"
 "It's a Chemical Reaction, That's All"
 "All of You"
 "Satin and Silk"
 "Without Love"
 "Fated to Be Mated"
 "Josephine"
 "Siberia"
 "The Red Blues"
 "The Ritz Roll and Rock"

Production
MGM purchased the film rights to the musical for $300,000. Dance rehearsals started on September 18, 1956 and filming ended on January 31, 1957. Reception
In a contemporary review for The New York Times, critic Bosley Crowther wrote: "There should be legislation requiring that Fred Astaire and Cyd Charisse appear together in a musical picture at least once every two years. Previously they were together in 'The Band Wagon' and the world was brightened. That was away back in 1953. Now they are together in 'Silk Stockings,' and somebody should declare a holiday. ... For the simple fact is that this 'Silk Stockings' is an all-round refreshing show, blessed with a bright book, delicious music and the dancing of Miss Charisse and Mr. Astaire. Whether it would be as good without them—without the two principals, that is—is a purely subversive speculation. They are in it, and you can take it from there." According to MGM records, the film earned $1,740,000 in the U.S. and Canada and $1,060,000 in other markets, resulting in a loss of $1,399,000. At Rotten Tomatoes, the film has an aggregate score of 100% based on five critics' reviews. The film is recognized by the American Film Institute in these lists:
 2004: AFI's 100 Years...100 Songs:
 "All of You" – Nominated
 2006: AFI's Greatest Movie Musicals – Nominated

See also
 List of American films of 1957

References

External links
 
 
 
 

1957 films
1957 musical comedy films
1957 romantic comedy films
1950s romantic musical films
Remakes of American films
American films based on plays
American musical comedy films
American romantic comedy films
American romantic musical films
CinemaScope films
1950s English-language films
Films about the Soviet Union in the Stalin era
Films based on musicals based on films
Films directed by Rouben Mamoulian
Films produced by Arthur Freed
Films set in Paris
Films with screenplays by Harry Kurnitz
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer films
1950s American films