Today’s quick review: Call Me Madam. Washington socialite Sally Adams (Ethel Merman) causes quite a stir when she’s appointed as the American ambassador to Lichtenburg, a small European country. With her new press attache (Donald O’Connor) in tow, she sets out to represent U.S. interests by refusing to give Lichtenburg a badly needed loan. But the diplomatic situation becomes complicated when she falls for the handsome foreign minister (George Sanders).
Call Me Madam is a classic musical about a sociable but inexperienced diplomat sent to handle a delicate situation in Europe. Call Me Madam is a light movie that centers around two romances: the one between Sally Adams and General Cosmo Constantine (George Sanders), and the one between Kenneth Gibson (Donald O’Connor) and Princess Maria (Vera-Ellen). The film’s bare-bones plot serves as a vehicle for the singing and dancing talents of its stars.
Call Me Madam goes far on the basis of these talents. Ethel Merman lends her robust singing voice to many of the musical numbers. Donald O’Connor and Vera-Ellen are superbly talented dancers and well-matched for one another. George Sanders balances out the cast with his calm presence and the odd song of his own. The songs are less elaborate and less memorable than other musicals’, but they make for a fun, breezy showcase of the stars’ abilities.
Call Me Madam has less to offer in the way of story. The premise serves mainly to get the movie’s characters in the room together. Tension, pacing, and character are secondary considerations. Neither the $100 million loan sought by Lichtenburg nor Princess Maria’s engagement to another man is enough to shake the movie’s carefree tone. As such, the romance comes across as unearned, and the story meanders before skipping to an abrupt ending.
None of this will dampen musical lovers’ enjoyment of the film. Call Me Madam is a pleasant watch with an easy story, a smattering of light comedy, and plenty of singing and dancing. Its story and romance are on the shallow side, even by the standards of the genre, but it serves its main purpose—music—admirably. Skip it if you’re not a fan of musicals or you’re looking for a more emotional tale of romance.
For another upbeat musical with some of the same stars, try Singin’ in the Rain, White Christmas, or On the Town. For a romance with a similar setup and more depth, try Roman Holiday.
6.8 out of 10 on IMDB. I give it a 7.0 for strong musical performances set in a thin but adequate story.