Call Me Madam (film)

• Ethel Merman: Sally Adams
• Donald O'Connor: Kenneth Gibson
• Vera -Ellen: Princess Mary
• George Sanders: Cosmo Constantine
• Helmut Dantine: Prince Hugo
• Walter Slezak: August Tantinnin
• Steven Geray: Prime Minister Sebastian
• Ludwig slide: Grand Duke Otto
• Lilia Skala: Grand Duchess Sophie
• Charles Dingle: Senator Brockway
• Emory Parnell Senator Gallagher
• Percy Helton: Senator Wilkins
• Oscar Beregi: Chamberlain
• Nestor Paiva: Miccoli
• John Wengraf Ronchin
• Fritz box: Schreiber
• Erno Verebes music recorder

Madame makes history ( n ) (AKA Call Me Madam ) is an American comedy film from 20th Century Fox from 1953 directed by Walter Lang. Mrs. Sally Adams, played by Ethel Merman, is sent as an ambassador to the Grand Duchy of Lichtenburg, to represent the smallest country in the world, the United States. Other major roles are played by Donald O'Connor, Vera -Ellen and George Sanders.

The film won an Oscar for " Best Original Score ". The plot is based on the produced by Leland Hayward musical stage play Call Me Madam by Howard Lindsay and Russel Crouse, to the Irving Berlin music and music lyrics contributed, first performed on 12 October 1950 in New York. Ethel Merman was there also busy in the lead role and in 1951 won a Tony Award.

Action

In 1951, Sally Adams, a wealthy widow from capricious Oklahoma, who lives in Washington, sworn in as U.S. Ambassador to the Grand Duchy of Lichtenburg. Adams has been able to make their luxury villa for meeting influential people, invitations to parties are highly sought after. Although Sally did not know where exactly Lichtenburg lies at all, she's only one excited about her new job and takes the opportunity to give one of their legendary parties. Everything that has rank and name, was published, and even America's broadcasters switch to a head when Sally keeps her speech at the text she has been actively supported by the journalist Kenneth Gibson. Since Gibson is obviously very well informed about European politics, Sally asks him to accompany them as their press officer. As he assumes she ever sends him ahead by Lichtenburg. In the U.S. Embassy in the picturesque Lichtenburg are the business vehicles, the snobbish Pemberton Maxwell, Gibson to understand that he does not think much of a female ambassador. At the grand ducal court in Lichtenburg, however, one is very fond of Sally's appointment as their precedes the reputation of being extremely generous and understanding. Since the small country is in deep financial trouble, it is hoped that Sally finds a way of aid. The new Ambassador Maxwell makes it unmistakably clear that he would not make it to expel them and calls for a that he had to call her madam. Sally is determined to solve the tasks assigned to it in her own way.

At court you negotiate just about Princess Mary to marry Prince Hugo of Middle Village, who but makes a larger dowry of the princess to the condition. This arranged marriage would be for both countries to political advantage. Prime Minister and the Finance Minister Sebastian August Tantinnin assume that Sally will work for an American bond, but what these declines, as it is of the opinion that they should not interfere in such private things. However, Sally's attitude changes when the extremely charming Foreign Minister Cosmo Constantine makes her an official visit. To impress him, she wants to try to procure the necessary million. As it turns out later, Cosmo, however, puts no value on capital. In the few days later held act of official handover of credentials to the new Ambassador, Sally brings with her ​​casual, charming nature and their special humor of life in the running after a rigorous ceremonial event. Your press attaché Gibson meets on the hard Princess Mary again, he had a few days earlier met in a department store. Both felt immediately attracted to each other. Sally thinks frantically as they can handle a possible marriage to Prince Hugo. When it comes off the festival in an intimate kiss between her and Kenneth Gibson, she runs away confused.

Sally, who has open eyes and a heart for the young people, but enables them to meet from time to time. Your own happiness, however, is clouded because Maxwell knows how to stir up uncertainty with her, as he repeatedly claimed that Constantine, in which the mature woman has to seriously in love, flirt with her ​​to the loan for his state still to get his protest was a sham. This means that their behavior towards Cosmo changed. This in turn is confused because he does not know what that means. But then arrives the light of the highly anticipated Burger government investigation committee of the Senate. The men want to negotiate alone with Cosmo Constantine on a bond. This in turn leads to a government crisis, as the Minister Tantinnin and Sebastian feel ignored. The Cabinet resigns after careful deliberation and contributes Constantine the post of prime minister to. This is happy with how things have developed, because he is determined to clean up the state budget of Lichtenburg and makes it unmistakably clear that Lichtenburg is not for sale. The senators are impressed by his attitude and want to support him in the future.

Sally, however, is suddenly called away from her post on the grounds that they had interfered in the internal affairs of his grand-ducal family and thus squandered the trust of Light Burger government. Sadly, she appears with her Gibson Attaché along the way home to America on. But Sally soon proves again to be an excellent hostess and expected to be one of their festivals also the newly appointed ambassador light Burgs Cosmo Constantine. When he arrives, is in its companion a young lady - Princess Mary. The love for Kenneth was so great that she has her title stored in order to be his wife can.

For Sally Cosmo still has a surprise, he gives her in recognition of her services to Lichtenburg the House Order of the land, which is connected with the title "Lady " as they may be called from now. As both embrace happy little later, the misunderstandings between them have been removed.

Production and background

Filming began on September 4, and went to 30 October 1952 further recordings were made from 19 November to the end of November 1952 in Washington, DC., The film had on March 4, 1953 was the world premiere in New York on March 25 he then generally in the cinemas of the United States. In the Federal Republic of Germany, the film was the first time on 25 December 1953 at the cinema.

The studio advertised the film of its time with: " 20th Century Fox presents Irving Berlin's Call Me Madam. " After the opening credits it said: This story from the past takes place in two countries. One is fictitious and is called Lichtenburg, the others are the United States of America. Ethel Merman, for the role in Call Me Madam was written separately, received ten percent of the profits from the Broadway show and from the sale of film rights. Besides Merman Lilia Skala was played by the Grand Duchess Sophie, the only actress who played her Broadway role in the film. Merman had previously on Broadway success in the musical Annie Get Your Gun and Lindsay Crouse and hoping for a repeat. In fact, this stage play was crowned with success with 644 performances and won three Tony Awards. In addition to Ethel Merman for her performance as " Best Actress in a Musical " and Irving Berlin was honored for his music with a Tony Award.

Dama Lige sources resulted from that the musical was inspired by the life and career of Perle Mesta (1889-1975), a wealthy American and high-society hostess. Mesta was sent in 1949 as the first U.S. Ambassador to the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg by the then U.S. President Harry S. Truman. Perle Mesta is the musical have very liked and at a dinner to the Mesta and Merman met, the women are said to have immediately understood well. Merman recalls this incident in her 1978 autobiography. Mesta took Merman will also appear in the guest list of her famous parties. The musical or movie title should go back to a saying of the former diplomat Mesta, which is supposed to have on the question of which form of address they prefer, replied: "Call me Madam Minister ", from which shortens Call Me Madame was.

George Sanders was in Call Me Madam his singing debut in a movie. For Merman it was her first film appearance since her appearance again in 1943, produced by United Artists film Stage Door Canteen. For 20th Century Fox, it was a risk, Merman with her Broadway role to occupy now also used in the filming because they had so far produced at the box office no appreciable success. Hollywood was not yet succeeded in their immense talent that made ​​them so successful on the stage, convey properly in the film. Irving Berlin was the one who convinced the 20th Century Fox chief Darryl F. Zanuck, Merman to transfer the role. George Sanders, who most recently the Oscar-winning All About Eve by itself had been making speeches, had never previously occurred in a Musical, denied his vocal parts himself and surprised everyone with his impressive baritone voice. Merman, who had worked well together with Sanders, commented later in her autobiography that the actor had been a hard to reach man who had often included in his dressing room and was probably been quite unhappy, because " otherwise he would have not done that what he had done, "she wrote, referring to Sanders suicide in 1972.

The film has long been available either on VHS or on DVD, which was mainly because it was Berlin's estate legal problems associated with Irving. Since April 20, 2004, there is a DVD by 20th Century Fox with a running time of 114 minutes in its original English version.

Soundtracks

- Music and lyrics respectively: Irving Berlin -

• The Hostess with the must, performed by Ethel Merman
• Lichtenburg, sung by a choir Offscreen
• Can You Use Any Money Today, performed by Ethel Merman
• Marrying for Love, performed by George Sanders
• It's a Lovely Day Today, sung by Donald O'Connor and Vera Ellen with the voice of Carol Richards
• That International Rag, performed by Ethel Merman
• You're Just In Love, sung by Ethel Merman and Donald O'Connor
• The Ocarina, sung by Vera Ellen with the voice of Carol Richards
• What Chance Have I With Love? , Sung and danced by Donald O'Connor
• Something To Dance About, sung and danced by Donald O'Connor and Vera Ellen with the voice of Carol Richards
• The Best Thing For You Would be Me, sung by Ethel Merman and George Sanders
• Mrs. Sally Adams, sung by a switchboard

In addition to these songs, short extracts from the Lichtenburg song and Washington Square Dance of Berlin can be heard. I Like Ike was not accepted as the only song written by Berlin for the Broadway musical songs in the movie. Instead, they chose Berlins Hit of 1913 That International Rag. I like Ike Man held for too political, because he had become a popular campaign song for Dwight D. Eisenhower. What chance have I With Love? has been included in the film in order to highlight the singing and dancing talents of Donald O'Connor better. The song The Hostess With the musts on the Ball alludes to the nickname Mestas.

Criticism

The criticism for the film was overwhelmingly positive, and Ethel Merman was able to repeat the success of her stage role in Call Me Madam. So enthused Time magazine that, Call Me Madam ', a beautiful, hilarious, and sure-fire hit movie has become, the Walter Lang's peppy Director, Robert Alton would help dances and first-class supporting cast to a big show in the cinema. Also the film refers to signs that the special talents of Ethel Merman, which already dominates the film with her ​​powerful personality in the opening scene.

Even Bosley Crowther of The New York Times put down on Ethel Merman, she praised almost rapturously and was of the opinion that, now would also be the viewers who watch the film, the joy they 've given people in 644 performances on Broadway, ! Give. With their dynamism, vitality and freshness make them, Call Me Madam ' to a new kind of show (even if it was not ). Her vocal performances Crowther praised without any restriction.

Even Variety was very impressed by the film and praised Merman, the film version as well dominant like their role on the stage. Praise was also fresh, imaginative choreography by Robert Alton. The screenplay by Howard Lindsay and Russel Crouse was imaginative and Merman was particularly good in their musical numbers. These should also her You're Just in Love duet with Donald O'Connor.

The lexicon of the International film was indeed amused, disagreed, however, what the musical numbers were concerned, the view of the aforementioned reviews and ruled: " In amusing and satirical way certain practices of American foreign policy to be taken in the 50s on the grain, the operetta-like deposits, however, are weaker. "

Awards

1954 Alfred Newman in the category " Best Music in a musical film" won an Oscar. In addition, Irene Sharaff was in the category " Best Costume Design in a color film," nominated for an Oscar, but was compared to Charles Le Maire and Emile Santiago not prevail with their costumes for the epic film The Robe.