Meet Me in Las Vegas ** (1956, Dan Dailey, Cyd Charisse, Agnes Moorehead, Lili Darvas, Paul Henreid, Jim Backus, Oskar Karlweis, Liliane Montevecchi, Cara Williams, George Chakiris, Betty Lynn, John Brascia) – Classic Movie Review 13,923

The 1956 MGM American musical comedy film Meet Me in Las Vegas showcases Cyd Charisse’s exciting skills with modern and classical ballet in colour and CinemaScope.

Director Roy Rowland’s 1956 MGM American musical comedy film Meet Me in Las Vegas [Viva Las Vegas!] stars Dan Dailey, Cyd Charisse, and Agnes Moorehead, with Lili Darvas, Paul Henreid, Jim Backus, Oskar Karlweis, Liliane Montevecchi, Cara Williams, George Chakiris, Betty Lynn and John Brascia. Cinematographer Robert J Bronner shoots in Eastman Color and CinemaScope, mainly on location in Las Vegas.

High roller gambling cowboy rancher Chuck Rodwell (Dan Dailey) and ballet dancer Maria Corvier (Cyd Charisse) romance in the bright lights of Las Vegas, in this gaudy, banal musical. Dailey finds he can win at the roulette table with a hand (literally) from Charisse.

There are lots of stars but with little for them to do, though Charisse shines out in the darkness, with the film showcasing her exciting skills with modern and classical ballet, and Moorehead is sharply acid as Dailey’s mom Miss Hattie. There are some funny lines in Isobel Lennart’s original story and screenplay, and joint choreographers Eugène Loring and Hermes Pan’s routines are jolly. Loring’s closing production ballet Frankie and Johnny Ballet is the film’s highlight, danced principally by Charisse, Liliane Montevecchi and John Brascia. Sammy Davis Jr narrates and sings it off screen, with updated lyrics by Sammy Cahn and arranged by Johnny Green. Charisse also dances an excerpt from Tchaikovsky’s Sleeping Beauty ballet.

Overall, there is patchy entertainment value along the way, but, despite all the hard work and creative effort, with everybody trying to do their best, it lacks the spark of originality, freshness, or novelty. Nevertheless, it is worthwhile for Cyd Charisse, plus the views of Vegas and the celebrity cameos.

Talking lots of stars, there are uncredited cameo guest spots for Lena Horne, Jerry Colonna, Frankie Laine, Mitsuko Sawamura, Frank Sinatra, Debbie Reynolds, Vic Damone, Pier Angeli, Peter Lorre, and Tony Martin (who was married to Charisse). Jazzman Pete Rugolo plays the house band’s pianist-conductor.

Cast: Dan Dailey, Cyd Charisse, Agnes Moorehead, Lili Darvas, Paul Henreid, Jim Backus, Oskar Karlweis [Oscar Karlweis], Liliane Montevecchi as Lilli, Cara Williams as Kelly Donavan, George Chakiris (credited as George Kerris) as young groom, Betty Lynn as young bride, John Brascia as specialty dancer, Lena Horne, Jerry Colonna, Frankie Laine, Mitsuko Sawamura, Frank Sinatra, Tony Martin, Vic Damone, Pier Angeli, Peter Lorre, Pete Rugolo, and Debbie Reynolds.

The original songs are composed by Nicholas Brodszky and Sammy Cahn. Georgie Stoll and Johnny Green were Oscar nominated for Best Original Score, Scoring for a Musical Picture. It was popular, earning $3,714,000 against a budget of $2,495,000, resulting in MGM declaring a profit of $496,000.

Roy Rowland (December 31, 1910 – June 29, 1995) directed many films from the 1940s to the 1960s including Our Vines Have Tender Grapes, The Romance of Rosy Ridge, Meet Me in Las Vegas, Rogue Cop, The 5,000 Fingers of Dr T, and The Girl Hunters. Rowland married Ruth Cummings, niece of MGM boss Louis B Mayer and sister of Jack Cummings, the MGM producer and director. Meet Me in Las Vegas, however, was produced by Joe Pasternak.

George Chakiris made his film debut (credited as George Kerris) as Choir boy in the 1947 film Song of Love. He is credited dancer in The 5,000 Fingers of Dr T, but uncredited in Gentlemen Prefer Blondes (dancer in the Diamonds Are a Girl’s Best Friend number), White Christmas (1954), Call Me Madam, Brigadoon, and The Country Girl.

George Chakiris (born September 16, 1932) is best known for the 1961 film West Side Story as Bernardo, the leader of the Sharks gang, winning both the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor and the Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actor – Motion Picture.

© Derek Winnert 2026 – Classic Movie Review 13,923

Check out more reviews on http://derekwinnert.com