One Touch of Venus

Ava was never more beautiful. Robert Walker is at his lucky best. Dick Haymes was never in better voice. And, oh, that beautiful Kurt Weill-Ogden Nash score. Not only is "Speak Low" offered, but, the musical scene in Central Park as well, so masterfully handled and performed, will have you gliding and falling in love with the thought of falling in love.

This was a little recognized gem.

Stars Ava Gardner and Robert Walker. Walker gives a flawless comedic performance as a department store window dresser who kisses a statue of Venus which then comes to life (gee, think "Mannequin" ripped this off).

A wonderfully written intelligent script, the most beautiful love song, written by Bertohlt Brecht, as it's theme music, a supporting cast that boasts one of Eve Arden's most brilliant performances and '40's singing heartthrob Dick Haymes, as well as the most glorious wardrobe for the 3 female leads, all add up to an evening on Olympus.

It is, however, Ava Gardner who will captivate your heart, capture your soul, and make you believe in magic. It really is a once in a lifetime performance - her look, her vocal inflection, and her miraculous stance and walk will convince you that she IS the Goddess of Love. A classic beauty.

One of the best romantic comedies ever!

During and after World War II, fantasy was big in Hollywood. It wasn't just escapism; it was all the thinking about death as many loved ones were lost. It's no wonder we had so many people coming back ("Here Comes Mr. Jordan"), facing the pearly gates or the hotter ones ("Heaven Can Wait"), or meeting angels in human form ("The Bishop's Wife"). We also had a visits from the big goddesses. How fitting that two women closest to being goddesses in human form actually played them - Rita Hayworth as Terpsichore in 1947's "Down to Earth," and of course, Ava Gardner as Venus in "One Touch of Venus." "One Touch of Venus" is based on the Broadway musical of the same name that was revived in London a few years ago with Melissa Errico, but never came to New York. Alas, there aren't many songs in this version but the most famous song, "Speak Low When You Speak Love" remains. The film stars Gardner, Robert Walker, Dick Haymes, Olga San Juan, Tom Conway, and Eve Arden. Walker works in a department store where a magnificent statue of Venus is about to be unveiled. On an impulse, he kisses it, and she comes to life. He falls madly in love with her, while his girlfriend (San Juan) flips out for his friend (Haymes). When the statue is discovered missing, the police assume that Walker knows something about it, since he was fixing the presentation curtain and claims that she then came to life.

Walker is an energetic delight as he chases Venus. After this film, he was institutionalized, and by 1951, his boyishness was gone as he entered what should have been the greatest part of his career with a magnificent performance in "Strangers on a Train." Instead, he only made one more film after that, dying in 1951. Looking at him in "One Touch of Venus," it's hard to imagine he had any demons. Eve Arden is hilarious as the secretary in unrequited love with her boss, Tom Conway. He's seen Venus sleeping in the home department and fallen for her as well. Haymes sings beautifully, and San Juan is pert and pretty as a young woman suddenly torn between two men. But all eyes are on Ava Gardner's dazzling beauty. She's a perfect embodiment of Venus with her flawless face, figure, and soft voice. Even though as a younger woman she had tried singing with a band, she wasn't a singer, so her voice is dubbed in this by Eileen Wilson. Like Hayworth, early in her career, she sometimes played roles that required vocals, and like Hayworth, she was always dubbed.

The best scene in the film takes place in the park toward the end. It's exuberant and thrilling - you won't want it to end. That scene sums up this lovely fantasy with a divine Ava, and you can't get any better than that.

After being married to Jennifer Jones (who is/was my particular 1940's screen love goddess), Robert Walker stars opposite a very erotic Ava Gardner, described by film critics in "The Naked Contessa" (1954) as, "...the most beautiful woman in the world", so she was aptly cast to play Venus, the goddess of love, in this 1948 production.

Robert Walker plays Eddie Hatch a lowly paid window dresser at the store owned by Whitfield Savory II (played by Tom Conway -George Sanders cousin).Eddie is instructed to ensure that the curtain will not snag at the forthcoming unveiling ceremony of the recently acquired statue of Venus.When finished, he impulsively kisses the statue which promptly comes to life! Eddie is to marry Gloria (Olga San Juan), who irritatingly keeps reminding Eddie they are to marry.They have drifted into their relationship and marriage just seems the next logical move - but who said love is logical!! However, Eddie's friend Joe, (Dick Haymes), secretly is in love with Gloria himself but he doesn't know it.Whitfield Savory II is likewise ignorant of his subconcious love for his efficient secretary, Molly Stewart, played by Eve Arden in one of her typical wise-cracking roles; (see her as Mildred Pierce's manager in the Oscar winning film of the same name (1945) opposite Joan Crawford.

I was mesmerized by Ava Gardner as she spreads her instinctive love to bring all these true lovers together, while working her magic on Eddie himself who is soon in love with her.Her task over, Jupiter, the head of The Gods summons her back to Mount Olympus and she returns as a statue at the store much to the relief of the store boss who thinks Eddie has stolen her whilst she is in her alter-ego.This sub-plot gives rise to some comic Keystone Cops chase abouts.Watch out for Sara Algood who plays Eddie's landlady, (see her in previous roles as Mrs Beth Morgan in "How Green Was My Valley (1941) and as Mrs Maile in "Cluny Brown" (1946).The song "Speak Low" is sung by Dick Haymes miming to his own recording while Ava effectivly mimes to another singer's voice.Another song about men problems, sung as a trio, features Ava, Olga & Eve.

The audience feels strong sympathy for Eddie and he is finally given his divine award when a very beautiful new store recruit called "Venus Jones" (Ava),appears in human form to him there.We have to assume this will become another love match engineered by Mount Olympus!

I found this film hugely enjoyable as I love classic 1940's films having made something of a speciality of them.It is a difficult title to find.I obtained mine by winning an e-Bay auction after searching on Robert Walker.

Never mind her vocals may have been dubbed. Its joy enough to watch her light up the screen. Thankfully, the music is kept to a minimum. This is not a full-blown musical on the order of My Fair Lady or The Music Man. Good, light-hearted comedy.