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» » Dotkniecie Wenus (1948)

Short summary

In the art department of a large department store, the statue of the famed Anatolian Venus comes to life and falls in love with Eddie Hatch, a window dresser. Just before the unveiling of the prized statue, Eddie takes "Venus" to the model-display house in the store, where the store's owner finds her. He also falls in love with her and makes her Glamour Girl Number One. Eddie and Venus dance in Central Park, but Eddie is arrested for stealing the statue. Venus goes back to her pedestal and Eddie is released. While Eddie is sadly preparing for another unveiling, a new employee asks him a question. She tells him her name is Venus Jones.

The original plans for filming this property in 1945 for United Artists included Mary Martin (from the original cast) with Frank Sinatra, Clifton Webb and Bert Lahr, with Sam Coslow producing for Mary Pickford. Pickford felt that only Webb had any box-office pull and was hesitant to commit $2 million of her own money to production. After much indecision she finally sold the rights to Lester Cowan at Universal.

Mary Pickford bought the screen rights to the original Broadway musical comedy for $150,000, intending to film it with the original cast, which included Mary Martin. The plan was abandoned when Martin became pregnant.

In March 1945, after Mary Pickford bought the rights to the play, she chose Gregory La Cava to direct the planned movie, which never came about. In July 1947 La Cava sued Pickford for $1,653,750, claiming she had broken their oral agreement.

MGM loaned Ava Gardner to Universal Studios to make this movie. Universal sent her to sculptor Joseph Nicolosi to make a proper life-size statue of the goddess. Nicolosi's first statue was entirely nude, and the studio told the sculptor to go back and make a more modest goddess. Universal sent members of the press a small souvenir knockoff of the second statue as a promotional item. According to author Lee Server in his biography "Ava Gardner: Love is Nothing", Robert Walker was so infatuated with his co-star that, when he found rival Howard Duff in her dressing room, he slapped Ava. She left the studio and filming ended.

In January 1945, Agnes de Mille, who choreographed the 1943 Broadway musical, originally was announced to choreograph the Mary Pickford planned screen version.

The planned 1945 filming was to be in Technicolor.

In 1995 BBC Radio broadcast a new version with Paige O'Hara in the title role.

The original musical opened on October 7, 1943, at the Imperial Theatre in New York City. The show moved to the 46th Street Theatre on January 26, 1944 (two days after closing at the Imperial), and continued to run through February 10, 1945. The total number of performances was 567. The cast included Mary Martin (in a role originally meant for Marlene Dietrich), John Boles and Kenny Baker.

When Universal assumed the screen rights in August 1947, the studio considered casting Deanna Durbin as Venus.

Susanna Foster was offered the role ultimately played by Olga San Juan, but she declined.

User reviews


  • comment
    • Author: Malahelm
    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.
  • comment
    • Author: Umge
    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!
  • comment
    • Author: Anarahuginn
    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.
  • comment
    • Author: Yanki
    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.
  • comment
    • Author: Wyameluna
    One Touch Of Venus, touched my heart as a young girl who lived for the Black & White fantasy world that movie makers created. All the casting was perfection. The continuity of the movie was flawless.

    Robert Walker's portrayal of a young man muddling through life suddenly & totally captivated by the spell of love produced by the visage of the statue of Venus. Ava Gardner's classic beauty along with her very talented acting and voice. She was utter feminine charm encased in an absolutely beautiful body. She was a Goddess, she was 'The' Goddess that brings to mind the poetic line: She walks in beauty, like the night Of cloudless climes and starry skies; And all that's best of dark and bright Meet in her aspect and her eyes:A Poem by Lord Byron. (No actor today can capture the abilities of yesterday's greats.)

    Eve Arden's acerbic wit, which no one else since has ever done better (& believe me many have tried). Tom Conway as the suave womanizing store owner with the sexy voice. Dick Haymes was perfect as the backstabbing 'best' friend. This movie could possibly make a believer out of a cynic.
  • comment
    • Author: Cogelv
    A very short and sweet version of the Kurt Weill musical play, omitting most of the songs. Ava Gardner plays the statue which comes to life after being kissed by window dresser Robert Walker, and crooner Dick Haymes is also in the cast, at least adding his pleasant voice to the proceedings.

    Gardner is a lot of fun in this and certainly looks the part, although I have seen many reviews where she has been really slated. She gives ‘Venus' a healthy dose of playful charm as she leads Walker astray and threatens his position within the firm. Walker himself is a little uncomfortable in this – later roles would give him more range and opportunity to make an impression on the viewer.

    Not all bad but the musical sequences seem heavy-handed in places, and with some voices dubbed and others not it just makes the songs sound a bit odd. Directed by William A Seiter, who had done musical comedies for RKO more than a decade earlier.
  • comment
    • Author: Shakanos
    I think that this was the first movie 'musical' I ever saw, and I loved it immediately. The script is so perfect and the actors to matched to their parts that the whole thing is lyrical.

    Robert Walker is a great actor who does comedy the way he does drama...sincerely. Ava Gardner is young and beautiful as....well...as Venus! I was very disappointed when I found out she didn't sing the songs herself, but it sure looks like she does.

    Eve Arden is the real star of this movie. Every line that she delivers is either a great wisecrack or lets us know more about her. Olga San Juan and Dick Haymes are wonderful particularly when they sing, "Don't Look Now But My Heart is Showing."

    In the 'old days' they could make wonderful, inexpensive black and white musicals and everyone had a good time. Too bad we've all gotten to jaded.
  • comment
    • Author: Cesar
    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.
  • comment
    • Author: Mora
    If you don't fall in love with Ava Gardner after seeing the movie you don't have a chance of falling in love. Harmless entertainment, the dialog is classy and represents a time when people listened to words. The music and words for "Speak Low. darling speak low" are the kind that makes you hum all day. But this movie is all Ava Gardner. No wonder Frank Sinatra only had one love, Ava.
  • comment
    • Author: Goodman
    Those who love the Broadway show will be disappointed by the screen adaptation of One Touch of Venus, with less than half the score being retained being one reason. Judging the film on its own merits, One Touch of Venus has a lot of nice things and is a lovely film on the whole.

    Some of the direction is a little heavy-footed and dreary at times, and some of the story is both flimsy and convoluted, that would have been solved if the film was longer. While the film is crying out for the use of colour, the production values still look decent. The sets while not opulent is never what you call cheap either, the costumes(especially Gardner's) are tailored beautifully and the camera clearly loves Gardner, judging by how lovingly shot the whole film is. Unfortunately, less than half of the show's score is here in the film but what is retained here are breaths of fresh air and very well-placed. The highlight is the sublime Speak Low, which is elevated by Dick Haymes' magical rendition of it(it's repeated again by Eileen Wilson dubbing Gardner, but I prefer Haymes), one of Kurt Weill's most beautiful ever songs and now a popular jazz standard. The incidental score has many pleasant and characterful moments.

    Choreographically, One Touch of Venus is never extraordinary but it's dependable and has enthusiasm, with the Central Park scene coming off best. The witty script with its smart comedy and sweet sentiment(didn't think it was that soap-opera-ish actually personally) serves the film very well, and while the story is not the most exceptionally executed stories for a film on the most part the infectious charm, heart-warming whimsy, exuberance, likability and heart more than make up for the occasional heaviness and convolution. The characters engage at least, and the stellar cast all give strong performances. There was the initial worry on my part that Robert Walker would be too intense(he went on to play one of the greatest screen villains in Hitchcock's Strangers on a Train) for a role where a light touch is necessary, but he actually is very earnest and likable and his comic timing is nimble.

    Dick Haymes is very charming, Tom Conway is effortlessly suave(though on a side note few actors beat Conway's brother George Sanders in the 'suave' factor) and Olga San Juan plays plenty of energy and feistiness. The two best performances come from Eve Arden and Ava Gardner. Arden is a true scene-stealer and a breath of fresh air, she has some of the film's best lines and she is hilariously acerbic. Gardner is also fabulous, not only does she look absolutely wonderful but she plays Venus with a genuine warmth, alluring sexiness and womanly charm, she also handles the comic timing well if not ingeniously.

    In summary, a lovely film and well worth giving a chance. Gardner, Arden and the song Speak Low are the high-points. This said, lighter direction, a longer length, the use of colour and more songs from the show may likely in my view have made things better. 7.5/10 Bethany Cox
  • comment
    • Author: Paster
    I saw this movie on television and I was so happy when the video came out. Could there be a more beautiful cast and such beautiful songs! Ava Gardner personifies Venus with her beautiful face and body. No body stockings there, her beautiful body is there to be seen! Eddie Hatch is a windows dresser in a department store, kisses the statue of Venus who is on display, who comes to life and spends several hours with Eddie until Zeus calls her home at midnight. Made me cry, Venus didn't want to go home to be a goddess, she wanted to be a mere mortal! And the beautiful songs -- "Don't Look Now But My Heart is Showing" -- a beautiful waltz, which is sung by the cast in Central Park. And "Speak Low When You Speak Love" -- how divine! So, Ava comes back as "Venus Jones" who will be working at the department store, after all the Cinderella stories come true! Lots and lots of tears.

    I love this movie. Why isn't this on DVD yet? Don't get it!
  • comment
    • Author: Nto
    I have an old tape recording colorized version, and the movie came up on one of our channels in black and white a few nights ago. I found this area because I wanted to see the names of cast again. I couldn't remember Robert Walker name. AKA "Eddie Hatch". I think this was one of the Greatest Fantasy movies ever, and I saw it about 7 times one week, when they had a show on years ago in N.Y. area, called Million Dollar Movie. I've seen it over again many times since, and just loved it. I think the music was great, and I thought that Dick Haymes had actually recorded "Speak Low", but could not actually find it anywhere by him. I thought Ava Gardner played the part, perfectly.
  • comment
    • Author: Daiktilar
    I had never seen this film in its entirety before today, I had only caught the end of it as a child, about 25 years ago. But even having only seen it fleetingly back then, it made an impression and I always wanted to see it from start to finish.

    Watching this film is quite a bit like falling in love! The 79 minutes seemed to pass so quickly, I was so enraptured by the audio and visuals! The stunningly beautiful Ava Gardner plays Venus to perfection, she's positively delicious to watch as she playfully taunts the shy but sweet Robert Walker, as well as his boss Tom Conway.

    The casting is perfect - the three stars mentioned above deliver spot-on performances, and also the parts of the girlfriend Olga San Juan and the boss' assistant Eve Arden are superbly played.

    My favorite scene is when the three girls get together while they are doing Ava Gardner's hair - it reminded me a little of the slumber party scene in Grease (interesting coincidence that Eve Arden is in that movie too - made 30 years later!).

    I got this movie on a Region 0 DVD from Spain and the picture and sound quality is about 8 out of ten, so if your player can cope with PAL DVDs, it's definitely worth getting as it is remastered from the original film source. But I hope they give this film the full restoration treatment it deserves one day!

    I highly recommend this film and give it 10 out of 10 as it's a truly delightful way to spend 79 minutes of your time, and I know I'll be watching it over and over again!
  • comment
    • Author: Cordabor
    I have seen this wonderful film again and again and it never fails to delight me. The photography, with its unusually deep blacks and whites, is as sensual as the lovely Ava Gardner herself.

    There is one thing that puzzles me, however, and perhaps other reviewers might be able to help me on this one: in the cast Hugh Herbert is listed as playing Mercury. I own a video of this film, and nowhere do I see such a character. Am I missing something here, or do I just have an incomplete version of the film?
  • comment
    • Author: Zetadda
    When naïve young Eddie Hatch, a window dresser at Savory's Department Store, falls for a statue of Venus and gives her a chaste kiss, Venus steps off her pedestal and gives Eddie more than he bargained for. This creaking example of what Hollywood can do to a Broadway musical manages to emphasize the inane story and eliminate most of the first-rate songs. The purpose was to make a safe, popular movie without too much investment while capitalizing on Ava Gardner's upward mobility to super stardom. Robert Walker as Eddie gets lost in a thankless role. Eddie's not just naive, but dithering and hapless. Gardner is gorgeous, but the only things that give the movie any life are Olga San Juan as Eddie's loving but jealous girl friend, Tom Conway as the suave owner of Savory's and Eve Arden as Savory's long time, wise cracking secretary. It's a role Arden could play in her sleep, and she's good at it.

    The musical opened on Broadway in 1943 and made Mary Martin a big-time star. The only point of a musical, however, is to have music. Since One Touch of Venus was intended to be a social satire of sorts, Kurt Weill, composing, and Ogden Nash writing the lyrics, came up with a series of stylish, witty songs and one masterpiece. Without the satire, or the clever songs or Martin (or an equivalent showstopper), the movie becomes just a weak comedy fantasy where much of the comedy is predictable and the fantasy is worked to death.

    Not only did the producers of the movie toss out almost all the Weill/Nash songs, they brought in the movie's music director, Ann Ronell, to write new lyrics for one of the songs that survived, turning sharp observation into lovey-dovey romance. Ronell was no hack; she wrote Willow Weep for Me. Wonder what she thought about while she replaced or tweaked Ogden Nash's clever work.

    The one bright spot in the movie is that Weill/Nash masterpiece. "Speak Low" is as great a love song as anyone ever wrote. It's given one of those ultra-professional and lifeless treatments by Eileen Wilson dubbing Gardner. Dick Haymes contributes a chorus.

    As for Ann Ronell, she was one of the few women in Hollywood to become a major music director, as well as composer and lyric writer. Yours for a Song: The Women of Tin Pan Alley is a fascinating documentary of some of the women who made it in the business, including Ronell, Kay Swift, Dorothy Fields and Dana Suess. And for those who would like to hear what little of the Weill/Nash score was recorded by the original Broadway cast, you might be able to track down the CD, One Touch Of Venus (1943 Original Cast) / Lute Song (1946 Original Cast). The music is paired with Lute Song, another Broadway show that starred Martin.
  • comment
    • Author: Fenrikasa
    When Universal-International decided to film ONE TOUCH OF VENUS from the Broadway musical by Kurt Weill they dropped most of the songs, gave it the B&W treatment instead of Technicolor, cast AVA GARDNER in the title role (a non-singer dubbed by Eileen Wilson), and gave boyish ROBERT WALKER, then at the height of his earnest charm as a young leading man and produced it on a low-budget scale.

    Aside from giving viewers a generous look at AVA GARDNER's charms, it does little else but provide tepid entertainment depending on one memorable song for its sole distinction as a musical: "Speak Low".

    It's passable enough but the one joke theme of the plot whereby a department store mannequin turns into the real life "Venus" when an adoring employee kisses her, is about all there is to the so called book of this musical.

    If looking at Ava is enough, you'll have plenty of time to do exactly that--while DICK HAYMES, OLGA SAN JUAN and TOM CONWAY do little to stir things up in any other direction. Haymes is wasted on a couple of forgettable songs.

    Too bad the studio didn't have more faith in transferring the original to the screen including the Kurt Weill score. As it is, it definitely falls far short of the mark.
  • comment
    • Author: Joony
    Olga San Juan, Ava Gardner, and Eve Arden in one picture?!?!?! This has to be good, and it is. I had not heard of this romantic/fantasy until today, and I'm certainly glad I viewed. For those who love romance, comedy, and fantasy all balled up into one nice picture, this will do just nicely. I rated it a 9.
  • comment
    • Author: Andromakus
    I'll never understand why when a studio like Universal buys a musical it then butchers it when bringing it to screen. My first thought when seeing Ava Gardner and Robert Walker were starring I would be seeing something from MGM which did musicals best at that time. Boy was I wrong and disappointed.

    One Touch Of Venus which starred Mary Martin, Kenny Baker, and John Boles on Broadway ran for 567 performances in the 1943-1945 season and Gardner, Walker, and Tom Conway play the roles that Martin, Baker, and Boles did on stage. The Kurt Weill-Ogden Nash musical with book by Nash and S.J. Perelman was a comeback vehicle for Mary Martin who reestablished herself as the Queen of Broadway after a disappointing venture in Hollywood.

    Look at the names that went into this show. Given who was responsible for the book I expected to see some sparkling wit in this production. Instead I got a rather pedestrian screenplay, it was like all the wit was drained out of it. Doing her best to make up for it is Eve Arden playing her usual girl Friday role with Tom Conway, but it's even too much for Eve.

    The story concerns department store window dresser Robert Walker who kisses a very valuable statue of Venus who springs to life in the person of Ava Gardner. Of course when the statue goes missing, Conway yells for the law and is suspicious of Walker, the last person to be with the statue.

    The rest of the film is Walker dealing with Gardner and what will happen to both of them. For reasons I don't understand, Ava was of course dubbed by Eileen Wilson and Walker sings only a couple of lines. The singing is carried by Dick Haymes and Olga San Juan playing Walker's friends and coworkers. Of course on Broadway the songs were done by singers Mary Martin and Kenny Baker. You would kind of think that Haymes would be playing Walker's role at least. It was awkward to say the least.

    Only three songs survived from the score, Don't Look Now, But My Heart Is Showing, That's Him, and the incomparable Speak Low. Haymes's silken baritone is shown to best advantage in Speak Low which was sung as a duet by Martin and Baker on Broadway. For some reason the lyrics of one of the greatest men of verse of the last century, Ogden Nash, were done over by Ann Ronnell. I suspect the infamous Code was at work here.

    In Lee Server's biography of Ava Gardner he makes mention of a brief fling Ava had with Robert Walker when she had had a spat with her current man, Howard Duff. When Duff and Gardner reunited, Walker took it badly and didn't speak at all to Gardner off camera. I'm sure the fact that both of them were not in their best work didn't help matters either.

    Hopefully some repertoire company will do One Touch Of Venus and you'll get to see it the way, Weill, Nash, and Perelman wrote it.
  • comment
    • Author: Inerrace
    Kissing an elegant statue on a whim, nit - witted store clerk Eddie unintentionally unravels a sensual and chaotic entity in the form of Ava Gardner's Venus, making romance and farce abound.

    Considering my take on the general storyline is that it lacks strength, in lesser hands One Touch of Venus could have been a farce of a completely different kind. However the talent which was a part of this feature played a major role in raising its standard. This is mainly due to the leads Ava Gardner and Robert Walker. Being naturally beautiful there is little cause for explanation concerning Ava Gardner in the role as a Goddess of love, but she applied more than just her looks. She gave Venus a sensuality which oozed through every moment emphasising her presence to a greater extent. Despite Eddie being nitwit, Robert Walker makes him a likable fellow whose whimsical reactions to his bizarre situation resulted in numerous laughs. The development of Venus and Eddie's relationship began chaos and misunderstandings slightly reminiscent of the screwball genre.

    Constantly on the run for being accused of stealing Venus, Eddie finds himself in various situations avoiding arrest. With the help of Venus these situations contain visual and physical gags that work well, the most vivid in my mind was Venus turning Eddie's arrest warrant into a paper chain and temporarily suspending the pursuing detective by turning him into an owl. In spite of this sounding peculiar it worked well for comic purposes. The musical sequences were equally executed in effect for the sake of the feature's primary theme of romance. Singing "That's Him" the principal female characters convey their romance for the man they love whilst not losing their individual characteristics adding the perfect light to the sequence. Particularly from Molly, played brilliantly by Eve Arden who sticks to her heavy – hearted vocal tone throughout "That's Him" and is constantly witty. "I wish she reminded me of me" upon her first sight of Venus, keeping together her quick humour with a sense of longing for her Boss Whitfield, whose own sighting of Venus makes him crazy for her and continues the saga that was Venus and Eddie's relationship.

    From my viewpoint it can not be said One Touch of Venus is a perfect feature, though it is satisfactory in the majority of its scene thanks to the principle actors along with witty writing from Harry Kurnitz and Frank Tashlin, whose dialogue serves the pinnacle of One Touch of Venus' smart and charming humour.
  • comment
    • Author: misery
    One Touch of Venus has one thing going for it--the extraordinary beauty of Ava Gardner in her prime. Other than that, an interesting idea is mostly wasted. The premise is this: if a mortal kisses the statue of Venus, the goddess will come to life as a lovely, sensuous, real woman. Robert Walker is good in a comic turn as a confused mortal who accidentally awakens the statue. Needless to say, other comic complications ensue. However, Ava's voice is obviously dubbed, which thereby destroys some of the delicate fantasy quality of the material. Overall, this would have been better handled by Albert Lewin, a unique director famed for his odd, moderately successful dreamlike films (Saadia, the Picture of Dorian Gray, the Moon and Sixpence). A diverting but ultimately uninspiring film, which required a lighter directorial touch.
  • comment
    • Author: Valawye
    I'm a Kurt Weill freak; so I was delighted to find this video in the local library's catalog. Except for Ava Gardner and Eve Arden, I don't recall ever seeing any of the other stars before. I see from other comments that Ava Gardner was dubbed by somebody else. A shame ... I believe I've seen her own take of "Can't Help Loving that Man of Mine.", a performance in "Showboat" that was also dubbed, and it was pretty good.

    It's too bad so little of the Weill score was included, but I loved what was there. Unfortunately, the story must have been shamefully cut, too. There's no explanation for her being stoned; none for her falling in love with Robert Walker, whose character is a whey-faced loon; none for her return to statue form.

    I always listened to "Our Miss Brooks" on the radio when I was a kid in bed.

    Eve Arden is swell.

    So...the males are crummy; the story is cut to shreds, Arden and Gardner are fine or better, and the music is great. I'll give it a 6.
  • comment
    • Author: Siratius
    One Touch of Venus is directed by William A. Seiter, has a screenplay by Harry Kurnitz and Frank Tashlin. The film stars Robert Walker Sr, Ava Gardner, Eve Arden and Tom Conway.

    Eddie Hatch (Robert Walker Sr)is a window dresser in a large department store. Eddie is arranging a statue of Venus which is to be unveiled and to his surprise Venus(Ava Gardner)comes to life. The statue disappears because she has come to life. Store owner Whitfield Savoury(Tom Conway)suspects Hatch of stealing the statue. Comedy ensues when Venus falls in love with this mortal man who has brought her to life.

    Ava is perfect casting for the role of goddess taking human form, she is at her most beautiful here and there is an ethereal air about her. Ava and Robert work so well together, it's a shame they never made another film together.

    Robert usually starred in more dramatic films but here he proved what a good comic he could too. He conveys Hatch's bemusement and panic at the situation he has found himself in so well.

    Conway is good as the store owner and Eve Arden is good as always as Savoury's assistant.
  • comment
    • Author: Hrguig
    "Eddie Hatch" (Robert Walker) is a well-meaning young man who just happens to be a low paid window dresser working at a large department store. One day he is given the job of fixing the drapes that surround a recently acquired--but very expensive--statue of Venus and after drinking some champagne he innocently kisses it prior to getting back to his work. Sure enough, the statue becomes the actual "Goddess of Love" (played by Ava Gardner) who takes an instant liking to the bumbling employee. Unfortunately, when Venus comes to life the priceless statue disappears and the rich owner "Whitfield Savory" (Tom Conway) automatically suspects Eddie of stealing it and has him immediately apprehended. But things get even worse for Eddie when Whitfield encounters Venus and falls madly in love with her. Now rather than reveal any more of the movie and risk spoiling it for those who haven't seen it I will just say that this was a cute musical-comedy which was tailor-made for such a gorgeous actress like Ava Gardner. Also worth mentioning are the performances of both Eve Arden (as "Molly Stewart") and Robert Walker who played their parts quite nicely as well. That said, while it is certainly dated it still remains a fun little movie and I rate it as slightly above average.
  • comment
    • Author: Goktilar
    A comedy starring Robert Walker, and Ava Gardner as the goddess Venus.

    Eddie (Robert Walker) is a window dresser. One day while tending to dressing of statue of Venus at his department store, he's taken so much by its beauty, he kisses it. The Venus comes alive and starts to change his life. Not to mention love life of others around them.

    Ava Gardner is at the height of her beauty in this movie. Without her, this movie wouldn't have been successful. The story is rather shallow, and doesn't have much substance, but Ava Gardner's beauty hides whatever the plot lacks.

    The society seems to be on the verge of automation, as Eddie's department store showroom has remote control for many of its functions, and one of the girl mentions that food can be made with a press of a button. The funny part was no matter which button Eddie presses, it always brings down the bed when Venus is around.

    Watch this movie to see Ava Gardner at the height of her career.
  • comment
    • Author: AfinaS
    I saw this movie today, for the second time. First time was about 40 years ago. I saw it in the tv listings and immediately remembered seeing it so long ago. Not many romantic, musicals

    would stick in the mind of a young boy. I can't remember, but I'm sure I got "forced" into watching it back then. Anyway, it was good enough to remember and I still enjoyed it now. I rate it very high for fun and fantasy.
  • Complete credited cast:
    Robert Walker Robert Walker - Eddie Hatch
    Ava Gardner Ava Gardner - Venus
    Dick Haymes Dick Haymes - Joe Grant
    Eve Arden Eve Arden - Molly Stewart
    Olga San Juan Olga San Juan - Gloria
    Tom Conway Tom Conway - Whitfield Savory
    James Flavin James Flavin - Kerrigan
    Sara Allgood Sara Allgood - Landlady
    Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
    Hugh Herbert Hugh Herbert - Mercury (scenes deleted)
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