The French Line (1954)

Powerful

Don't listen to the negative reviews

Although I seem to have had higher expectations than I thought, the movie is super entertaining.

It is an exhilarating, distressing, funny and profound film, with one of the more memorable film scores in years,

Gentlemen don't marry corporations, especially one with a woman in charge, and basically for wealthy Texas rancher Jane Russell, she finds her money is the key to single unhappiness. So what does she decide to do? Catch the French Line to Europe and try to catch a beau the old fashioned way: pure animal magnetism, and with the double delights that Russell holds up, she's got the key in the door. Joining up with old friend Mary McCarthy, Russell becomes an entertainer, leading her into the arms of several possible suitors, particularly womanizing "Frenchman" Gilbert Roland who becomes aware of Russell's identity thanks to her interfering uncle Arthur Hunnicutt.Rather secondary even with its controversy, it has a few magical moments; Roland's production number, "With a Kiss", is pleasant and nicely staged, but Russell's musical numbers are rather focused on her curvy figure than written to be heard on the American hit parade. McCarthy, already a rising Broadway songstress (who would score in the 1970's on Broadway in the original "Follies" and "Chicago"), adds spark as her old pal who rose from good old country girl to New York fashion house maven, and Arthur Hunnicutt provides folksy humor as Russell's uncle. Spotting chorus girls/models Kim Novak and Joi Lansing among the beauties becomes a distraction in the musical numbers. For me, the highlight wasn't the controversial "Looking For Trouble" number (sanitized for American release), but the "Take those trays of canape's away!" which leads to an eye rolling number with Russell and McCarty ("Any Gal From Texas") that includes some of the strangest lyrics ever in a movie musical song. 1954 was a sensational year for musical numbers, so it's easy to see why this has fallen into obscurity. The plot is a variation of what Russell did in "Gentlemen Prefer Blondes", and the musical numbers here are weak in comparison. Several minor subplots just weaken the film even more, and the aging Roland seems just too sleazy to be the romantic lead. It also doesn't help that the rather garish color photography often seems slightly out of focus. If you go into it searching for camp, you might just get your wish, but those looking for something for something artistic or profound will be severely disappointed.

It seems that the majority of people who have posted comments on this can't wait to note that it is both a rip-off of and inferior to Gentlemen Prefer Blondes. There is, of course, something in this; both begin in the US, wind up in Paris with the bulk of the running time spent on the transatlantic crossing. Oh, yes, both also have songs. On the other hand I think it's possible to trace a more direct link to Warners' Romance On The High Seas in which Doris Day (in her first film) is travelling incognito, as is Jane Russell here, both girls are the subject of scrutiny by men hired to monitor their every moves and both men fall reciprocally in love with the girls they are tailing BUT not before ten reels or so of mistaken-identity plotting which itself is reminiscent of Top Hat. While GPB had to-drawer songs by Jule Styne and Leo Robin this time around Styne has been replaced by the bush league Josef Myrow and Robin has to settle for a co-lyricist credit with Robert Wells. It's worth watching without being memorable.

This film has recently been televised by Turner Classic Movies. It may have been considered racy in its time, and may have made money, but even the most die-hard Jane Russell fan will find it hard to sit through this dreck.There are many movie musicals from the 1950s which can withstand the test of time, even though dated by current standards, but which can still be enjoyed because of good music or dancing or an amusing plot. "The French Line", however, fails at all of these aspects.It doesn't matter that Russell was a fine singer when she is given lousy vocal material. The entire cast is dragged down by a boring, trite plot and dialogue.It's not even worth recording and skipping through to only the musical numbers--they're crummy.

The film opens on the eve of Jane Russell wedding day to Craig Stevens...When Jane discovers that Craig broke with her just for fearing to marry a cheery Texas oil heiress, she takes a trip to France - incognito - on board of the S.S. Liberté, following the advice of her protégé Arthur Hunnicutt...In New York, she meets an old friend Mary McCarthy, an interesting woman of the 'fashion world' who was about to give on the same ship, an ostentatious arrogant international show of elegant and stylish costumes once believed 'subject to censure.'Switching and masquerading identities during the voyage as a fashion model with Joyce MacKenzie, Jane falls in love with Gilbert Roland, a good-humored playboy with 'no' money, hired secretly by Hunnicutt to look after her during the trip...Once arriving to France, everything is cleared and unclouded by the couple, who affirms their deep affection and true love, living happily ever after..."French Line" is thinly plotted but quite attractive light musical with a star first seen in her 'bubble of excitement' bath scene, then in a daring and gorgeous gown... Russell performs a dance of the 1920s singing "Lookin' for Trouble."For your record, Kim Novak appears, for the first time, as a model...