There are some problems with this movie..... no, it's not the cast, although some of the talented performers (Bing Crosby in particular) seem bored or listless. Donald O'Connor and Mitzi Gaynor have no chemistry, Zizi Jeanmarie is a bit out of place but has plenty of talent to spare. The film doesn't follow the plot to the original play at all. Some of the songs are replaced with new songs by an old composer (Jimmy Van Heusen). But that's not the problem either. The original play was pretty dull, basically a rip-off of Anita Loos' play "Gentlemen Prefer Blondes." And, at least, most of the action here takes place on a transcontinental cruise, so I don't think removing a corny story about missing jewels really hurt anything.Director Robert Lewis may be the problem. There's gotta be a reason he never did a real film again. He does not know how to use the widescreen (whenever somebody moves on camera, he moves the camera with them, and he uses too many medium shots), and his direction is generally uninspired. The plot and the dialog can barely hold the film together between the songs. Lewis isn't helping things along. There's no "wow" factor here. Everybody is fine, the songs are pleasant, but there's absolutely no real passion on display.

I really enjoyed this movie. Typically, I hate remakes, but this one isn't so bad. Was Bing Crosby a better actor in the 30's and 40's? You bet your boots. Then again, I've never liked him in anything he's done, ever, and at least in 'Anything Goes' he doesn't try to act, and sticks to the crooning instead.Also, I love Donald O'Connor, and he is at the top of his form here. I didn't know who Mitzi Gaynor was, but now that I do, I really like her. She's a good dancer with a pleasant screen persona. Jeanmaire is okay. I liked her wardrobe.The art direction is good (I especially like the number where Donald and Bing sing the same song from two adjoining rooms) and the film hasn't been 'overproduced', as was the somewhat comparable 'White Christmas'. I hate it when musicals take themselves too seriously! The story is silly, but worrying about that sh*t is missing the point entirely.Don't believe these over-critical snobs. They're missing out, and they don't even know it.

This is one of those movies where you think Hollywood done Cole Porter wrong. The Cole Porter tunes are excellent. That vamp Bing Crosby and cast do at the end of the movie with "Blow Gabriel Blow" is excellent; that Bing Crosby lent his talent to such a vamp speaks to his spirit as well as his talent. Changing 'Four letter words' for 'three letter words' is funny in a Hollywood sort of funny.But the deterioration of the movie comes with Donald O'Connor throwing a ball around with a bunch of kids--I never understand this fascination for kids--it was silly, stupid, inane, vacuous. And alas there were three other numbers equally horrendous. That nonsense with a turban didn't work either.But if you like Cole Porter, their interpretations of his music was about as good as it gets. Their vocalizations enhance Cole Porter without taking away from Cole Poter. If Hollywood has a few spare millions hanging around, they might consider a remake of ANYTHING GOES. Though in a million years, I couldn't tell who the cast should be.

As far as the golden age of musicals were concerned, the back trackers were always Paramount and Warner Brothers, who never quite achieved the magic that MGM created, despite their most valiant efforts to produce MGM-esquire musicals.One such film that could have been a great deal more magical had MGM been at the helm is Anything Goes.Bing Crosby stars in his second big screen version of the Cole Porter Broadway smash, although this plot has been modified slightly and brought up to date 50' style..it therefore tells a completely different story to Crosby's first version twenty years earlier.Donald O'Conner, who in my humble opinion was one of the most underrated performers Hollywood ever had, provides the dances and comic turns whilst he romances the beautiful Mitzi Gaynor.O'Conner was a natural at almost everything he did. He was a superb comic, a gifted actor and a dancer of extraordinary talent on par I think with Fred Astaire and his 'Singing in the Rain' co-star Gene Kelly, yet his contributions to film, have on the whole been overlooked. He was therefore demoted to 'B' movie comedies like the god awful "Francis" films.Bing sings his way through Porters songs in his usual effortless way, as he tries to discard, appease and finally woo a French Ballet star played by ZiZi Jeanmaire, billed here simply as 'Jeanmaire' Another pleasant appearance is made by 40's band leader Phil 'Balloo in Jungle Book' Harris, and he is a welcome addition although regrettably he is not given an opportunity to perform some of those comic southern songs like 'Woodman, Spare that Tree' or 'The Dark Town Poker Club' with which he made his name.The plot is scratchy too with Crosby and O'Conner forming an effortless partnership whilst collaborating on a new Broadway show.The clash of styles and the obvious comparisons of youth and novice against age and experience are hinted at in the beginning, leaving you wanting more of the same, but alas these differences trail off into nothing and they are not exploited to full effect. It would have made this film a lot more enjoyable to see the two male leads spar more together and therefore classic entertainment is unfortunately denied us.One of the previous reviewers said that there was something missing from this film that they couldn't put their finger on....I think that this was it.But despite the bad script and leaky predictable plot, the performances are great and the songs as ever are timeless. Porter, Sammy Cahn and Jimmy Van Heusen were three of the best song-smiths in the business.Watch this one when you can, but don't cancel anything important in order to do so.