Google Ads
Login | Sign Up

Call Me Madam Overview:

Call Me Madam (1953) was a Musical - Comedy Film directed by Walter Lang and produced by Sol C. Siegel.

SYNOPSIS

Love is in the air in this Berlin musical about an extroverted Washington, D.C. socialite modeled on Perle Mesta, the self-proclaimed "hostess with the mostess." When she suddenly finds herself named ambassador to the tiny European hamlet of Lichtenburg, she takes her show on the road and launches a romantic coup d'etat, falling in love with the Lichtenburg foreign minister, and match-making her press attache with a genuine princess.

(Source: available at Amazon AMC Classic Movie Companion).

Academy Awards 1953 --- Ceremony Number 26 (source: AMPAS)

AwardRecipientResult
Best Costume DesignIrene SharaffNominated
Best Music - ScoringAlfred NewmanWon
See More Oscar Winners

Call Me Madam BlogHub Articles:

FAVOURITE MOVIES: Call Me Madam, 1953

on Feb 9, 2020 From Caftan Woman

Irving Berlin's Call Me Madam opened on Broadway on October 12, 1950, and closed on May 3, 1952. A hit with audiences and critics, the show won the Tony Award for Berlin for Best Original Score, for Ethel Merman for Best Actress in a Musical, for Russell Nype as Best Featured Actor in a Musical, and... Read full article

Call Me Madam (1953)

By Cameron on Apr 25, 2018 From The Blonde At The Film

via: https://cometoverhollywood.com/2014/03/24/musical-monday-call-me-madam-1953/  Unless otherwise noted, all images are my own. Buckle up for Call Me Madam (1953), an Irving Berlin musical starring the one and only Ethel Merman! Merman had recently wowed in another show by Berlin, Annie Get Your ... Read full article

Merman, O'Connor, Ellen, and Sanders stun in... Call Me Madam (1953)

By Michaela on Jun 1, 2016 From Love Letters to Old Hollywood

Call Me Madam is a film I can't believe isn't more well-known. Let me list some of its features: Ethel Merman, Donald O'Connor, Vera-Ellen, gorgeous costumes, beautiful dancing, Irving Berlin tunes, and oh yeah, George Sanders singing and making me fall madly in love with him. Aren't you mad this fi... Read full article

Call Me Madam (1953)

By Beatrice on Oct 26, 2015 From Flickers in Time

Call Me Madam Directed by Walter Lang Written by Arthur Sheekman from the musical comedy by Russell Crouse and Howard Lindsay 1953/USA Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation First viewing/Netflix rental This movie gives viewers the unique opportunity to see Ethel Merman in a role she created on B... Read full article

Musical Monday: “Call Me Madam” (1953)

on Mar 24, 2014 From Comet Over Hollywood

It’s no secret that the Hollywood Comet loves musicals. In 2010, I revealed I had seen 400 movie musicals over the course of eight years. Now that number is over 500. To celebrate and share this musical love, here is my weekly feature about musicals. This week’s musical: “Call Me Madam” ... Read full article

See More Call Me Madam Articles

Call Me Madam Quotes:

Congressman: When will you arrive at your post?
Sally Adams: I'm not sure. Hey, boss, where the heck is Lichtenburg?
Congressman: Sally, you wouldn't like me to make a little farewell speech tonight?
Sally Adams: That's right. I wouldn't!
Sally Adams: Call Me Madam.
Pemberton Maxwell: Madam...
Sally Adams: When you call me madam, smile.
Grand Duke: Tell me - How does this reception differ from your famous Washington parties?
Sally Adams: Well we have a good time!
See More Quotes from Call Me Madam
Call Me Madam Facts
The movie contains two vintage Irving Berlin songs written before his 1950 Broadway score. "The International Rag" (as Ethel Merman sings it, although the official title is "That International Rag") had been introduced by Mr. Berlin himself at the London Hippodrome in 1913. Sophie Tucker made the ditty famous via her vaudeville act. In the picture, just prior to delivering this number at the presentation ball, Ethel jokes with the orchestra leader (played by Leon Belasco) about this "hot" new tune from 40 years earlier. Donald O'Connor's song-and-dance-solo, which had him tearing up a tavern -- "What Chance Have I With Love?" -- was first performed by Victor Moore in Irving Berlin's 1940 Broadway musical, "Louisiana Purchase." Although Mr. Moore would appear in Paramount's 1941 screen adaptation, his lament to love would not carry over to this film score.
The stage production of "Call Me Madam" opened at the Imperial Theater in New York on October 12, 1950 starring Ethel Merman and ran for 644 performances.
What had been an Ethel Merman number on Broadway, "Something to Dance About" was filmed with Donald O'Connor and Vera-Ellen (dubbed by Carol Richards) singing and dancing in a secret passageway. Along with George Sanders, the aforementioned all reprised a bit of this tune in the final medley, which also included "You're Just in Love."
Dinah Shore had to sing Ethel Merman's songs on the original cast album for the Broadway play because Merman, who had starred in the original stage production, was under contract to Decca Records, who wouldn't release her to do the album.
This is the only full film musical that George Sanders made, despite his appealing singing voice.
See More Facts about Call Me Madam >>