With a larger-than-life personality and a voice that could blow open a barn door at thirty paces, Ethel Merman was among the great stars of Broadway for some thirty years. Hollywood, however, never quite figured out how to use her talents. Although she made a number of screen appearances over the years, whenever an Ethel Merman show went to Hollywood, someone else always got the Merman role. But there is a single exception: the 1953 screen version of CALL ME MADAM.

Although she actually had significant political credentials, Washington hostess Perle Mesta was best known for her parties--and her 1949 appointment as Ambassador to Luxemberg inspired Howard Lindsay and Russell Crouse to create CALL ME MADAM. With Ethel Merman in the leading role and music and lyrics by the legendary Irving Berlin, the show proved a popular ticket in both New York and London. And surprisingly enough, when 20th Century Fox picked up the film rights, the studio decided to have Merman recreate her Tony-winning performance on screen.

Although Hollywood tweaked both script and score, the screen version is essentially the same show that delighted theatre-goers in the early 1950s. President Harry S. Truman rewards Washington hostess Sally Adams (Merman) for her support by appointing her Ambassador to a European duchy. Adams takes Kenneth (Donald O'Connor) along for the ride--and romantic complications with a European dignitary (George Sanders) and a love-lorn princess (Vera-Ellen) have farcial international complications.

CALL ME MADAM is what you might call a "standard" musical of the era; although the story references the Cold War and various political issues of the day, it doesn't go serious on you, and while the film is very obviously a take-off on Mesta the political satire involved is light and amusing rather than sharp and meanspirited. There's no denying that Merman is clearly a performer used to the stage, but she translates to the screen extremely well, and when she opens her mouth to sing you know what all the fuss was about. O'Connor, Sanders, and Vera-Ellen also fare extremely well, each one charming and playing up to Merman's larger-than-life style.

Although Berlin's score doesn't really compete with his more famous works, it is quite amusing and his lyrics have a satirical edge in keeping with story; "Hostess With The Mostes'," "Can You Use Any Money Today?," "It's A Lovely Day Today," and the roundhouse punch Merman-O'Connor duet "You're Just In Love" are witty and charming. And everything about the film sparkles and shines in classic Hollywood musical-comedy fashion. It's just enchanting, through and through.

Copyright issues kept CALL ME MADAM out of circulation for some twenty years, so any release would have been welcome--but this DVD transfer is quite good, with good sound and brilliant picture and nary a blemish to be found. The only significant bonus is a commentary by film historian Miles Kreuger, and although it is on the mild side it is quite entertaining as well. Recommended for fans of the "old style Hollywood musical"--and Merman fans in particular!

GFT, Amazon Reviewer

Call Me Madam is corny but good hearted. Merman is like a battleship; she just plows straight ahead and you'd better get out of her way. Donald O'Connor comes off best. I think he was a better dancer than Gene Kelly with a lot more charm, but he didn't seem to have Kelly's drive and ambition. Watch the numbers they do together in Singin' in the Rain, especially the vaudeville dance act, Fit as a Fiddle. O'Connor is just as proficient as Kelly, but he looks relaxed and as if he's having a great time. Kelly looks like he has his grin stapled on his face.

Call Me Madam benefits by giving us this great recording of what a full-stops performer Ethel Merman was. There's not much oxygen for anyone around her, but then there's not much point to this show except Merman. Vera Ellen was a great dance technician but, for me, not a very natural or warm personality. O'Connor does a fine job of loosening her up. He also manages, as few did, to stand his ground with Merman. Their contrapuntal duet, "You're Just In Love," is a good example of two pros working together and appearing to enjoy it. George Sanders gets by with good-natured suavity and a nice baritone. He can play a cad so effortlessly, one wonders if he could have handled more sympathetic roles in his career if he'd been willing to fight for them.

This is a very pleasant movie to watch a few times. But I'd glady toss it on the Hollywood heap if Merman had been given Gypsy.

"Call Me Madame," is a beautiful and colorful musical. Ethel Merman is great and sings out some lovely songs.. Also Vera-Ellen is lovely in it and does a great dance number with Donald O'Connor," it's really good and well worth seeing. George Sanders is great in it and he and Ethel Merman make a nice couple. It's a musical that is really a fast for the eyes. So many beautiful costumes and scenery. The made it look a lot like the German towns and villages were the story takes place mostly. With all the great costumes, music and actors, you can't go wrong. It's a real beautiful musical and a great escape musical too.

Thank God Hollywood didn't fool with the casting on this one and was wise enough to keep Merman in the role she created. It is often said she was "too big" for film, but she certainly is perfect in this role and her bigger than life persona works perfectly. Great score, Donald O'Connor is great and the whole production is just plain good old fashioned fun!

I've been trying to get this film for a long time and I'm so glad it's out on DVD now. Merman plays the same part of the ambassador that she played in the broadway stage version. She's sent to some small operarettic european county. Merman was never the greatest of actresses so her performance is stagey and should be because that's where all of her experience was. She meets George Sanders who stands tall and handsome and together they're attracted to each other and sing a few songs. Sanders used his own voice and it was quite good. Vera Ellen, who I was never that crazy about, plays a very prim princess betrothed to a prince who'd rather marry someone else. So the princess meets Merman's press agent, Donald O'Connor, and romance blossoms. Ellen never used her own voice as she couldn't sing, but O'Connor could dance circles around some of the best and he could sing too. There's one scene where Ellen and O'Connor dance through an underground wine cellar and it's just as good if not better than you've ever seen with Cyd Charisse and Gene Kelly? (How come all the best dancers were always Irish?:)) Merman knocks out a few songs and belts them across the Atlantic. Altogether, a fun film with great music and terrific dancing.