Overview
A musical comedy where love and rivalry take center stage amidst the chaos of showbiz.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Moderate
- Complexity
- Easy to follow
- Violence
- Mild
- witty
- buoyant
- romantic
- classic movie night
- musical marathon
What critics said
Critics broadly praised the film's lavish staging, singing, dancing, songs, and comic-romantic entertainment, while some found the direction less lively and the adaptation overlong or diluted.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Fred and Lilli's unresolved divorce and bickering relationship deliberately echo their performances as Petruchio and Katherine in The Taming of the Shrew.
The production moves between rehearsal and performance spaces, lavish sets, choreography, costumes, and Cole Porter songs.
The divorced leads quarrel while working together, with jealousy and professional rivalry masking rekindled affection.
The film adapts the musical version of Shakespeare's play into an MGM production with star singers, dancers, and expanded cinematic staging.
Films like Kiss Me Kate, and why
Singin' in the Rain
classic backstage musical comedy combining romantic rivalry, theatrical performance, Cole Porter-style songs, and broad comic timing
An American in Paris
lavish studio musical built around witty romance, performance spectacle, and charismatic entertainers
The Band Wagon
stage-centered romantic comedy featuring bickering couples, mistaken circumstances, and energetic musical numbers
Seven Brides for Seven Brothers
Shakespeare-derived battle of the sexes presented through song, dance, and heightened romantic comedy
Movie Details
- Director
- George Sidney
- Release Date
- 1953-11-26
- Runtime
- 109 min
- Rating
- 6.5 / 10 (103)
Cast
- Kathryn Grayson
- Howard Keel
- Ann Miller
- Keenan Wynn
- Bobby Van
- Tommy Rall
- James Whitmore
- Kurt Kasznar
- Bob Fosse
- Ron Randell
Where to watch in United States
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is Kiss Me Kate about?
- A lavish MGM musical turns a divorced theatrical couple's backstage quarrels into a sparkling battle of the sexes both onstage and off.
- What is Kiss Me Kate like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Kiss Me Kate as brisk, its intensity as moderate and its storytelling as easy to follow.
- Is Kiss Me Kate violent?
- Only mildly. Ember rates the violence in Kiss Me Kate as mild.
- What did critics think of Kiss Me Kate?
- Critics broadly praised the film's lavish staging, singing, dancing, songs, and comic-romantic entertainment, while some found the direction less lively and the adaptation overlong or diluted.
- Which films are like Kiss Me Kate?
- Films with a similar feel include Singin' in the Rain, An American in Paris, The Band Wagon, and Seven Brides for Seven Brothers.
- How long is Kiss Me Kate?
- Kiss Me Kate runs 109 minutes.
- Where can I watch Kiss Me Kate?
- In United States, Kiss Me Kate is available to rent or buy from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home.
