Line #9 Film/SilkStockings


1	[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/silkstockings_copie.jpg]]
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3	The 1957 [[TheMusical Musical]] [[AllMusicalsAreAdaptations remake]] of Creator/MetroGoldwynMayer's 1939 RomanticComedy ''Film/{{Ninotchka}}'', directed by Rouben Mamoulian and starring Creator/FredAstaire, Creator/CydCharisse and Creator/PeterLorre. It was based on a 1954 stage show with music by Music/ColePorter.
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5	An American movie producer, Steve Canfield (Astaire), wants Russian composer Peter Boroff to write the music for his next movie. The composer decides to stay in Paris, but three Russian operatives, Comrades Brankov (Lorre), Bibinski and Ivanov are sent from Moscow to take Boroff back. Following Canfield's successful corruption of these three with western luxuries, Nina "Ninotchka" Yoschenko (Charisse), an IceQueen displomat, is sent to bring all four men back home...
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7	----
8	!!Tropes include:
9	* AdaptationNameChange: Mostly in the Soviet characters. Ninotchka now has the Ukrainian-sounding name "Yoschenko" instead of the Russian-sounding "Yakushova". The three commissars are Bibinski, Ivanov, and Brankov instead of Buljanoff, Iranoff, and Kopalski.
10	* CallAndResponseSong: "Paris Loves Lovers." The main melody is sung by Canfield, with Ninotchka adding disapproving commentary:
11	--> Paris ''(Capitalistic!)'' loves lovers ''(Characteristic!)''
12	--> for lovers ''(Sensualistic!)'' it's heaven above ''(They should be atheistic)''
13	--> Paris ''(Imperialistic!)'' tells lovers ''(I'm pessimistic)''
14	--> love is supreme, wake up your dream and make love ''(That's anti-communistic!)''
15	* CharacterDevelopment: Ninotchka and Canfield both, under each other's influences.
16	* DefrostingIceQueen: How the movie unfolds regarding Ninotchka.
17	* DistractedByTheLuxury: The three commissars are a rare male example of the trope, immediately abandoning their principles for caviar and champagne.
18	* GayParee: The setting, particularly as described in the song "Paris Loves Lovers."
19	* TheHedonist: Steve initially; he uses this to persuade the Russians not to deport Boroff.
20	* IronicEcho: Non-tragic example; to demonstrate the changing relationship between the two leads:
21	-->'''Iranoff:''' ''Do you want to be alone, comrade?''
22	-->'''Ninotchka:''' ''No.''
23	--> Later: "''Go to bed, Little Brother -- we want to be alone.''"
24	* LighterAndSofter than the original film, though it still has some fairly pointed humor.
25	* MotherRussiaMakesYouStrong: Ninotchka is initially as cold and presumably as tough as the hull of the tanks she drove during World War 2. Then DefrostingIceQueen kicks in.
26	* TakeThat: "Stereophonic Sound", both in the film and outside the film.
27	** In both film and theatre, Peggy Dayton does a verse deprecating her recent film.
28	** Much of the song could be a Take That to MGM and MGM stars. Peggy Dayton is likely an expy of Esther Williams. Both Ava Gardner and Lassie starred in several MGM films. The reference to "a fella hugged his partner as they cuddled cheek to cheek" is a reference to Fred Astaire himself ("Cheek to Cheek" was an earlier number of his from TopHat), while the reference to a ballet dancer is aimed at Gene Kelly.
29	* ThatRussianSquatDance: Brankov (Creator/PeterLorre) does one with grim determination by propping himself up between a chair and a table.
30	* TheMusical: Of Film/{{Ninotchka}}. (AllMusicalsAreAdaptations.)
31	* TheSpock: Ninotchka, in the beginning.
32	* TruerToTheText: The stage musical strayed a little further from the source--for example, ending with Steve coming to the Soviet Union to find Ninotchka. The movie version sticks closer to the original, ending with Steve arranging to have Ninotchka sent to Paris to retrieve the three commisars, who have opened a Russian restaurant.
33	* UptightLovesWild: With a {{genderflip}} from the usual pattern.
34	* WritingAroundTrademarks: Averted in "Stereophonic Sound". Not only are numerous film and color processes mentioned, but Warnercolor (Used by MGM competitor Warner Brothers) is mentioned.

Context Film / SilkStockings