Overview
Lovely to Look At is a 1952 American musical romantic comedy film directed by Mervyn LeRoy, based on the 1933 Broadway musical Roberta.
Plot
Broadway producers Al Marsh, Tony Naylor, and Jerry Ralby are desperately searching for investors to back their new show. After being continuously denied for pitches, Al receives a letter from Paris, notifying him that his Aunt Roberta has died and left him half of her dress salon located in Paris. The three men and their "lady-friend" Bubbles, the person who funds their lengthy trip, then eagerly travel to Paris in hopes of profiting from the sale of Al's share in the shop. To their dismay, the men are met with a bankrupt shop that is in no shape to have shares sold. Here is when the film introduces the two other main characters in detail, the two other women who own the other half of the dress shop, Stephanie and Clarisse. From this point forward, the film develops in two main routes of plot: getting the shop into better shape to gain money, and the many confusing and slightly cheesy love story lines. Al, Tony, and Jerry make it their mission to talk to the creditors that have been harassing the shop to give them time to showcase a fashion show that will bring Roberta's more business. This ends up being successful, and Roberta's dress shop legacy lives on. As the plot progresses, Tony is torn between his growing affection for Stephanie and his desire to finance his show. Meanwhile, Jerry falls for Clarisse, and Al has a crush on Stephanie. Eventually, Al goes for Bubbles, who has followed the men from New York City.
Cast
Kathryn Grayson as Stephanie
Red Skelton as Al Marsh
Howard Keel as Tony Naylor
Marge Champion as Clarisse
Gower Champion as Jerry Ralby
Ann Miller as Bubbles Cassidy
Zsa Zsa Gabor as Zsa Zsa
Kurt Kasznar as Max Fogelsby
Marcel Dalio as Pierre
Diane Cassidy as Diane
Production
The film was originally announced as a vehicle for Gene Kelly and Frank Sinatra, who had teamed together several times previously. They would have co-starred with Judy Garland and Betty Garrett
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