3-D Kiss

When the Broadway show finally closed, production of the film version of Kiss Me, Kate began. Produced by MGM, it featured two of the studio’s contract stars, Howard Keel and Kathryn Grayson, as well as dancer Ann Miller.

 Kiss Me, Kate has a special place in movie history: it was one of the few musicals to be filmed in 3-D. 

The first version of 3-D hit movie theatres in the early 1950s. It depended on special 3-D glasses but even more, on skillful projection. Not many movie theatres could bring it off, and somewhere between Creature From the Black Lagoon and Revenge of the Creature, 3-D died a quick death.

 Though this version got good reviews, in the end not many audiences actually saw Kiss Me, Kate in 3-D. Its premiere at Radio City Music Hall in Manhattan was in its standard version.

 One lasting contribution of the movie, however, is the Cole Porter song “From This Moment On.” When the movie producers wanted another song, Porter gave them this one. It had been cut from another Porter Broadway show by its director. It became a Cole Porter classic, and was added to the 1999 Broadway revival of Kiss Me, Kate. It’s been in the show ever since.