V is for Victor Victoria

V is for Victor Victoria, nominated for Best Adapted Screenplay at the Academy Awards (lost to Missing). The film won for “Best Music, Original Song Score and Its Adaptation or Best Adaptation Score” for Henry Mancini and Leslie Bricusse. Blake Edwards directed this musical/comedy. The film is rated PG.

Victoria Grant (Julie Andrews) is living in 1934 Paris and having trouble making ends meet. She is a gifted singer, and happens to meet Carole “Toddy” Todd (Robert Preston) who is also on the brink of ruin. He concocts a scheme to have Victoria pretend she is a man who is a female impersonator. Thus, Victor is born.

Victor/Victoria is soon the talk of Paris. A visiting American, King Marchand (James Garner) is enchanted after seeing her stage performance. King is traveling with his girlfriend Norma Cassady (Lesley Ann Warren) who is about the dizziest blonde ever seen on screen. King’s bodyguard Squash Bernstein (Alex Karras) is a constant companion.

King is convinced that Victor is not a man, and tiptoes about their hotel to find the truth. Once he confirms that it’s Victoria and not Victor he is falling in love with, he proceeds to woo her, having dumped Norma and sent her packing back to Chicago.

The complications and hilarity with all the gender identity confusion is priceless. Blake Edwards did a magnificent job writing and directing this film. A 1933 script by Reinhold Schünzel was his inspiration.

Musically, the film is a winner. Great song and dance routines, and Julie Andrews’ voice is superb. The film sets are awash with color and the costumes are inspired. Some of the action reminded me of the crazy things that would happen to detective Peter Sellers in the Pink Panther films that Blake directed.

This is a laugh out loud musical comedy that never has a dull moment. What would you do if you were dating someone who pretended to be of the opposite sex? How would that affect your persona and how others see you in the community? These are serious questions that are explored in playful ways in this very funny film.

Robert Preston is wonderful as the gay man and entrepreneur pushing Victoria along to succeed. James Garner is great as the gangster from America caught in a Parisian situation with no easy answers. Who really steals the show is Lesley Ann Warren as Norma. She plays the gangster moll so well, as well as a singer/dancer, with no holds barred. I admired her performance the most.

Julie was married to Blake from 1969 up until his death in 2010. They often worked on films together with Julie playing a starring role, and Blake writing, producing and directing. Blake was noted for the Peter Gunn series on TV, the classic film 10, and many others. His comedic timing was impeccable. Alex Karras was an NFL football player prior to his acting and producing in the film industry.

Have you seen Victor Victoria? What did you think of it?

Victor/Victoria - Original Theatrical Trailer