James Hitchcock Supernatural fantasies were popular on both sides of the Atlantic during the late forties and early fifties, possibly because the heavy death toll during World War II had made people think about the possibility of an afterlife. "One Touch of Venus" is one of a number of such films from this period; others include "It's a Wonderful Life" "Portrait of Jennie", "The Ghost and Mrs Muir" and, from Britain, "A Matter of Life and Death" and "Pandora and the Flying Dutchman".The story of "One Touch of Venus" is loosely based upon the Pygmalion myth. (In turn it inspired the two "Mannequin" films of the late eighties and early nineties). Whitfield Savory, a wealthy department- store owner, buys a statue of the goddess Venus for $200,000 and plans to exhibit it in the store. Eddie Hatch, a window dresser, kisses the statue on the lips, which has the effect of bringing Venus to life. The film then explores the various complications which arise when the newly awakened Venus falls in love with Eddie, Whitfield falls in love with Venus, Eddie's jealous girlfriend Gloria falls in love with his best friend Joe and Eddie himself is arrested on a charge of stealing the statue, there being no other way to account for its mysterious disappearance. The film started life as a Broadway musical, but most of the music composed for it by Kurt Weill is left out. I have never seen the stage version, so I cannot comment on the quality of the omitted musical numbers, but I felt that the film might have worked better as a large- scale Hollywood musical in colour than it does in the black-and-white version that was actually made, which is less a musical comedy than a romantic comedy with songs. None of these songs are particularly memorable, although the film did confirm my view that Ava Gardner had a fine singing voice. (Her vocals for "Showboat" are often regarded as superior to those we actually hear in the film, provided by a professional singer hired to dub her voice, and were used when the soundtrack was released as a gramophone record). As an actress rather than as a singer, however, this is not one of Ava's most memorable performances, and she is never asked to do much more than to look sexy and glamorous. (I must, however, admit that that is a task which she could perform better than almost any other actress of the period). Robert Walker never struck me as a natural romantic lead- his most memorable appearance was as the villainous Bruno in "Strangers on a Train"- and he is poor here, although it should be pointed on that the film was made when he was going through a serious crisis in his personal life. The best acting comes from Eve Arden as Whitfield's secretary Molly. Molly is that stock Hollywood figure, the bespectacled secretary whose dowdy appearance belies the fact that she is in fact extremely attractive and whose brisk, efficient manner hides a secretly romantic and passionate personality; like most examples of this stock figure she is secretly in love with her boss. The main problem with this movie is that it is too brief and perfunctory. It revolves around not a love-triangle, or even a love- quadrilateral, but a love-hexagon, whose corners are Eddie, Venus, Whitfield, Molly, Gloria and Joe. To do justice to such a fantastic, and convoluted, plot would require both a longer running time and a more carefully written script to explore all the various angles, and as I said making it as a musical might have helped. (Musicals could often get away with fanciful plots that would have seemed ridiculous in the context of any other film). The film that actually exists left me with the distinct impression that the producers simply wanted to cash in on the success of a Broadway hit, but wanted to do so as quickly and cheaply as possible. 4/10

janice143 I saw this movie on television and I was so happy when the video came out. Could there be a more beautiful cast and such beautiful songs! Ava Gardner personifies Venus with her beautiful face and body. No body stockings there, her beautiful body is there to be seen! Eddie Hatch is a windows dresser in a department store, kisses the statue of Venus who is on display, who comes to life and spends several hours with Eddie until Zeus calls her home at midnight. Made me cry, Venus didn't want to go home to be a goddess, she wanted to be a mere mortal! And the beautiful songs -- "Don't Look Now But My Heart is Showing" -- a beautiful waltz, which is sung by the cast in Central Park. And "Speak Low When You Speak Love" -- how divine! So, Ava comes back as "Venus Jones" who will be working at the department store, after all the Cinderella stories come true! Lots and lots of tears.I love this movie. Why isn't this on DVD yet? Don't get it!

morganoneill This is a fabulous film. I was lucky to get this in VHS 7 years ago. what a great cast, and a great story for robert walker and ava gardner..they are like hepburn and tracy in their rapport for each other, so much comedy and love.....not a musical at all....great story and lively script wish they had gone on to make lots of movies together. two tragic stars who worked so well together and he died so young . what a loss of robert walker, so diverse his acting roles and every one was better than the last..see all his movies you wont be disappointed, and ava of course, a great beauty, but so serious in all her roles...in venus she shows her great comedy potential..see it.

Lissalyn49 One Touch Of Venus, touched my heart as a young girl who lived for the Black & White fantasy world that movie makers created. All the casting was perfection. The continuity of the movie was flawless.Robert Walker's portrayal of a young man muddling through life suddenly & totally captivated by the spell of love produced by the visage of the statue of Venus. Ava Gardner's classic beauty along with her very talented acting and voice. She was utter feminine charm encased in an absolutely beautiful body. She was a Goddess, she was 'The' Goddess that brings to mind the poetic line: She walks in beauty, like the night Of cloudless climes and starry skies; And all that's best of dark and bright Meet in her aspect and her eyes:A Poem by Lord Byron. (No actor today can capture the abilities of yesterday's greats.)Eve Arden's acerbic wit, which no one else since has ever done better (& believe me many have tried). Tom Conway as the suave womanizing store owner with the sexy voice. Dick Haymes was perfect as the backstabbing 'best' friend. This movie could possibly make a believer out of a cynic.