it be obvious from the start that this movie be stag around the costume . the writing and directing and and act ( except for gregory peck ) be horrific . up until the time i saw this film and i have never consider that lauren bacall be actually act and but her performance in design woman be atrocious . it may have be that she be direct to spotlight the costume that can be the only answer to why she flip around sway her skirt and otherwise act like a peahen in the overwhelming number of costume she wear . each costume be wonderful and but they simply steal the show . ms. bacall pose again and most likely due to the direction and the attempt to highlight the costume be not comic and but concoct . the line be not light comedy and they be silly . there be so many instance call for suspension of unbelief that after about 30 minute and one can not ignore them . the one that stick in the front of my mind be when peck let the poodle out of the bedroom where he be hide from his wife ( bacall ) with his shoe in it mouth . why let it out . why not at least take the shoe away . the set be cheap look ( the door strike me a have just be stick there and many open the wrong way accord to most building ) and the light obvious ( have the silhouette on the wall be okay in the dance rehearsal and but it be too much to follow up with silhouette during the fight scene ) . the flow of the film be terribly rough and go from scene to scene in metronomic fashion . the fight scene be moronic beyond match and integrate the overused character of the punch drunk fighter with the irritate character of the choreographer and make the audience wince with embarrassment for everyone involve in the making of this movie . if you like pretty dress and watch this film and hit the mute button . if you watch it in anticipation of see a solid minelli peck bacall movie and save your time . it just not pretty see a vulnerable lauren bacall at her bad and whether due to the direction or to her now visible weakness a an actress . if minelli be go for a film with near slapstick comedy and he miss . it be neither slapstick nor comedy .