In the 1950s, with the Hollywood studio system in decline, a lot of movie talents looked east to Broadway for stage vehicles. That probably explains the existence of the 1955 . The property itself had begun life as a straight play in 1922, with a story set in Paris during World War I about two lower-class lovers. Then there was a 1927 silent film adaptation that won the first Oscar for a leading actress, followed by a 1937 remake. The composer attached to the version was , a busy film scorer near the end of his career (he would die in 1956) who nevertheless managed to do the scores for six films the same year he did . The stars were two medium-level former contract players whose work had included movie (but who had never appeared on Broadway before), , who at the advanced age of 30, was washed up as an ingenue in Hollywood, and , who, at 34, was in his prime as a Latin lover. The rest of the cast was filled out with sturdy stage talent, including , , and (the latter two not heard on the cast album). And , after years of chorus work, was moving up to her first featured part. Opening May 26, 1955, was the final show of the 1954-1955 season, and it never had a chance to find an audience, closing after 44 performances on July 2. The cast album reveals the performers to be talented, particularly , who has three big, lively numbers. But it also reveals one possible reason for the show's failure, a pedestrian score. 's movie credentials are referenced in the instrumental which sounds like it came from one of his films. But his songs are only adequate, and stage veteran 's lyrics don't lift them out of mediocrity. As a result, is a minor effort that will be of interest only to completists who follow the careers of , or any of the other principals. ~ William Ruhlmann