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Less a coherent film than a series of famous cameos, location photography, and a pleasing star turn from Cyd Charisse, Meet Me in Las Vegas is an overlong but cute diversion. The story is a dumb little trifle that gives up on itself by the halfway mark; pity there’s nearly another hour to go before it’s over. A country boy in Las Vegas meets a ballerina who he believes is his good luck charm, romance follows, as do various specialty numbers.
The main reason to watch Meet Me in Las Vegas is to see Cyd Charisse’s various dance sequences. Charisse as an actress is someone that I have typically found lacking, but she’s very pleasing here. No great actress, but here she finds an appropriate star vehicle that makes a solid case for watching her in action. The film also keeps her dancing consistently, which is always a plus.
The various dance numbers show the full-range of her artistry. From the strong, athletic balletic dances to a flirty, drunken burlesque number, Charisse is magnetic to watch in movement. Surrounding her is a series of blink-and-miss-it cameos, many of whom I must have blinked and missed. Agnes Moorehead makes an impression, but when doesn’t she? Lena Horne, Sammy Davis Jr., a very young George Chakiris, Jim Backus, Frankie Laine, and Jerry Colonna all popped up in various moments making some kind of an impression. But in the end, Meet Me in Las Vegas doesn’t register as much, not even as a simple entertainment, once it’s over. Unless you’re a big fan of Charisse, I think it’s safe to skip it and look for her dance routines on YouTube.
