The hostess with the mostest lives in the form of 1953's "Call Me Madam", a film in which Ethel Merman reprises her Broadway starring role as Sally Adams, everyone's favorite socialite as she rises to the rank of ambassador and finds love where she least expects it. The film's cast includes Ethel Merman, Donald O'Connor, Vera-Ellen, George Sanders, Billy De Wolfe, Helmut Dantine, Walter Slezak, Steven Geray, Ludwig Stossel, and Lilia Skala.
We meet Mrs. Sally Adams as she's sworn in as the United States Ambassador to the Grand Duchy of Lichtenburg. Sally is very excited to be going, but "where the heck is Lichtenburg?" she asks around the room.
We're given a little of Sally's backstory as it pertains to Washington D.C. society, and we find out that she's "The Hostess With The Mostest On The Ball".
At her farewell party, Sally meets young Kenneth Gibson who volunteers himself to be her press attache. She quickly finds out how valuable his services are.
Kenneth goes ahead to the embassy in Lichtenburg, where he finds out that the charge d'affairs is not happy about Sally's appointment and plans on running things himself. "Like to make a little bet?" asks Ken.
The charge d'affairs, Pemberton Maxwell, is definitely unimpressed when he meets Sally. "Call the duke and duchess, will you? And tell them I'll drop in around four, sort of get acquainted."
Meanwhile, the charming Lichtenburg Secretary of State comes calling, and Sally is instantly smitten. A feeling that is mutually shared by General Cosmo Constantine.
Warned by the American government not to offer cash poor Lichtenburg any money, Sally succumbs to Cosmo's charm and sings "Can You Use Any Money?". Cosmo tells her he doesn't want any loans. He believes Lichtenburg has enough natural resources to pay its own way. Sally doesn't take him seriously when it comes to the loan. She brushes past the subject and invites him for a future dinner date.
While out shopping, Kenneth inadvertently meets the heir to the throne of Lichtenburg, Princess Maria. Both of them are smitten with each other.
On the evening of Sally's presentation at the palace, we meet the Princess's fiance, Prince Hugo, whom she's in no hurry to marry.
Waiting in an anteroom, Sally is given last minute instructions on greeting the Grand Duke and Grand Duchess. She also struggles to maneuver the train of her gown.
When the time comes, Sally gracefully enters the room and makes her way towards the Grand Ducal family.
However, she falls flat on her keester when making her final curtsy. She also makes a little impromptu speech. "And I want to tell you how happy I am to be in this Grand Duchy of Lichtenburg. I think one reason is it just so happens that one of my ancestors was Dutch. So, you can understand how happy I am to be in this Grand Duchy and to meet all you grand Dutchmen."
When it comes time for dancing, Kenneth whisks Princess Maria onto the floor, while Sally dances with Cosmo.
Sally even dances with the Grand Duke who asks her about the differences between parties in Lichtenburg and in America. "Well, we have a good time," smiles Sally.
She's even prevailed upon to sing "That International Rag" as a way to spice things up. "Real razzmatazz, Highness," she jokes with the Grand Duke as she takes to the stage to belt out her number.
Kenneth and Princess Maria, however, sneak off to the gardens for some more romantic dancing.
Before she leaves, Pemberton Maxwell corners her and puts doubts into Sally's head about Cosmo's intentions and sincerity. She plans to get to the bottom of it.
The next day, Kenneth finds himself pining for the Princess. Sally mentors him with some advice. "You're Not Sick, You're Just In Love," she sings.
At Lichtenburg's annual fair a few days later, celebrations are in high gear as Princess Maria dances the "Ocarina".
Sally meets with Cosmo, though she is on her guard as to his intentions. And Kenneth is thrilled to see Princess Maria for a few moments after her dance. Though, she is cautious about being seen with him. "It is not permitted for me to talk to a young man in public," she tells him. "I'm willing to make it private," he says with a smile.
Prince Hugo interrupts them, and Kenneth is put in his place by the jealous fiance.
That night, Kenneth goes to a local tavern and gets drunk, causing some disturbance. The next day, he apologizes to Sally, who promptly tears up a report on the matter written by Maxwell.
Maxwell confronts Sally about it, but she puts him in his place. She informs him that if things went by regulations, he would've been out a long time ago because of the things he's pilfered from the embassy, things she is supposed to take inventory of.
Sally arranges for Kenneth and Princess Maria to meet in the underground tunnels that connect the palace with the embassy, which leads to some more enthusiastic dancing.
For her dinner with Cosmo, Sally goes over some details with Maxwell. It's funny to watch them later as Maxwell is confused over some signals Sally is not sending him as previously discussed. She gets exasperated and tells him to "Beat it. Get it? Beat it!"
Sally continues to get closer to Cosmo, still dismissing his supposed not wanting any money from America. When the two kiss, Cosmo tells her that they've made history because it was the first time a foreign minister ever kissed an ambassador. "Cosmo, let's make more history," she suggest gladly.
Sally's good-intentioned meddling in the loan business and with Princess Maria and Kenneth is enough to earn her Cosmo's anger and her recall back to Washington.
Upon arrival, Sally does what she does best: throws a party. At the party, Kenneth tells Sally that Cosmo has just been named Lichtenburg Ambassador to the US. Nervously, Sally prepares to receive him.
They patch everything up, and Cosmo presents her with a decoration from the Grand Duke. "This order entitles you to be called a Dame," says Cosmo. "A dame? Say, that's quite a promotion," exclaims Sally.
Kenneth is surprised when he sees Princess Maria. She tells him she's given up Prince Hugo and the throne of Lichtenburg in order that they might be together.
Everyone returns to the ballroom to join in a medley of the film's hit songs. Cast rundown:
Donald O'Connor.............................Kenneth Gibson
Vera-Ellen......................................Princess Maria
George Sanders..............................General Cosmo Constantine
Billy De Wolfe.................................Pemberton Maxwell
Helmut Dantine...............................Prince Hugo
Walter Slezak..................................August Tantinnin
Steven Geray..................................Prime Minister Sebastian
Ludwig Stossel................................Grand Duke Otto
Lilia Skala.......................................Grand Duchess Sophie And that's it for Call Me Madam. Ethel Merman received a Golden Globe for her portrayal of the hostess with the mostest. Sally Adams is actually based off of Perle Mesta, who served as the US Ambassador to Luxembourg, and was a powerhouse society hostess herself. As always, if you wish to leave a comment, please remember our posting rules.
