This is about the film. For the stage musical, see Can-Can (musical).
Can-Can.
Can-Can is a 1960 film musical.
Cast[]
- Frank Sinatra - François Durnait
- Shirley MacLaine - Simone Pistache
- Maurice Chevalier - Paul Barriere
- Louis Jourdan - Philippe Forestier
- Juliet Prowse - Claudine
Plot[]
In the Montmartre district of Paris, a dance known as the can-can, considered lewd, is performed nightly at the Bal du Paradis, a cabaret where Simone Pistache is both a dancer and the proprietor. On a night when her lawyer and lover, Francois Durnais, brings his good friend, Chief Magistrate Paul Barriere, to the club, a raid is staged by police and the performers, including Simone, are placed under arrest.
Paul wishes the charges to be dismissed, but his younger colleague Philippe Forrestier believes the laws against public indecency should be enforced. Visiting the cabaret and pretending to be someone else, Philippe becomes better acquainted with Simone and develops a romantic interest in her, but she is warned by dancer Claudine that he is actually a judge.
Despite his attraction to her, Philippe arranges for Simone to be arrested once more. Francois again defends her in court and Philippe is persuaded to drop all the charges. He then shocks Simone by proposing marriage to her. She goes to Francois, warning him that she will accept the proposal if he does not marry her himself. Paul, meanwhile, tries to talk Philippe out of it, believing such an arrangement would end his career.
Simone obtains a loan from Francois to stage a ball, insisting he accept a deed to the cabaret as collateral. The police come this time and take Francois away instead of her. Simone writes a letter to Philippe, saying she cannot in good conscience become his bride. A can-can is performed to the approval of all, agreeing that it is not in any way obscene. When the police nonetheless escort Simone to a wagon used for prisoners, she is startled to find Francois inside, and even more surprised when he finally proposes.
Musical numbers[]
- "I Love Paris" - Chorus
- "Maidens Typical of France" - Claudine and Girls
- "C'est magnifique" - François
- "C'est magnifique" (reprise) - Simone
- "Live and Let Live" - Paul and Phillipe
- "You Do Something to Me" - Phillipe
- "Let's Do It" - Francois and Simone
- "It's All Right With Me" - Francois
- "Live and Let Live" (reprise) - Phillipe and Paul
- "Come Along With Me" - Simone
- "It's All Right With Me" (reprise) - Phillipe
- "Montmart'" - François, Paul and Chorus