Review of Yolanda and the Thief (1945) by Ashley H — 19 Nov 2009

Musicals are an acquired taste I have never really acquired, but I figured I'd give this one a shot because of its unusual reputation - panned upon its release, it has since developed a cult following because of its bizarre imagery.

Unfortunately, it doesn't live up to its reputation. The characters are shrill and annoying, the plot is bland (every gag falls horribly flat), and the songs are pretty awful. It is an appropriately lavish Technicolor production impressively staged by director Vincente Minnelli, but the handful of offbeat images there are are few and far between, and really not worth sitting through the rest of it.

Fans of old-fashioned Hollywood musicals may find some entertainment value, but everyone else should just avoid it.