KISS ME KATE
( CLICK HERE for MEMBERS version )
Spanking's Golden Age of Public Respectability was centred on the 1950's . Kiss Me Kate had been on stage for five years when the film version was produced by MGM in 1953 . It predates the John Wayne spanking films by over ten years . Throughout the period spanking was widely practiced , with many references in normal conversation , movies , the press , post cards etc .
The lead actors , Kathryn Grayson and Howard Keel appeared in the spanking scene hundreds , if not thousands of times . In a television interview , Howard Keel said that on more than one occasion the spanking was for real . ( Grayson apparently had a temper . )
Here are some scenes from various productions :
( 1948 Broadway Production )
Kiss Me Kate is still performed by local musical societies and is a useful tool for SPANKING PROSPECTING , be it as an performer or a member of the audience with an intended spanking partner at your side .
Of course the scene needs to be rehearsed .
The film version is available on Video and DVD :
Kiss Me Kate ( 1953 ) DVD
Kiss
Me Kate ( Broadway Revival - PBS Great Performances )
( 2003 ) DVD
Kiss Me Kate ( 1953 ) VHS
Kiss
Me Kate ( Broadway Revival - PBS Great Performances )
( 2003 ) VHS
Kiss Me Kate ( 1953 ) VHS
3D VERSION
Ann Miller , who tapped up a storm in Kiss Me Kate , remembers that " every time we finished a musical number , we had to do a 3-D version as well . It wasn't easy , but we did it " .
" The 3-D version was different , because we had to throw things towards the camera . When I did the Too Darn Hot number , I threw scarves and a bracelet , things like that . "
Turner Entertainment , now owns the 3-D versions of Kiss Me Kate .
STORYLINE
It is useful to learn the plot , particularly if you want to act it out in real life :
Baltimore , 1948 . The cast and stagehands arrive at Ford's Theater to load in the new show ( Another Op'nin,' Another Show ) . Fred Graham is producing , directing and starring as Petruchio in a new musical version of Shakespeare's The Taming of the Shrew , which also stars his ex-wife , Lilli Vanessi , as Katharine . Once happily but stormily married , Fred and Lilli now fight like cats and dogs . Lilli seethes when Fred flirts with other women , especially Lois Lane , the young nightclub star he cast as Bianca ( her first " legitimate " role ) . However infatuated Fred is with Lois , he also cast her boyfriend in the show : Bill , a hoofer-turned-actor who is also a gambler .
Not surprisingly , Fred and Lilli celebrate the first anniversary of their divorce with a heated argument , during which Lilli takes a phone call from her wealthy new fiancé General Harrison Howell . Fred's jealousy propels him to continue their petty squabble , but soon the two stars are reminiscing about the Wunderbar days gone by , when they were struggling actors in love .
Fred has ordered some flowers for Lois , but his dresser mistakenly delivers them to Lilli . She is deeply touched: the bouquet contains the same flowers she and Fred had at their wedding ( So In Love ) . Fred is in a pickle-not only were the flowers meant for Lois, so was accompanying note . Before he can explain, Lilli has tucked the unread note safely next to her heart , in the bosom of her gown , and takes the stage for the scene where Petruchio meets Katharine .
While offstage during the scene , finally Lilli reads the note meant for Lois . She is furious . Back on stage , Lilli's rage for Fred mirrors Katharine's for Petruchio , and she , as Katharine , hits , slaps and bites him for all she's worth . Fred , as Petruchio , tries to woo her (Were Thine That Special Face ) , but finally responds to Lilli's " adlibbing " by spanking her over his knee .
The Taming of the Student Shrew
