Semi-musical romantic-comedy "One Touch of Venus" is rather one-dimensional, and looks like an old episode of "Playhouse 90" to boot. Robert Walker is a tough actor to get a hold on in this early role: striking a boyish, diminutive figure, his nebbish voice doesn't reveal anything deep, and there's no core of tension in his work (he tries hard, but he's a nervously self-conscious amateur); worse yet is a young Ava Gardner, not quite the dazzling Goddess of Love she's supposed to be. Based on the book "The Tinted Venus", film about a statue coming to life was previously done as a musical play and could actually use more singing to give it some lift (despite comedy vet Frank Tashlin as one of the screenwriters). It's cheaply-produced (even for 1948) and has little vitality. Only Eve Arden, as a sarcastic working girl, spices things up. ** from ****
Review of One Touch of Venus
