Watch Anything Goes

Anything Goes is a 1936 musical comedy film directed by Lewis Milestone, based on the popular stage musical of the same name by Guy Bolton, P. G. Wodehouse, Howard Lindsay and Russel Crouse. The film features an ensemble cast comprising of some of the biggest names of the era, including Bing Crosby, Ethel Merman, Charles Ruggles, among others.

The film revolves around a motley crew of passengers traveling aboard the S.S. American en route to Europe. Among them are Reno Sweeney (Ethel Merman), a brassy nightclub singer and former evangelist, Billy Crocker (Bing Crosby), a young and dashing Wall Street broker, Hope Harcourt (Ida Lupino), a beautiful debutante engaged to Lord Evelyn Oakleigh (John Payne), a hapless Englishman, and Moonface Martin (Charles Ruggles), a notorious gangster on the run from the law.

As the ship sets sail, Billy gets a surprise visit from his boss Elisha Whitney (Henry Stephenson), who asks him to deliver a package to a friend in London. The package, as it turns out, contains a passport and a letter of credit, both belonging to Whitney, who plans to stay behind on the ship and party. When Billy bumps into Hope onboard, he realizes that he is still in love with her and hatches a plan to win her back. However, Hope's engagement to Lord Oakleigh blocks his path, and he devises a way to smuggle Moonface, who is disguised as a minister, into the bridal suite to convince Hope to break off the engagement.

Meanwhile, Reno, who has her sights set on Sir Evelyn, decides to help Billy win Hope's heart. Together, they team up to perform a show-stopping rendition of the title song "Anything Goes," which not only brings the house down but also begins a series of romantic entanglements and mistaken identities.

Throughout the journey, the passengers find themselves in hilarious and unexpected situations, including Moonface passing himself off as a member of the clergy to evade the law, Billy hiding in a trunk to avoid detection, and Reno leading a tap-dancing routine through the ship's corridors.

With its witty dialogue, catchy tunes, and outlandish plot, Anything Goes is a delightful and entertaining musical extravaganza that captures the spirit of the times. The film features some of Cole Porter's most iconic songs, including "I Get a Kick Out of You," "You're the Top," and "Blow, Gabriel, Blow," all performed with gusto by the film's talented cast. The chemistry between Crosby and Merman is palpable, and their duet on "You're the Top" is a highlight of the film.

Overall, Anything Goes is a timeless classic that showcases the talents of some of Hollywood's biggest stars and remains a beloved favorite for fans of musicals and vintage cinema.