I Love Melvin | Rotten Tomatoes (2024)

Tomatometer 4 Reviews 55% Popcornmeter Fewer than 50 Ratings

Insignificant assistant photographer Melvin Hoover (Donald O'Connor) is instantly love-struck after meeting struggling actress and chorus line dancer Judy LeRoy (Debbie Reynolds). To win her over, Melvin greatly embellishes the importance of his position at a trendy magazine, claiming that with his help Judy could appear on the magazine's cover. Their budding romance is threatened, however, when Melvin's ploy is exposed to Judy and her entire family during a staged photo shoot.

Watch on Fandango at Home Buy Now

Where to Watch

I Love Melvin

Critics Reviews

View All (4) Critics Reviews
I Love Melvin | Rotten Tomatoes (1) Bob Thomas Associated Press Likable diversion. Jun 24, 2019 Full Review I Love Melvin | Rotten Tomatoes (2) Dennis Schwartz Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews The appealing energetic cast do wonders with the slight material. Rated: B- Apr 29, 2010 Full Review I Love Melvin | Rotten Tomatoes (3) Steve Crum Video-Reviewmaster.com Silly, typical '50s teen type fluff with competent O'Connor and Reynolds in leads. Rated: 3/5 Apr 30, 2007 Full Review I Love Melvin | Rotten Tomatoes (4) Carol Cling Las Vegas Review-Journal OK musicial, but hardly an MGM classic. Rated: 3/5 May 19, 2006 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

View All (12) audience reviews

Steve D One of the thinnest scripts ever put to film. Rated 0.5/5 Stars • Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars 06/25/23 Full Review Audience Member The best of the MGM musicals of the time period, being held back only by its title "I Love Melvin". What genius sunk this classic with that monstrosity of a name? This is a magical and wonderful movie musical with great chemistry between Donald O'Connor and Debbie Reynolds. In this vehicle, we are finally free of the egotistical Gene Kelly and are introduced to the talented and delightful Donald O'Connor who dances to entertain us; not to prove to us how great he is. Debbie Reynolds is delightful as well as talented and there is genuine chemistry between O'Connor and Reynolds.This MGM musical was, by far and away, better than "Singin' in the Rain" but audiences have tuned into the title of "Rain" -- which was written several decades before the movie ever came out -- and there is no great title song associated with "I Love Melvin" like there should be. That was a huge mistake on MGM's part, leaving this great movie musical in the dark when it should have been at the forefront of the studio's best productions."I Love Melvin" is a masterpiece of the movie musical genre and should have served as a model for future successes.Try watching "I Love Melvin" and then "Singin' in the Rain" -- it's obvious that Melvin is much superior in almost every way. In Melvin, you are caught up in the characters, the music, the action, and the plot and you feel uplifted, as a good movie musical should make you feel. You won't get that same feeling from the inferior "Rain". "Melvin" is one of the best examples of a good Hollywood musical. If they had kept making them this way, they would still be making them. O'Connor and Reynolds and the supporting cast work well together. There is no showboating here or trying to outshine the other actor. We have a cast of people willing to share in the spotlight so that the audience can enjoy what is happening.This is the one of the best movie musicals of all time. . Rated 5/5 Stars • Rated 5 out of 5 stars 02/16/23 Full Review Audience Member Although the film contains some charming song and dance numbers, the non-compelling storyline is lackluster and predictable. Rated 2/5 Stars • Rated 2 out of 5 stars 02/19/23 Full Review Audience Member Minor MGM musical is a good example of how the studio could take a slight story and make it interesting; Reynolds and O'Connor make a nice team, especially in the "Where Did You Learn To Dance?" number; O'Connor also dances on roller skates. Rated 3.5/5 Stars • Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 02/27/23 Full Review s r A silly feel good musical. Rated 3/5 Stars • Rated 3 out of 5 stars 03/31/23 Full Review Audience Member reunites reynolds & o'connor (from 'singing in the rain" for yet another musical. Rated 2.5/5 Stars • Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars 01/21/23 Full Review Read all reviews

I Love Melvin

My Rating

Read More Read Less POST RATING WRITE A REVIEW EDIT REVIEW

Cast & Crew

Don Weis Director Donald O'Connor Melvin Hoover Debbie Reynolds Judy Schneider Una Merkel Mom Schneider Richard Anderson Harry Flack Allyn Joslyn Frank Schneider
Show Less Cast & Crew Show More Cast & Crew

Photos

View All I Love Melvin photos

I Love Melvin

I Love Melvin (1953) I Love Melvin (1953) I Love Melvin (1953) I Love Melvin (1953) I Love Melvin (1953) I Love Melvin (1953) I Love Melvin (1953) I Love Melvin (1953) View more photos

Synopsis Insignificant assistant photographer Melvin Hoover (Donald O'Connor) is instantly love-struck after meeting struggling actress and chorus line dancer Judy LeRoy (Debbie Reynolds). To win her over, Melvin greatly embellishes the importance of his position at a trendy magazine, claiming that with his help Judy could appear on the magazine's cover. Their budding romance is threatened, however, when Melvin's ploy is exposed to Judy and her entire family during a staged photo shoot.

Director
Don Weis

Producer
George Wells

Screenwriter
George Wells

Distributor
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer

Production Co
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer

Genre
Musical, Comedy

Original Language
English

Release Date (Theaters)
Mar 20, 1953, Original

Release Date (Streaming)
Apr 1, 2012

Runtime
1h 16m
Most Popular at Home Now
I Love Melvin | Rotten Tomatoes (2024)
Top Articles
Latest Posts
Recommended Articles
Article information

Author: Annamae Dooley

Last Updated:

Views: 5991

Rating: 4.4 / 5 (45 voted)

Reviews: 92% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Annamae Dooley

Birthday: 2001-07-26

Address: 9687 Tambra Meadow, Bradleyhaven, TN 53219

Phone: +9316045904039

Job: Future Coordinator

Hobby: Archery, Couponing, Poi, Kite flying, Knitting, Rappelling, Baseball

Introduction: My name is Annamae Dooley, I am a witty, quaint, lovely, clever, rich, sparkling, powerful person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.