Athena

This film is a delight. It's about a culture clash in the LA of the mid-fifties, between Athena (Jane Powell), a numerologist from a large, eccentric family who own and operate a health-food store and live in a kind of New Age Olympus on top of one of the Hollywood hills, and Adam (Edmund Purdom), a conservative lawyer whose family hails from Massachusetts and who likes steaks, cigarettes, and martinis. He also happens to be running for Congress, which makes his relationship with Athena and her unusual family problematic. This 60+ year old film humorously but respectfully presents the Southern-California health culture of the mid-1950's, that was still considered by many to be way-out and crazy - including vegetarianism, strenuous exercise, bikes vs. Cars, and body building. The songs by Hugh Martin and Ralph Blaine are fantastic, including the lovely "Love Can Change the Stars", with its wonderful, unusual rhymes, and "I Never Felt Better," an energetic number headlined by Debbie Reynolds and Powell, and choreographed (as is the whole film) by Valerie Bettis. Another great tune is Vocalize, first sung by Jane as she mulches some peach trees, and reprised several times. The bodybuilders (Steve Reeves, Richard DuBois, et al) mostly come off as jerks, which I guess was necessary to the plot, so that the "regular" guys can get the best of them, but it's a bit unfair. By the end of the film there's harmony between all parties - not really adequately explained, but hey, it's not War And Peace, it's just an MGM musical, and a fun one. Edmund Purdom is handsome, quietly charming, and appropriately stiff as the lawyer who loves Athena, but when he's supposed to be loosening up, well, he's still maybe a bit stiff. Vic Damone, in the second lead, plays a TV crooner who woos Debbie and has a couple of numbers to showcase his superb skills, including a reworking of "The Boy (Girl) Next Door" from Meet Me In St. Louis, and "Venezia," which has nothing to do with the plot (it's sung in a nightclub act) but is another terrific song by Martin-Blaine. The lovely and very talented Jane also gets to sing the obligatory classical piece (from Donizetti's "Daughter Of The Regiment") and really sells it. All in all, the musical interludes are legit, and make the picture one of the more truly enjoyable MGM musical shows. The supporting actors in the film are great, especially Louis Calhern as the 78 year old grandfather who can still do gymnastics (Calhern was actually in his late 50's); Evelyn Varden ("I love you, let us be friends") as Grandma, who communes with a spirit called Narda; Ray Collins, Carl Benton Reid, and Howard Wendell as the three older law partners urging Purdom to maintain his dignity; the wonderful Kathleen Freeman as Purdom's stuffy secretary (who starts out eating chocolates and winds up munching on a raw carrot); and the subtly bitchy Linda Christian, who is so good as Athena's blue blood adversary you somehow can't quite hate her as much as you should. Also in the cast are the lovely actress-singer Virginia Gibson, as well as talented Nancy Kilgas, both of whom were also in "Seven Brides For Seven Brothers" (1954) with Jane. Also delightful is Henry Nakamura (you may remember him from "Westward The Women", or "Go For Broke") as Purdom's houseboy, who informs his boss that Powell speaks Japanese with a Spanish accent. The settings are imaginative and expertly realized, especially the modernistic hilltop home of the Mulvains, and the vocal, orchestral and choral arrangements are fantastic. There is just something fresh and likable about the movie, its setting, characters, tunes, and dances. Sadly, the era of the MGM musicals was on the wane when this one was made. Jane Powell's film career didn't survive her departure from the studio, though Debbie Reynolds became an even bigger star over then next ten years.

source: Athena

If you're into pretty girls and muscle boys than Athena is definitely for you. Louis Calhern and Evelyn Varden are the grandparents last name of Mulvain of six healthy girls the two oldest being Jane Powell and Debbie Reynolds. They are health fanatics who raise their grandchildren on a strict diet. Calhern has many pupils, some of them male and they become bodybuilders and enter the Mr. Universe Contest. His current hopeful is a real former Mr. Universe and future Hercules Steve Reeves. Into their lives come Back Bay scion Edmond Purdom and singer Vic Damone who like Powell and Reynolds but not the crazy way they're being tutored. Calhern has a diet like the late Euell Gibbons and Varden communes with nature. Both are into numerology and sometimes the numbers don't add up to anyone's happiness. This is one goofy musical with a lot of forgettable songs by Ralph Blane and Hugh Martin. The highlight is a revival of one of their hits from Meet Me In St. Louis and sung by Vic Damone as The Girl Next Door. Edmund Purdom tries his best to pull off a Cary Grant imitation, but believe me this is one knockoff Cary Grant. If you're a fan of any of the leads it's OK entertainment.

Not one of the better "B" musicals of MGM's golden age, but worth a look despite unusually cheap looking sets, mediocre choreography, and wooden Purdom. Debbie Reynolds sparkles with energy and talent, Jane Powell looks and sings beautifully. Some of the songs are musically fresh and innovative, others just serviceable. The satire of the new age and fitness lifestyles are surprisingly ahead of it's time, though often show ignorance of the real thing (Debbie Reynolds sings and dances a song where she happily sprays some DDT, for example). Interesting: Some of Debbie and Jane's "sisters" are also in the far superior "Seven Brides For Seven Brothers".

Two out of seven modern-day sisters, each named after a Greek Goddess and living with their vegetarian, health-conscious grandparents (no word on what happened to their actual mother and father!), find romance as destined by the stars. Numerologist Jane Powell quickly lays her lips upon stuffy lawyer Edmund Purdom, while pony-tailed Debbie Reynolds is matched with spiritless crooner Vic Damone. Opening predicament with Damone being sued by his agent is quickly dropped, as are Purdom's plans to run for Congress (!). Instead, the two men get involved in the lives of their lovely ladies--as well as with grandpa Louis Calhern, who is in the midst of training musclemen for the Mr. Universe contest. No memorable songs, but the presentation is colorful, airy, and pleasant. The hot-headed characters keep running off half-cocked, while the script becomes more and more illogical. Still, the energy displayed is infectious and the supporting cast is solid. **1/2 from ****

Jane Powell is Athena. Her sister, Minerva, is played by Debbie Reynolds. One is named after the Greek goddess of wisdom; the other is named after the Roman goddess of wisdom. They have five others sisters named after figures from ancient mythology, and they all live with their grandparents (named Ulysses and Salome) in an enclave that celebrates vegetarianism, healthy living, exercise, astrology and a lifestyle designed to create healthy individuals. Those familiar with Jack Lalanne might recognize some tenets of his lifestyle. To those on the "outside", like the characters played by Vic Damone and Edmund Purdom, this can be confusing or kooky. But there is no denying the allure of these comely beauties who also happen to be surrounded by bodybuilding hunks like Steve Reeves. This quirky film falls under the musical comedy umbrella, but it seems to offer something different---an outlook on the world. Although it bears a resemblance to another film released in 1954---"Seven Brides for Seven Brothers", its depiction of an alternate culture separate from the rest of the world is similar to another film musical released that year: "Brigadoon". The unique soundtrack includes songs by Martin and Blane that fit the unusual narrative and allow the cast to demonstrate their vocal talents. This film is not for everyone, but I find it charming and enjoyable.

The robust smash hit of 7 Brides For 7 brothers literally spawned this star struck mini musical of 1954....and if one has a closer look in reels 1 2 and 3 (instead of 4 5 and 6) one can almost hear the board room pitch quoting the 7 Brides box office as the excuse to rush ATHENA into production: "That what they want! healthy boys and girls with an appetite for life living on some farm. The boys flex their muscles and the girls tend their.......er......garden." and so we have what is a lively and funny musical for the 20 year olds market that was called the teen market very soon after........quite rightly predating the AIP Frankie Avalon and Annette Funicello frolics ten years later in Muscle Beach Party etc. Athena is good fun and well made. The muscle contest at the end to the tune "Jealousy" is well coded with beefcake antics....and all filmed from what might be called the bulging cossie angle. Hilarious! I would be fascinated to see the missing ten minutes as reported on the IMDb that the original running time was 115 minutes as opposed to the 95 mins only now available. I wonder was edited out and where can the footage be seen?

Athena is a musical that grows better with time. Starring lovely Jane Powell, handsome Edmund Purdom, lively Debbie Reynolds, and cute Vic Damone, this story of a new age family living in the hills of California, whose tenants include numerology, spiritualism, vegetarianism, no smoking or drinking, astrology, weight building, group singing, etc. manages to be a delight today, whereas other musicals of that era look rather dated. At the time it premiered it was considered rather a flop, but today it looks fresh and sparkling and topical. It's time for an official DVD release so we can obtain the film in a nice crisp digital print, instead of fuzzy VHS. The few songs in the film are all beautiful and snappy, with a touch of irony and humor. I wish they were available in sheet music form, so that those of us who love "Love Can Change The Stars" can warble it while playing on our pianos or guitars. I'm glad TCM plays it occasionally, it's always a treat, and nice to know that, at the time of this writing, all the major stars still seem to be alive and kicking. There was just something about the early training of the stars at MGM that helped the performers achieve longevity. Look at most of the major MGM musical stars of the 1940's and 1950's and many lived into their 80's or 90's, or are still with us. I guess it taught them endurance. So much better than being a couch potato! ;) I wish the old fashioned musical would come back to our theaters, but failing that, we always have these golden oldies to dream upon, whenever we need a break from this cruel world.

Unlike MGM's expensive, classic musicals of the 1950s, the modest, light-hearted but equally delicious "Athena" has been all-but-forgotten. A shame, because this lilting, lively melodious lark is not only a wryly amusing satire on an eccentric family of health-food nutritionists/numerologists, but, most importantly, a dazzling showcase for some of the most tuneful musical numbers to grace any film of its era. The score, by Ralph Martin and Hugh Blane (of "Meet Me in St. Louis" fame), offers such treats as Jane Powell singing the poignant, haunting ballad "Love Can Change the Stars" (which should have become a popular hit); Powell, Debbie Reynolds and their 5 sisters performing a breathtakingly energetic, knockout song-and-dance production number "I Never Felt Better"; and Ms. Powell (never more bewitchingly alluring) setting off vocal fireworks with her superb rendition of Donizetti's "Chacun Le Sait" from the operetta "Daughter of the Regiment." The plot, wherein Powell & Ms. Reynolds defie their nutritionist fanatic grandfather's (a delightful Louis Calhern) dictums by falling in love with, respectively, Edmund Purdom and Vic Damone (two carnivores with the wrong "signs") is decades ahead of its time in its wise, gentle and good-humored satire of life-styles and fads (culminating in a body-builder contest where one of Calhern's proteges is Steve Reeves, who would a mere 4 years later attain international screen stardom as "Hercules"). Amusing as it is, the plot rightfully takes second-place to the wondrous cast of MGM's most gifted young musical talents of the day--in their full vocal and dancing glory captured in glistening pasteled Technicolor. (Sadly, they were all soon to be given their walking papers when Television became the new national rage, and the first of the terrified studio's contract players to be dismissed were the stars of its taken-for-granted musicals. Indeed, Powell, Reynolds and Damone would co-star in only one more MGM songfest, "Hit the Deck"--as warm, charming, and tuneful as "Athena"--as well as a boxoffice disappointment.) Meanwhile, tune in "Athena" the next time TCM shows it--and don't be surprised if, weeks later, you find yourself humming, whistling or singing Ms. Powell's glorious delivery of what is perhaps this delectable movie's most rousing, catchy tune--the zesty, jubilant "Vocalize"!

I caught this film on TCM the other day and I must say I was strangely enthralled by it. There was something magical about the atmosphere created in this film with the sets and the star fields. Jane Powell's singing of "Love can change the Stars" was especially mesmerizing and it made me want to immediately go and get "Seven Brides For Seven Brothers". Steve Reeves was especially notable in this film. The weightlifting competition was yet another treat to behold. The song and dance numbers were lively and Debbie Reynolds was a dynamo. All in all, I taped this film and have reviewed it many times since.