Chuck (Dan Dailey) hasn't been having much luck in Vegas. However, when he holds Maria's hand (Cyd Charisse),the suddenly finds that together they are unbeatable. So, they spend an evening in the town winning at every casino. However, as the night progresses two problems develop. Maria has too much to drink and makes a spectacle of herself. And, Maria falls for Chuck...and is angry that Chuck doesn't reciprocate. After all, he holds her hand and even kisses her...but he seems oblivious to her charms. Eventually, when he does notice her, now she's a cold fish! What is next for this odd couple? Well, when she visits Chuck's ranch, the hens lay eggs like crazy and oil is discovered on the property! Talk about luck!!

So is it any good? Yes and no. While the story is enjoyable, tossing in so many production numbers really hurt the film. I am sure many loved all the singing and dancing...but I felt it really derailed the nice romance...so much so that at the end, the nice happy ending just seemed tacked on as it followed TONS of dancing and singing. Enjoyable but it just misses the mark.

One of the great blunders committed by MGM was the fact that Cyd Charisse was never cast opposite her husband Tony Martin. Right around this time musicals were winding down, but Tony and Cyd were just getting started on a joint nightclub act that made them a premier attraction around the country for many years.

Don't get me wrong, Dan Dailey is a fine performer and he did a good job in the male lead role. But I would love to have seen Tony Martin playing the role of the rancher who gets on a hot winning streak at the Las Vegas casinos after he holds Cyd Charisse's hand. Making matters worse is the fact that Tony Martin does do one of the unbilled cameos in this film.

Cyd Charisse has some fine dance numbers, especially the Frankie and Johnny finale where she danced to the famous blues song sung offscreen by Sammy Davis, Jr. Dan Dailey has some good numbers as well, he does a nice soft shoe routine with a young Japanese girl to My Lucky Charm which was earlier sung by Jerry Colonna.

The nice thing about this film is the fact that because of the Las Vegas location you can integrate a whole lot of celebrities doing numbers and not have it mess with the story. Lena Horne, Frankie Laine and Jerry Colonna all do some nice musical numbers. Around the casinos one will spot besides Tony Martin, Debbie Reynolds, Peter Lorre, and the man most identified with the Vegas scene shortly, Frank Sinatra.

Other members of the cast that have good supporting roles are Jim Backus as the casino manager, Agnes Moorehead as Dailey's mother, and Paul Henreid as Charisse's manager. Some of Henreid's performance seems to be modelled on that of Charisse's first husband Nico, according to the stories Charisse told in her joint memoirs with Tony Martin.

Meet Me in Las Vegas is good musical entertainment, but what a blown opportunity not to have had Tony and Cyd as leads in a musical.

Dan Dailey and Cyd Charisse provide some good chemistry in this 1956 film. Unfortunately, they're a little too old to play the parts of the gambler and ballerina who discover they're meant for each other.

In her short appearance as Dailey's mother, Agnes Moorehead's part would have been more suitable to the likes of Marjorie Main. Her booming voice was needed with the scenes on the farm.

Charisse dances up a storm and Dailey is given little musical talent, except that he sings very well with a young Japanese child.

As her manager, Paul Henried looks so different in color, but maintains the same smoking tradition as he did with Bette Davis, 14 years before, in "Now, Voyager."

Cara Williams is able to dance up a storm and really vamps around the stage. Who did the coloring of the hair in the movie? Williams and Moorehead have that same heavy red tint. What kind of henna were they using?

Since we're dealing with the Las Vegas night club scene, the appearances of Frankie Laine and Lena Horne are worthwhile. Don't think we don't see Frank Sinatra and Peter Lorre at the slot machines and tables as well.