Admirable film.

It's fun, it's light, [but] it has a hard time when its tries to get heavy.

Pretty good movie overall. First half was nothing special but it got better as it went along.

The performances transcend the film's tropes, grounding it in characters that feel more complete than this subgenre often produces.

Delightful musical comedy with William Holden, as a shy sailor, beginning his illustrious career in films. After dazzling two women, sailors on the ship wager that he can conquer and defrost the Countess, well played by Dorothy Lamour, especially in a court room scene where she pulls out all the stops as a vamp.Bette Hutton and Eddie Bracken are along for the ride. They provide real comic antics while accidentally constantly derailing the budding romance between the Holden and Lamour characters.Benny Goodman is on hand with his band and the songs are delightfully staged- Tangerine, I Remember You and others. There is even a delightful comedy ballet in between.That court room scene and the brawl on the dance floor during a Conga dance are memorable.

DOROTHY LAMOUR never looked more alluring and WILLIAM HOLDEN never looked as impossibly youthful as he does in THE FLEET'S IN. His acting as a shy sailor shows a natural talent right from the start.It's a "cute" minor musical from the studio that nurtured the talent of BETTY HUTTON, who plays Lamour's roommate. Lamour is a frozen ice queen called "The Countess," known for being "hard to get." When Holden plants a kiss on a pretty society gal that's seen by his Navy buddies and another on a movie star for publicity purposes, his team decides he's a regular sea wolf and place bets on how soon he gets to kiss "The Countess." The slim plot gets interrupted--sometimes for too lengthy a time, by musical comedy acts. GIL LAMB and CASS DALEY are a bit too strident for my taste but BOB EBERLEY and HELEN O'CONNELL can do no wrong when they sing some catchy songs with Jimmy Dorsey's orchestra. EDDIE BRACKEN provides the chief comic relief and does it well.A dancing duo by the name of LORRAINE and ROGNAN do a wildly funny dance act in a nightclub scene. The Johnny Mercer songs include "I Remember You," "Tangerine" and "The Fleet's In." Good escapist fun that lifted the morale of the service men during WWII.

It took almost 65 years from my first viewing of this musical to the recent viewing when I managed to acquire a DVD of "The Fleet's In". Can't think of another musical in which such disparate performances of classics appear in the same movie. "Tangerine" was identified with Helen O'Connell for her entire career. "Arthur Murray Taught Me Dancing In A Hurry" was never associated with anyone but the irrepressible Betty Hutton. Although Dorothy Lamour was not as closely identified with the classic "I Remember You", it was the third standard that emerged from this low budget musical. The marvelously funny Lorraine and Rognan were to appear in only one more performance recorded on film ('Salute For Three' in 1943)Gil Lamb may not have been a believable threat to Eddie Bracken but his many and varied comic abilities were superlative such as his 'harmonica' routine. Enough of his work was included to make the 'trip home' delightful. (You CAN go home again for old movies) If the opportunity ever arises, leap at the chance to see this WWII movie.

Overall, not much of a movie - the plot is predictable, dialogue is drippy, comedy is corny. The basic premise of the movie is that a sailor (William Holden) has been "tricked" into a bet by his shipmate (Mr. Eddie Bracken - outstanding, as usual). The object or conquest - try to get a "beautiful" but very unapproachable night club singer (Dorothy Lamour) to kiss him while he's in town on a weekend leave. To be perfectly honest, by the time the movie is 90% complete, one doesn't care if he wins the bet or not!! The cast includes so many unknown "featured" acts that, I'm sure, were funny at the time. The only problem is, their particular style of performing doesn't withstand the test of time. And the humor falls flat with a resounding THUD! THE main reason for watching this movie can be summed up with two words - Betty Hutton!!! This was her very first picture for Paramount and, despite being featured only as a "supporting" player, literally walks away with the film. Her boundless energy and all-out frenetic performing style is refreshing and magical!! Her voice is smooth, her comedic wit is sharp, and her genuine love of entertaining is infectious!! (Oh so apparent as she sings "Arthur Murray Taught Me Dancing In A Hurry" -WOW!!) In other words, unless you are a "dyed in the wool" Hutton devotee or enjoy watching the comedic sparring of "Betty vs. Bracken" - bypass this movie. A better evening could be spent watching the Dean Martin/Jerry Lewis remake entitled "Sailors Beware" (with a cameo by Betty Hutton).