Gripping story with well-crafted characters

good back-story, and good acting

Disapointment

It really made me laugh, but for some moments I was tearing up because I could relate so much.

Songs by Arthur Schwartz (music) and Leo Robin (lyrics): "I Happened To Walk Down First Street" (Carson, Morgan, Paige and Greene), "A Solid Citizen of the Solid South" (Carson and Paige), "Through a Thousand Dreams" (Morgan and Vickers, accompanied by Cavallaro), "A Gal in Calico" (Morgan, Carson, Paige, Vickers), "A Rainy Night in Rio" (Morgan, Carson, Paige, Vickers), "Oh, But I Do" (Morgan). Miss Vickers' singing voice dubbed by Sally Sweetland. Dances directed and staged by LeRoy Prinz. Music adapted by Frederick Hollander, arranged by Dudley Chambers, orchestrated and conducted by Ray Heindorf. Music director: Leo F. Forbstein. Copyright 28 December 1946 by Warner Brothers Pictures, Inc. A Warner Brothers-First National picture. New York opening at the Strand: 26 December 1946. U.S. release: 28 December 1946. U.K. release: 26 May 1947. Australian release: 22 January 1948 (sic). 9,483 feet. 105 minutes.SYNOPSIS: A musical highbrow (well played by Donald Woods) tries to stop the next-door nightclub from putting on a show.NOTES: "A Gal in Calico" was nominated for the year's Best Song award, but lost out to "Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah" from Song of the South.COMMENT: Engagingly acted by all concerned (especially by the lovely Martha Vickers and gold-digging Angela Greene), this is a bright, colorful musical comedy with two standout songs: "A Gal in Calico" and "A Rainy Night in Rio". The plot provides some amusing variations on the standard putting- on-a-show ploy and does tend to become a bit overloaded with material, presumably to ensure that all six of the principals (Morgan, Carson, Vickers, Paige, Sakall and Greene) enjoy a fair share of the action. Intending viewers are warned, however, that S.Z. Sakall manages to figure in rather more than a strictly equitable shake. For instance, he's not just a spectator of the musical numbers, but also tries to conduct the orchestra (whilst getting dressed, yet). I thought he was entertaining, but if you're not particularly partial to S.Z.'s visual and aural shenanigans, better give this Place a miss. On the other hand, everyone's favorite pianist (and mine), Carmen Cavallaro (later to win fame for his superlative dubbing for Tyrone Power in "The Eddy Duchin Story") is present both in person and on the sound track — and that is a major treat that surely no fan in his right senses would want to miss.

A two hour technicolor musical featuring romantic comedy storyboard cultural preferences the dialogue and storyline seem among the weaker of those surviving. Cuddles Szakall and the less known today Florence Bates play their familiar comic shtick of the busybody older gent and his controlling wife with perfect coming timing, one of the best aspects of the film. Dennis Morgan who often poses and croons and Jack Carson, who often gets into trouble and clowns around play familiar roles when co-cast though this time in one of the weaker plots. The formula puttin' on a show plot of the era does not work as smoothly as it does in other films with the three female leads none today remembered each playing stock characters in the formula plot. Well technically crafted in technicolor it lacks the direction or interest maintaining format of its competitors.

A boilerplate Warners mid-'40s musical, but a triumph for the Great American Songbook, this backstager has some gorgeous Arthur Schwartz melodies married to Leo Robin lyrics wittier than anything in the script. The Oscar-nominated "Oh, But I Do" is one of Schwartz' loveliest melodies ever, and the little-known "A Thousand Dreams" isn't far behind. There's "A Gal in Calico," which once it gets in your head simply won't leave (it's been in mine for days) and "A Rainy Night in Rio," part of the South American craze then hitting the Hit Parade. There's "A Solid Citizen of the Solid South," done in grimace-inspiring blackface, but actually a pretty good number if you can get past that. All are "diegetic" numbers, meaning they're part of the stage entertainment in the film rather than related to plot or character, and they're backed by luscious Warners orchestrations, which were brassier and jazzier than what the arrangers turned out at Paramount or 20th or MGM. To get to these goodies you have to sit through a lot of inconsequential backstage plot, not to mention the tiresome jowl-shaking of S.Z. Sakall and the badly dated comedy of Jack Carson. But there's Martha Vickers, pretty and appealing, and Janis Paige, always reliable for sex appeal and a tart way with a good line. And Dennis Morgan, a Warners staple in the '40s, who had more presence and testosterone than most of the singing-capon tenors movie musicals of the day typically turned out. Carson and Morgan were sort of Warners' Hope and Crosby and were teamed many times. This is one of their more tolerable efforts, thanks almost exclusively to the efforts of Messrs. Schwartz and Robin.

This movie is excellent.The cast was wonderful..Dennis Morgan, Jack Carson,Janis Paige,Martha Vickers,S.Z. Sakall and more... WOW!!I especially noticed that Dennis Morgan looked very relaxed in this film.It seemed like he was having lots of fun!He always is excellent in movies with Jack Carson.They performed easily with each other because they were such good friends.It shows!! Janis Paige and Martha Vickers are very lovely and great actresses.My favorite parts in this film are the romantic scenes with Dennis and Martha and when Janis accidentally sprays Jack in the face with a bottle of seltzer.Dennis couldn't help but giggle in that scene!This movie is full of songs and very highly enjoyable!