1h 20min | Comedy, Musical, Romance | 1 August 1942
Director: Gregory Ratoff
Stars: John Payne, Betty Grable, Victor Mature, Jane Wyman, James Gleason, Phil Silvers.
Hermes Pan ... dance director
Angela Blue ... assistant choreographer (uncredited)
bootleg, decent copy.
Very poor title. Footlight Footwork would be better, since the finale here is a boxing match between JP & VM.
BG sings/dances an audition, we get a number danced by BG & HP, in rehearsal clothes, subbing for both intended dancers, just to see how the routine is shaping up, and a third dance with BG & chorus, then her shadow (which spars with her). Soundtracks also lists a BG/JP duet. In the Tap! Appendix for BG & HP.
The film totally lacks glamour, since all completed musical numbers are rehearsal only.
Of course, I don't like VM, so that colors my rating. If the role were played by Robert Ryan (who has no credits in '41-'42), or Cesar Romero, maybe Anthony Quinn, or just about anyone else who could pass for a boxer with song/dance ambitions, I would probably like this better.
Fox, dir. Ratoff; 6
