1h 36min | Musical | 20 December 1940
Director: Herbert Wilcox
Stars: Anna Neagle, Richard Carlson, Victor Mature, Roland Young, Helen Broderick, Zasu Pitts, Eve Arden.
Aida Broadbent ... choreographer
Watched online, mediocre print. Several other posts available.
Well, it began with a promising rendition of I Want To Be Happy, but declined into a heavy ratio of comedy:song. And the comedy is frantic because Nanette is trying to protect her uncle from the consequences of his actions, over and over and over again. Yes, at least 3 blackmailers/gold diggers are trying to bilk him for favors and/or cash because he'd previously helped them, and his wife might not understand. Tiresome.
Only 2 other songs appear: the title song, and Tea For Two, and then all three are melding into a medley to which AN dances in her own dream. But AN does not dance much, perhaps less than Marilyn Miller (who could get en pointe, as I recall). The chorus girls behind her don't dance much either; that would highlight her shortcomings, I suppose.
So, mediocre print, tiresome plot, weak musical numbers. The + is for familiar songs.
Suffolk Productions, distr. RKO, dir. Wilcox; 5+
