1h 13min | Musical, Romance | 19 April 1940
Director: S. Sylvan Simon
Stars: Lana Turner, Joan Blondell, George Murphy.
Bobby Connolly ... dance director
Eddie Larkin ... dance director
GM's first number is an exuberant solo, tapping and leaping. He's good at going vertical. The rehearsal number is also good, where LT really shines (she wears a miniskirt, but GM wears baggy pants/shirt?) The 3rd number, GM/LT in formal wear (dress rehearsal) starts slow, and finally broke into tap and finished faster, but the footwork is too fast for a long gown, so you end up watching him.
A definite remake of The Broadway Melody (1929). The plot has boyfriend/girlfriend/sister of gf, where sister is the one selected to dance and boyfriend falls for her. She, the sister, falls for alcohol and a rich guy whose intentions are not sincere. Yup, GM/JB/LT are the trio, and we have a rich guy, who already has 4 former wives. LT doesn't fall quite so hard for booze here, and she almost marries the rich guy. I don't remember if the 2 films end the same way, but this one is far more enjoyable, and JB is a terrific choice for her role.
It's time to add GM & LT to the worthwhile dancers list. In the Tap! Appendix for George Murphy.
MGM, dir. Simon; 6+
