Sunday, February 18, 2018

Higher and Higher (1943), 6

With their employer bankrupt, servants scheme to marry maid Millie to a rich husband. But Frank Sinatra lives across the street...
1h 30min | Comedy, Musical, Romance | December 1943
Director: Tim Whelan
Stars: Michèle Morgan, Jack Haley, Frank Sinatra, Leon Errol, Mary Wickes, Victor Borge, Barbara Hale, Mel Torme.

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0036919/

Pleasant fluff with 9 songs that reinforce the story (they sing about what they just talked about). 5 are sung by FS, 3 where Mel Torme lent his voice, 3 with Dooley Wilson participating (no excisable specialty here), 5 featuring Michele Morgan (dubbed by Martha Mears). The whole cast sings, so they do. And most songs are lively, hence "fluff." Apparently this was a musical play first.

Mel Torme's (b. 1925) first of 22 acting credits.

4th film for Sinatra; first where he has a role beyond singer.

RKO, dir. Whelan; 6