1h 27min | Comedy, Musical, Romance | 13 November 1942
Director: Tim Whelan
Stars: Victor Mature, Lucille Ball, Harold Peary
Charles Walters ... dance ensembles
Watched online, poor copy.
VM has a badly-matched voice double; he moves around a lot in places, but is it really dancing?
We get some good big-band music, and decent ensemble dancing. But the energy, the acting and the looks of VM really put me off. If this had been Franchot Tone, or anyone less overbearing, I might have found the story more interesting. (VM is heir to a modest fortune, but the will has a codicil requiring him to marry the descendant of a rival family. The only candidate, LB, has money of her own, so he feels he must romance her to get the wedding. But she's already engaged, with a wedding date nearby.) LB's mind flipflops very readily about whether she's loyal to her betrothed or attracted to the hulk. No possible ending here is happy, although I suspect VM fans would disagree.
This is Charles Walters' (b. 1911) first adult film credit (he had a "child" actor credit in 1924). He dances on film a few times, has 22 choreography credits and 24 director credits. I remember a moment where he dances with Judy Garland that impressed me in Presenting Lily Mars ('43), and noticed his name as director in my collection before starting this quest. (It's probably a good sign that he makes at least 2 films with most stars.)
There is sort of a backdrop of the war: VM & pals are soldiers trying to accomplish his goals on a 1-week furlough. The end shows a LOT of men in various uniforms sailing away to war. Buy Bonds.
RKO, dir. Whelan; 5
