1h 31min | Musical | 6 November 1942
Director: Irving Cummings
Stars: Betty Grable, Carmen Miranda, John Payne, Cesar Romero, Charlotte Greenwood, Edward Everett Horton, Harry James.
Hermes Pan ... choreographer
bootleg, poor print.
To be honest, I was drowsy while watching this, so I can't be certain, but I think this was a war-free film, could have been made a year earlier, but IMDb says production was 15 June 1942 - 10 August 1942.
This film definitely disproves my theory that BG can't partner-dance. That's almost all she does here, with Cesar Romero, and they are excellent together. He does more legwork than usual, keeping up with her. But they never missed a hand-meet. This is his specialty (ballroom), and he took the lead well.
JP sings with BG, and looks awkward even swaying to the music.
CM does indeed wear 2 black/white outfits here, plus at least 4 with vibrant colors, especially green/aqua. She also dance a bit with CR, and romances EEH.
CG (b. 1890) does her rubber-hipped kicks, and her hand+feet "crawl", plus her flat-on-the-floor splits. She also eyes EEH.
We also get some big ensemble work in vibrant colors. In the Tap! Appendix for BG, and she does tap. I should get the official release.
The plot is all show biz (B'way) and romance. And we get some Harry James music. (He & BG marry in mid-'43. She's been divorced since '40.)
Fox, dir. Cummings; 6+
