1h 40min | Comedy, Musical, Romance | 15 March 1945
Director: Charles Reisner (as Charles Riesner)
Stars: Lucille Ball, Dick Powell, Virginia O'Brien, Bert Lahr, June Allyson.
Jack Donohue ... dance director (as Jack Donahue)
Sammy Lee ... dance director
Charles Walters ... dance director
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0037062/
Wow: DP was first-billed in Warner musicals back when LB was still a Goldwyn Girl; now she topped him. And her part is bigger. I wonder how many more times she plays a famous actress who rubs elbows with commoners. This is at least the 3rd one, or maybe in one she was an heiress.
First and last Producer credit for E.Y. Harburg, lyricist of Over the Rainbow and many other gems. He has songwriting credit with 3 composers here.
11 chapters, 10 min each:
- ch1. I Can't Dance (I Got Ants in My Pants), Sung and Danced by Ziggie Talent with Vaughn Monroe and His Orchestra
- ch2. In Times Like These, Sung by Dick Powell and Lucille Ball (dubbed by Gloria Grafton)
- ch3. Der Fuehrer's Face, Instrumental performed by Spike Jones and His City Slickers
- ch3. Meet the People, Sung by Dick Powell and chorus in his daydream, Reprised by Lucille Ball (dubbed by Gloria Grafton) and chorus at dress rehearsal
- ch4. Acrobatic Dance Music, Instrumental danced by Miriam LaVelle
- ch5. Shicklegruber, Played by Spike Jones and His City Slickers and sung by Beau Lee
- ch6. Heave Ho, Sung by Bert Lahr and ensemble
- ch7. In Times Like These, Played also by Vaughn Monroe and His Orchestra and sung by Vaughn Monroe
- ch7. I Like to Recognize the Tune, Sung by June Allyson, Virginia O'Brien, Ziggie Talent, Vaughn Monroe, The King Sisters and others, with Vaughn Monroe and His Orchestra
- ch8. Oriental Music, Danced by 'Mata and Hari' (more acrobatics than dance)
- ch10. Say That We're Sweethearts Again, Sung by Virginia O'Brien at the show
- ch10. It's Smart to Be People, Sung by Lucille Ball (dubbed by Gloria Grafton), Dick Powell, Virginia O'Brien and ensemble
- ch11. Meet the People, Sung by a chorus at the end
The comedy acrobatic dance by Mata and Hari was a high point. This is their only film credit; her bio gives a fair amount on them (married). They have several TV credits, and did live theatre.
Overall, I like this film. The big emphasis on what people who strive together can accomplish is uplifting.
MGM, dir. Reisner, 6+
