1h 50min | Comedy, Musical, Romance | 8 December 1950
Director: Richard Haydn
Stars: Bing Crosby, Nancy Olson, Charles Coburn, Ruth Hussey, Robert Stack, Tom Ewell, Richard Haydn, Marge Champion, Gower Champion, Groucho Marx, Dorothy Kirsten, Peggy Lee.
Gower Champion ... choreographer
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0042753/
Watched online, mediocre print.
Was released on VHS, but not available on dvd yet?
A better plot summary: the producer HIRES a secretary to get BC back on track. He's a golfer, but not portrayed as "crazy" about it.
Robert Stack (b. 1919) adds nicely to this as the athletic hunk that NO should be attracted to. He gets the final gag in the film. I only questioned his age because I remember him from an earlier ('39) Deanna Durbin film; he still passes for a college athlete here.
My rating gets an extra boost from Marge & Gower Champion's one dance number. It's constrained by taking place in a crowded party, and one of the shots failed to capture GC's landing fully, but they are a joy to watch. This is his 4th film credit; I can't say that I remember him from the other 3. It's his 1st choreography credit. Peggy Lee sings at the same party.
Director Haydn and actor Haydn are the same person; this is his 3rd & final director credit. He again plays someone much older than he is.
Groucho & D.Kirsten help put on the show for the backers. The show doesn't look/sound good to me.
This has a nice plot, with an interesting character in NO, some nice spice with the Champions, RS, RH, TE and CC. Maybe it should be a 7-, but I'm feeling generous.
Paramount, dir. Haydn; 7
