1h 35min | Comedy, Musical | 14 March 1953 | Color
Director: Gordon Douglas
Stars: Virginia Mayo, Gene Nelson, Frank Lovejoy, Steve Cochran, Patrice Wymore.
LeRoy Prinz ... numbers staged and directed by
In the Tap! Appendix for Condos and Brandow, Virginia Mayo, Gene Nelson.
The is the penultimate film appearance for Steve Condos (partnered with Jerry Brandow, dancing with Patrice Wymore) until Tap ('89). I've watched the YouTube clip of their dance often, but seeing it on the "big" screen with an official release disc gave me a whole new perspective on the SOUND of it. When I read about why dancers respected Steve so much, it was always about the rhythms he made with his feet. Dancing with a partner, or worse, with multiple partners, suppressed that. It's his improv, his solos, where that shines. I grieve that we didn't get more of that on film. The only word I have for his 20 second solo is sublime.
Patrice is a terrific dancer too, and we get more than just the rehearsal with C&B. Next time through the musicals, I'll be sure to pay more attention to her. This is her 5th (and possibly 2 more) musical of 12 films.
And then there's Gene Nelson. How are there not altars erected in every state to this guy? He's leaping in the air and onto things like gravity is an option. Graceful, elegant, handsome and I'm totally smitten. Only 3 more dancing films with him.
Songs performed (10 chapters, no menu):
- ch3. I May Be Wrong, Performed by Gene Nelson (slight dancing)
- ch4. One Step Ahead, Performed by Patrice Wymore, Condos and Brandow (all 3 dance)
- ch4. I'll Take You, Sung and danced (slightly) by Virginia Mayo (dubbed by Bonnie Lou Williams (uncredited)) and Gene Nelson
- ch5. Break the Ties That Bind You, Performed by Virginia Mayo (dubbed by Bonnie Lou Williams (uncredited)), rehearsal where SC tries to break her
- ch6. Breakfast in Bed, Performed by Virginia Mayo (dubbed by Bonnie Lou Williams (uncredited)) and ensemble, big production number
- ch8. rehearsal dance: VM, GN, ensemble, possibly song "Voodoo"
- ch8. Mardi Gras danced by PW, male quartet, ensemble
- ch9. Behind the Mask, sung by tenor, danced by VM, GN (big solo) and ensemble
- ch10. I'll Take You, Also sung/danced by Gene Nelson, Virginia Mayo (dubbed by Bonnie Lou Williams (uncredited)) & Chorus
The story, about a movie star (VM) with a stalled career, who goes back to B'way to restart her movie career is ok. The B'way show within the film is completely incomprehensible: lots of flashy numbers with no possible way they link together, so impossible that it must be the writers winking at us about B'way or musicals or both. The drama with VM & SC is a 6. But the dancing...
Warner, dir. Douglas; 8-
