Believe it or not, frisky Fred Astaire (as Danny O'Neill) and boyish Burgess Meredith (as Hank Taylor) are a pair of trumpet-playing college roommates. To explain their old age, the story suggests they've been failing in college for seven years (to get good gigs for their band). A likely story. They meet pretty secretary Paulette Goddard (as Ellen Miller), who dances and romances Mr. Astaire and Mr. Meredith (one will win her on-screen, one will win her off-screen). They also meet and compete with famous bandleader Artie Shaw (newly single, after divorcing Lana Turner). Complicating matters, Ms. Goddard goes to work for Mr. Shaw.
Shaw managed to get the "Second Chorus" soundtrack highlight "Concerto for Clarinet" into the Top 10, riding the coattails of his much bigger non-soundtrack "Frenesi" - #1 for thirteen weeks, during this film's original release. Astaire couldn't catch a break at Paramount Pictures after RKO ran its course, and his record sales were more waning than waxing. He is a class act, however, occasionally shining in this obviously lackluster movie. The Astaire/Goddard highlight is easily "Dig It (I Ain't Hep to That Step)" as you'll see, and don't expect any competition (unless you want to include the version by Les Brown and Doris Day).
*** Second Chorus (12/3/40) H.C. Potter ~ Fred Astaire, Paulette Goddard, Burgess Meredith, Artie Shaw
Shaw managed to get the "Second Chorus" soundtrack highlight "Concerto for Clarinet" into the Top 10, riding the coattails of his much bigger non-soundtrack "Frenesi" - #1 for thirteen weeks, during this film's original release. Astaire couldn't catch a break at Paramount Pictures after RKO ran its course, and his record sales were more waning than waxing. He is a class act, however, occasionally shining in this obviously lackluster movie. The Astaire/Goddard highlight is easily "Dig It (I Ain't Hep to That Step)" as you'll see, and don't expect any competition (unless you want to include the version by Les Brown and Doris Day).
*** Second Chorus (12/3/40) H.C. Potter ~ Fred Astaire, Paulette Goddard, Burgess Meredith, Artie Shaw