As a musical comedy, "Small Town Girl" is not on par with MGM's top films in this genre. However, it is a basically pleasant movie, colorfully made and professionally performed. Jane Powell, the beautiful leading lady, lacks in decent material, relegated to unmemorable songs and a characterization that is pretty bland when comparred to supporting characters played by Bobby Van and Ann Miller. The small town innocence is there, although a production number with Van and Powell at a box social seems totally out of place. When Van breaks into a musical number in Papa S.Z. Sakall's store, pure joy erupts, and when he starts his delightful hopping number, the silliness doesn't matter. His elation becomes the audience's.] As for the story, I couldn't find myself believing wealthy New Yorker Farley Granger falling in love with Duck Falls resident Powell and planning to move there. I liked the fact, however, that his mama (Billie Burke) supported Judge Robert Keith's decision to arrest Granger and hold him for 30 days for speeding through town and contempt of court. However, that as a ruse in the screenplay to get Granger and Powell together in a romantic way just didn't ring true. Powell is charming and Granger is very handsome, but they shared no chemistry. As for Annie Miller, she gets some witty lines and a magnificent musical number (the lavish "I Gotta Hear That Beat!") staged by Busby Berkley that features huge drums and other instruments coming out of the stage with only the musician's hands appearing to play them. Pure genius on Berkley's part, and an equal visual treat as original as the "Our Love Affair" number in "Strike Up the Band!" where cakes and a fruit bowl become an entire orchestra.
Review of Small Town Girl
