Copyright 8 June 1945 by Beverly Produc¬tions, Inc. Presented by Samuel Goldwyn. Released through RKO Radio Pictures. New York opening at the Astor: 8 June 1945. U.S. release: 25 April 1945. U.K. release: 4 Feb¬ruary 1946. Australian release: 10 January 1946. 9,024 feet. 100 minutes.
SYNOPSIS: Twins. One is murdered. With the aid of his brother's ghost, the other brings the killers to justice.
NOTES: Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences Award, Special Effects, to Fulton (photographic) and Johns (sound). Also nominated for Sound Recording (The Bells of St Mary's), Scoring of a Musical Picture (Anchors Aweigh), and Best Song, "So In Love" ("It Might As Well Be Spring" from State Fair). Film debut of Broadway dancer, Vera-Ellen.
COMMENT: For rabid Danny Kaye fans only. True, that Technicolor photography is as bright and vivid as the Emerald Isle itself, that Virginia Mayo is one gorgeous colleen, while that Vera-Ellen can sure turn a neat pair of ankles. God's truth, the story is ingenious enough, and the special effects are as creative as they come. And sure, some of Danny's routines are mildly amusing - but the spectacle of him mugging and hamming and eye-rolling without one respite from beginning to end, it's enough to irritate and frighten off the most devoted fan. Even that famous sneezing-Russian routine is as tedious as it is unfunny. Maybe we're so prejudiced against the lad, we just don't appreciate his talents. For sure, the script is cleverly designed to show off every speck of it, - in fact to give us two Dannys for the price of one. Actually, the more subdued Danny isn't too bad, but as for the brash go-getter, the Irish impersonator and the climactic opera mish-masher (this opera routine was pretty stale even in 1945), his fans can keep him. The expansive Mr Goldwyn has surrounded his clownish centerpiece Kaye with loads and loads of talent, both on (just look at that grand roster of support players plus the lovely Goldwyn Girls) and behind the camera (what a pity to waste such particularly attractive costumes and sets to showcase a camera-hogging comedian), though Lucky Humberstone's direction is unusually benign and totally unobtrusive. He too is subservient to the demands of Mr Kaye.
SYNOPSIS: Twins. One is murdered. With the aid of his brother's ghost, the other brings the killers to justice.
NOTES: Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences Award, Special Effects, to Fulton (photographic) and Johns (sound). Also nominated for Sound Recording (The Bells of St Mary's), Scoring of a Musical Picture (Anchors Aweigh), and Best Song, "So In Love" ("It Might As Well Be Spring" from State Fair). Film debut of Broadway dancer, Vera-Ellen.
COMMENT: For rabid Danny Kaye fans only. True, that Technicolor photography is as bright and vivid as the Emerald Isle itself, that Virginia Mayo is one gorgeous colleen, while that Vera-Ellen can sure turn a neat pair of ankles. God's truth, the story is ingenious enough, and the special effects are as creative as they come. And sure, some of Danny's routines are mildly amusing - but the spectacle of him mugging and hamming and eye-rolling without one respite from beginning to end, it's enough to irritate and frighten off the most devoted fan. Even that famous sneezing-Russian routine is as tedious as it is unfunny. Maybe we're so prejudiced against the lad, we just don't appreciate his talents. For sure, the script is cleverly designed to show off every speck of it, - in fact to give us two Dannys for the price of one. Actually, the more subdued Danny isn't too bad, but as for the brash go-getter, the Irish impersonator and the climactic opera mish-masher (this opera routine was pretty stale even in 1945), his fans can keep him. The expansive Mr Goldwyn has surrounded his clownish centerpiece Kaye with loads and loads of talent, both on (just look at that grand roster of support players plus the lovely Goldwyn Girls) and behind the camera (what a pity to waste such particularly attractive costumes and sets to showcase a camera-hogging comedian), though Lucky Humberstone's direction is unusually benign and totally unobtrusive. He too is subservient to the demands of Mr Kaye.