A rather melancholy story lifted up by Irving Berlin's music and Fred Astaire's top dancing - he meant this film to be his last, and there is a touch of tragedy to the finale, which still is the most accomplished show item in the film, together with the overwhelming virtuosity and fantastic trick filming of "Puttin' on the Ritz"; but what's the matter with the dummy Bing Crosby? He has a fine voice but nothing else, no temperament, no passion, no expression, his acting is awkward, and together with Fred he makes a clumsy and stupid impression. The story is interesting for its long range from the 20s to the 40s - Fred loves Mary and makes shows with her and wants to marry her all through the film, but Bing comes in between, and for some reason she falls in love with him. Eventually they get married but separate, because Bing is actually married to his night clubs, which he constantly keeps changing, and Mary in the end can't bear with his inconstancy. When Mary has ditched Fred once too much, he hits the bottle, with consequences. It's a problematic plot of a "ménage a trois" were ultimately no one gets anyone, and all they have is their music, their shows, their dancing and Irving Berlin's tunes. Most of Bing's performances here are ridiculous, while Fred for some reason always managed to surpass himself.
Review of Blue Skies
