Mary Martin has been trying to get a role in the theater for more than a year with no success. She's at a casting call for a new show when the star walks out, and the call is cut short; the director, Don Ameche, producer, Jerome Cowan, and backer, Raymond Walburn wants a southern girl. Miss Martin heads back home and has her uncle and aunt waylay Ameche and composer Oscar Levant, so she can offer a cornpone rendition. Ameche doesn't like it; he wants the show's original star, but Levant is all for her. So....
It's based on a play by Claire Booth inspired by the ballyhoo searching for Scarlett O'Hara, and it's full of great bits: Levant's mordant wit; Eddie Anderson's sand dance; Elizabeth Paterson going on about Yankees; even Ameche gets a rare chance to sing in the movies. the songs were composed by director Victor Schertzinger, with Frank Loesser's lyrics. However, in the effort to add more value, more bits, more gags, it runs a bit long. Still, it's a pleasure seeing Miss Martin sing and clown, even if the songs are not top-drawer.
It's based on a play by Claire Booth inspired by the ballyhoo searching for Scarlett O'Hara, and it's full of great bits: Levant's mordant wit; Eddie Anderson's sand dance; Elizabeth Paterson going on about Yankees; even Ameche gets a rare chance to sing in the movies. the songs were composed by director Victor Schertzinger, with Frank Loesser's lyrics. However, in the effort to add more value, more bits, more gags, it runs a bit long. Still, it's a pleasure seeing Miss Martin sing and clown, even if the songs are not top-drawer.