A showcase for Betty Hutton. The studio tried squeezing her into a standard leading lady; but this movie has many more of her talents on display.
Hutton plays a Paramount phone operator who wants to marry a sailor (Eddie Bracken). The sailor's father (Victor Moore) is a studio guard who pretends to be a big shot to impress his boy and his pals.
Moore makes such an impression he finds himself having to stage a review at the naval base at short notice.
This movie may be found in the Bob Hope Tribute Collection; and, while Hope has a funny bit early on, his largest role is as Masters of Ceremonies (don't we miss him at the Oscars!) and as the lead in one of the review skits.
Naturally, the review consists of many Paramount stars (some, alas, forgotten) and sets impossible to build on a moment's notice. The skits are definitely hit and miss. The worst is a Franchot Tone, Fred MacMurray, Ray Milland and Lynne Overman card routine. The final act is Bing Crosby beautifully singing a patriotic song.
In a jaded twenty-first century where freedom is no longer valued, the flag unfairly degraded, patriotism called jingoism and the dangers of World War II forgotten, some of this material may not play well. Too bad. We live in an age of selfish people who have it too easy.
Some good songs, including standards "That Old Black Magic" and "Hit the Road to Dreamland." Highlights include a song-and-dance by Eddie "Rochester" Anderson; and Hutton getting mixed up (literally) with Vaudevillian comic team Wahl and Oldfield. Oh, and a song by 1942 beauties Dorothy Lamour, Veronica Lake and Paulette Goddard that changes into a trio including Arthur Treacher and Sterling Holloway.
Hutton plays a Paramount phone operator who wants to marry a sailor (Eddie Bracken). The sailor's father (Victor Moore) is a studio guard who pretends to be a big shot to impress his boy and his pals.
Moore makes such an impression he finds himself having to stage a review at the naval base at short notice.
This movie may be found in the Bob Hope Tribute Collection; and, while Hope has a funny bit early on, his largest role is as Masters of Ceremonies (don't we miss him at the Oscars!) and as the lead in one of the review skits.
Naturally, the review consists of many Paramount stars (some, alas, forgotten) and sets impossible to build on a moment's notice. The skits are definitely hit and miss. The worst is a Franchot Tone, Fred MacMurray, Ray Milland and Lynne Overman card routine. The final act is Bing Crosby beautifully singing a patriotic song.
In a jaded twenty-first century where freedom is no longer valued, the flag unfairly degraded, patriotism called jingoism and the dangers of World War II forgotten, some of this material may not play well. Too bad. We live in an age of selfish people who have it too easy.
Some good songs, including standards "That Old Black Magic" and "Hit the Road to Dreamland." Highlights include a song-and-dance by Eddie "Rochester" Anderson; and Hutton getting mixed up (literally) with Vaudevillian comic team Wahl and Oldfield. Oh, and a song by 1942 beauties Dorothy Lamour, Veronica Lake and Paulette Goddard that changes into a trio including Arthur Treacher and Sterling Holloway.