By 1944, Mickey and Judy had moved past the big barn shows at MGM, but universal took the cue to start their own series. These jazzy, jitterbug filled musicals were made on half the budget, but when found, prove to be as entertaining, if more streetwise, than the apple pie and hot dog mixtures of Louis B. Mayer's vision of teen America during the war years.
The beautiful Ann Blyth is a sweet society girl who wants to help the less than fortunate teens who want to be able to attend an exclusive music school, but Blyth must get around her controlling aunt (Alma Kruger) and us aided by her artist uncle (Leon Errol). Up goes the nightclub, and kids determined to stay out of trouble pray for the best as they tap their troubles away.
Two of the musical numbers from this also were heard in MGM musicals the same year: "Loch Loman", here sung in a jazzy version to stodgy musical school director Ian Wolfe, done in a more lavish but similar way in " Bathing Beauty", and Marion Hutton's hit, "Take It Easy", performed by Virginia O'Brien in "Two Girls and a Sailor". Peggy Ryan scores in a song and dance version of the childhood game, " Musical Chairs".
June Preisser, who was deliberately cloying as the perky former child in "Babes in Arms", basically repeats her role, singing admirably (but still somewhat cloying) a cute number called, "I've got a way with the boys". As a result of all the musical numbers and great comic performances (also including Andy Devine), this is quite good, given a few lavish moments for good measure.
The beautiful Ann Blyth is a sweet society girl who wants to help the less than fortunate teens who want to be able to attend an exclusive music school, but Blyth must get around her controlling aunt (Alma Kruger) and us aided by her artist uncle (Leon Errol). Up goes the nightclub, and kids determined to stay out of trouble pray for the best as they tap their troubles away.
Two of the musical numbers from this also were heard in MGM musicals the same year: "Loch Loman", here sung in a jazzy version to stodgy musical school director Ian Wolfe, done in a more lavish but similar way in " Bathing Beauty", and Marion Hutton's hit, "Take It Easy", performed by Virginia O'Brien in "Two Girls and a Sailor". Peggy Ryan scores in a song and dance version of the childhood game, " Musical Chairs".
June Preisser, who was deliberately cloying as the perky former child in "Babes in Arms", basically repeats her role, singing admirably (but still somewhat cloying) a cute number called, "I've got a way with the boys". As a result of all the musical numbers and great comic performances (also including Andy Devine), this is quite good, given a few lavish moments for good measure.
