I'm not joking when I say I think that this film a mess. The plot barely holds together. The musical number son the sub and ship are atrocious...wait a minute...is it a sub or a ship...it seems to have changed once the film got going. And then we have the problem of Buddy Ebsen...a performer I have never seen perform a single time when I thought he was an asset to a film; I do not understand the attraction at all. Every film he was ever in would have been better without him.
And yet, despite these negatives, it's still an enjoyable film.
The number one asset -- Eleanor Powell. At least on the female side of dancing, no one can compare...ever. And, she seems like a generally charming person.
Number two asset -- Jimmy Stewart, who comes across rather well in a musical, despite not having a very good voice...and yes, that is him singing.
Number three asset -- two Cole Porter masterpieces: "I've Got You Under My Skin" and "You'd Be So Easy To Love". Can't do better than that, and it makes up for the horrid 'ship' songs.
Number four asset -- good supporting performers (with the exception of Ebsen): Una Merkel (always a gem), Sid Silvers, and Frances Langford.
So yes...it's a mess, but rather a glorious mess.
And yet, despite these negatives, it's still an enjoyable film.
The number one asset -- Eleanor Powell. At least on the female side of dancing, no one can compare...ever. And, she seems like a generally charming person.
Number two asset -- Jimmy Stewart, who comes across rather well in a musical, despite not having a very good voice...and yes, that is him singing.
Number three asset -- two Cole Porter masterpieces: "I've Got You Under My Skin" and "You'd Be So Easy To Love". Can't do better than that, and it makes up for the horrid 'ship' songs.
Number four asset -- good supporting performers (with the exception of Ebsen): Una Merkel (always a gem), Sid Silvers, and Frances Langford.
So yes...it's a mess, but rather a glorious mess.