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Simply Perfect

Load of rubbish!!

Expected more

Fanciful, disturbing, and wildly original, it announces the arrival of a fresh, bold voice in American cinema.

Reading Kim Newman's Facebook page,I found out about a rare Musical that had recently aired on the BBC.Finding the only DVD edition around to be a pricey Warner Archives version,I decided that it was the best time to book two tickets.The plot:Failing to get attention at a show in Vermont,a girl group (whose agent is Lew Conway) get on a bus for New York.Joining the group in their search for fame, Nancy Peterson discovers that she has accidentally swooped her suitcase for Dan Carter's (who also has Conway as an agent) suitcase. As Conway and Carter meet up to correct the mistake,the conniving Conway starts making plans on how to give all his talent their 15 minutes of fame.View on the film:Whilst Busby Berkeley delivers the dance numbers with a fourth wall breaking touch of class, (with one sequence involving a Bing Crosby mannequin!) director James V. Kern makes sure that the rest of the movie does not miss out on the glitz,with expertly handled,ultra- stylised crane shots flying along on Peterson's ride to the bright lights. Whilst the screenplay never goes in-depth with the characters,writers Sid Silvers/Hal Kanter & Sammy Cahn keep up with Kern's snappy pace with Carter and Peterson's light comedic dialogue darting across the screen.Despite lacking a big, memorable Musical number,the writers make up for it with slick satirical shots on Hollywood, (and the threats from the TV industry)that are whisked with the playful romance between Peterson and Carter.Unintentionally crossing paths with Peterson, Tony Martin gives a very good performance as Carter,whose rather manner behaviour Martin delivers with a real relish. Lavished with an expensive production by her would-be lover Howard Hughes, (whose attempts to start a romance made her skin crawl) Janet Leigh gives a great performance as Peterson,with Leigh rubbing doubt on Peterson's starry eyes,as she tries to get two tickets to Broadway.

Howard Hawks and RKO combine to make a MGM musical but fails as this musical lacks pow wow even though Busby Berkeley did some choreography.Janet Leigh plays Nancy Peterson who leaves her small home town of Pelican Falls to go to New York and make it big on Broadway. She bumps into three out of work showgirls who were on tour with a flop show and now try to get back to New York and they want to give their agent a piece of their mind for leaving them stranded.The sleazy agent is Lew (Eddie Bracken) who always ducking and diving. He promises a lot and delivers little. He wants to keep hold of his number one talent Dan Carter (Tony Martin) from quitting show business by promising him that he will get him a spot on a television show with musician Bob Crosby but it is more lies. Carter meets Peterson over a suitcase mix up and he teaches her not be taken in by shysters but he himself gets roped in by his agent's outlandish schemes.The film drags despite a few bright song and dance numbers from the showgirls. A lot of the songs are a dull and the deli store owners and their shtick is interminable.

First of all, to those upset about the Indian number - get a life. This was '51. Don't take it so seriously - and keep away from pictures with Mantan Moreland, etc.Then there are the criticisms about Tony Martin. He has the dark look, so some people automatically assume he should portray gangsters. Prejudice, prejudice against dark-haired people. Tsk.Martin sang grand opera in this movie, pop songs, novelties and did beautifully with all of them. Not all of the music was memorable, but even the songs that might be described as mediocre were beautifully presented. The girls were attractive and personable. Miss Leigh was a doll and, yes, she did her own singing and dancing.No one can knock Ann Miller. What a great talent. Speaking of talent, The Charlivels were outstanding as a high wire act, and as dancers.Interesting casting was Max Baer's bro, Buddy, also a boxer, as a tough swabbie.The Bob Crosby number, where he compares himself with brother Bing was very well done - real life situation. The one thing I missed - I wish his band had played some of its trademark Dixieland. OOoops - is that word offensive to northern ears? The plot was ancient but, who cares. Howard Hughes put this together and came up with a fun, pleasant movies.

Old-fashioned without being embarrassing, "Broadway" features Janet Leigh as a sparkling small town lass who moves to the Big Apple to work in theater, falling in league with other young hopefuls and staging their own revue. Not too far-fetched(Carol Burnett did the same thing in real-life)and Janet bounces happily throughout. Not really remarkable, but a nice time-filler. Bob Crosby pokes fun at older brother Bing in the film's most self-conscious moment. **1/2 from ****