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Perfect cast and a good story

The story-telling is good with flashbacks.The film is both funny and heartbreaking. You smile in a scene and get a soulcrushing revelation in the next.

Ok... Let's be honest. It cannot be the best movie but is quite enjoyable. The movie has the potential to develop a great plot for future movies

There is definitely an excellent idea hidden in the background of the film. Unfortunately, it's difficult to find it.

Spirited young teacher leaves uptight girl's school for fame and fortune in Hollywood.I tuned in to catch the legendary Marion Davies, WR Hearst's (Citizen Kane) favorite squeeze, and was generally impressed even though the movie is unexceptional. She's got some natural charisma, and can dance and act as well as most musical performers. So this is not a case of a rich Daddy Warbucks making a silk purse out of a no-talent.The movie itself is expensively produced with a couple impressive dance numbers (e.g. the massed train station), plus a youthful Crosby crooning at his most tuneful. But except for the torchy Temptation, the selections themselves are pretty forgettable. Nonetheless, the many behind-the-scenes look at movie sets remains fascinating. At the same time, macho director Walsh and noir producer Wanger may seem odd choices for the production end of a musical, but this is still early in their respective careers. Speaking of directors, Ned Sparks who plays the raspy director in the movie appears to have swallowed a lemon and followed it up with a load of sandpaper, providing much of the comedy relief, along with a young Patsy Kelly. But funnier than anyone without even trying is D'Orsay's cartoonish French siren. For cultural historians, there's the guy mimicking radio personalities of the day, making an informative and entertaining novelty act. But I can't help noticing a couple of Davies', shall we say, unusual costumes—one is so fancy, it looks like the crinoline is swallowing her, while the other resembles a big furry snow cone minus the snow. Good thing the rest of her wardrobe is 30's conventional.All in all, it's a good glimpse back in time, even if the musical end lacks staying power.

I have only seen Marion Davies in two films "The Bachelor Father" and "Going Hollywood". I will reserve my opinion of her talents until I see some of her silent films. In this film the standouts are the memorable songs (all of them now Bing Crosby standards), Bing's completely natural and easy going manner, Ned Sparkes (of course) and Marion's very clunky dancing.As one of the reviewers says it did seem to be a shorter film than intended. One of my favourite Crosby songs "After Sundown" not only was not sung all the way through, it was mostly sung as a "voice over" while Bing and Marion wined and dined. "Beautiful Girls" - Bing sang as he packed to go to Hollywood - I was expecting a big production number - I was disappointed but at least they were included.Sylvia Bruce (Marion Davies) is a teacher at Briarcroft Girls Boarding School. She longs to break free of the restrictions at this very strict college - "no music is permitted". One night when listening to Bill Williams (Bing Crosby) sing "Our Big Love Scene" - "Don't waste the night in wishing" - she decides to do what the song says, follow her heart and goes to Bill to tell him what he means to her.Bill is also going to Hollywood. There is a big production number. Busby Berkeley had many imitators but no one reached his excellence. This number was filmed in a clumsy way but with great gusto.Sylvia has to get past Bill's current love Lili (Fifi D'Orsay) but manages to secure a job with her as a French speaking maid (she had been a French teacher at Briarcroft). After one fight too many she quits and quickly teams up with Jill (Patsy Kelly) and finds a job as a dancer!!!!! in Bill's new movie. The wonderful Ned Sparks is the director and the scenes between him and Fifi D'Orsay are hilarious."We'll Make Hay While the Sun Shines" is introduced as a dream that Sylvia is having. It is odd - it starts off sophisticated, then suddenly they are dressed up in Edwardian clothes. At the end they are farm hands dancing an awful dance with dancing scarecrows. (It is a beautiful song!!!)The three Radio Rogues do a radio skit - they sing songs in the style and voice of popular singers of the day. They are really good. They sing "When the Moon Comes Over the Mountain" - Kate Smith, "You Call it Madness (But I Call it Love)" - Russ Columbo, "Remember Me - Morton Downey and "My Time is Your Time" - Rudy Vallee.Lili's temperament is holding up production and she then quits. Meanwhile Sylvia entertains the crew with an imitation of Lili singing "Cinderella's Fella". Stuart Erwin plays the producer who steps in and hires Sylvia as the lead (with her wonderful dancing talent!!!) To give Miss Davies her due I think she played the role excellently. Some of the lines she had to say - I don't think she sounded like a "stalker" but in another actress's hands the character may have come across as being "kooky".Bill romances Sylvia but she thinks she hears him in Lili's apartment (Lili is only listening to a record). Lili then finds him in a bar and plies him with liquour so he will not be able to make the studio the next day. He sings "Temptation" to Lili, looking so handsome!!! It ends very quickly - all the cast is on the stage to film "Our Big Love Scene" when Bill (singing of course ) comes through the door takes Sylvia in his arms and kisses her. I highly recommend this film.

Bing Crosby truly was the quintessential vocalist of his time. I strongly recommend Gary Giddins bio on Bing; an excellent reference.Anyway, the story may be weak in this film, but the songs and Bing's clear baritone voice make up for it.An interesting tidbit about this film: Of course Marion Davies was W.R. Hearst's mistress, and Hearst financed the film. Ms. Davies thus took full advantage of the situation by showing up for filming at 10 AM, shooting a scene or two before a four hour lunch replete with all the catered trimmings and wines. The day wound down by 4PM.It's no wonder it took six months to shoot this film in an era when the typical film was shot in 2 weeks!

I expected a lot of enjoyment from this early MGM musical, directed by the great Raoul Walsh. Instead, it is a trifle that somehow works mainly as a showcase for Bing Crosby and Marion Davies. I found the whole film to be intermittently dull and underwhelming, and the songs and numbers oddly misfire from start to finish.