Watch Hit the Deck For Free

Highly Overrated But Still Good

Good concept, poorly executed.

While it doesn't offer any answers, it both thrills and makes you think.

A terrific literary drama and character piece that shows how the process of creating art can be seen differently by those doing it and those looking at it from the outside.

Movie slows down whenever they do a stage production number --modern dance plewasant but very forgettable songs jealous brother bizarre spook house numbe4By 1955, the long run of MGM musicals had nearly run their course...and "Hit the Deck" was its last gasp. Unfortunately, changing tastes and this mediocre film combined kill off musicals at MGM.The plot of "Hit the Deck" is pretty simple. The Admiral (Walter Pidgeon) has a daughter (Jane Powell) who wants to make it big on stage...but the man promising to help her is a lecher. When her brother (Russ Tamblyn) finds out, he decks the guy and the brother spends most of the rest of the story avoiding the Shore Patrol. After all, this could hurt his chances to get into the Naval Academy and won't reflect well on the Admiral. Along for the ride are a variety of navy men and their girlfriends.While many of the songs in the film are pleasant, none are memorable. Combine that with a plot that is too simple and not altogether exciting as well as some big stage productions with very modern dance, the movie never really kept my attention. Fair...but nothing more.

which doesn't mean 'gaudy and dated' can't be fun! But there's the tiresome part: this thing misfires, badly. There is a lot of talent involved, some big names from the 50's, Ann Miller doing one of her eye popping tap numbers, a few vaguely familiar songs, an interesting dance number set in a carnival haunted house. Nevertheless, it just doesn't gel. It's one of those musicals with a hundred military men marching in rhythm, three sailors on the town, and the Ultra Perky Debbie Reynolds as the focal point. There she is, all energetic, peppy, and pony- tailed, singing and dancing her heart out. The kind of numbers with the adorable Girl getting tossed to and fro by a bunch of Boy Dancers - as seen on the old Carol Burnett Show! Frankly, these people were a bit too old for the plot line. I found it was (too) corny, dated, and derivative of other similar musicals. In fact, more tiresome and annoying than enchanting and memorable!

Sing Hallelujah and Get Happy! Entertainment is on its way! The composers who wrote "Tea For Two" and "I Want to Be Happy" for "No No Nanette" also wrote a musical about the Navy in port long before Bernstein & Comden & Green got together for "On the Town". There weren't Jerome Robbins ballets or Gene Kelly and Frank Sinatra in uniform, no world war, just sailor on leave coming to see their girls. "Shore Leave", the original play this was based upon, was also made as the Astaire/Rogers musical "Swing Time" with songs by Jerome Kern and Dorothy Fields. 25 years later, the Broadway version of the original musical was back on the screen (a 1930 film version has apparently vanished from the face of the earth) and filled with MGM's best musical contract players.Tony Martin, Vic Damone and Russ Tamblyn are the sailors; Ann Miller, Jane Powell and Debbie Reynolds are their girls. Miller tap dances (barefoot this time!) to "The Lady From the Bayou", indignant to the fact she hasn't heard from Martin in ions; Powell is hoping for an audition from producer Gene Raymond who has only one thing on his mind, and Reynolds is the plucky youngest of the trio who is just out for romance. She finds it inside a carnival haunted house in a dance with Tamblyn in one of the most underrated sequences from an MGM musical. Why it was not even briefly included in any of the "That's Entertainment!" films is beyond comprehension. Powell sings the beautiful "Sometimes I'm Happy" as only she could with her delightful soprano. Then, there's the very Italian Kay Armen along to sing the crowd-pleasing standard "Ciribiribin" and takes center stage in "Hallelujah!" at the finale.There are so many wonderful moments in this "let's just have fun" musical comedy that there's really nothing to complain about. It's not "Seven Brides For Seven Brothers", but it's certainly no "Kissing Bandit" either. Such veterans as Walter Pidgeon (as Powell's father), Jane Darwell and Alan King pop up as well to make this an entertaining treat that is sure to delight you!

This may have been made in the dying days of MGM musicals. No Sinatra. No Kelly. But it has some spectacular classic songs by Vincent Youmans. Plus 2 of the finest voices of all time singing together:Tony Martin & Vic Damone. AND superior musical arrangements & Russ Tamblyn dancing.Never mind the negative reviews elsewhere. They do not make them like this any more. For sure. So enjoy it! Great musical!!