Watch Small Town Girl For Free

Waste of time

Good start, but then it gets ruined

If the ambition is to provide two hours of instantly forgettable, popcorn-munching escapism, it succeeds.

Let me be very fair here, this is not the best movie in my opinion. But, this movie is fun, it has purpose and is very enjoyable to watch.

Not one of the great MGM musicals. But if you like them at all, you will probably want to see Small Town Girl.It's about what goes on when a NYC playboy speeds (85 mph) through upstate Duck Creek, gets arrested, and has to do jail time. He's kind of a jerk, at first, but handsome (Farley Granger). Jane Powell plays the daughter of the local judge, and the kinda-sorta girlfriend of a local boy (Bobby Van) who dreams of a big Broadway career. Farley's girl, by the way, is a Broadway performer (Ann Miller).The plot finds Jane helping Farley out of jail for the night, I won't go into the reasons. They (and we) get to see Nat King Cole in a nightclub, singing the sultry, Burn Low, My Flaming Heart. Farley's escape causes a big hoo-hah but it all gets resolved nicely by the end, of course.You should see it for the cast, performing in imaginatively staged (by Busby Berkeley) musical numbers, a couple of which were good enough to be featured in the That's Entertainment films. They include a memorable number in which Ann Miller dances among disembodied human limbs that play various musical instruments, and the equally delightful bouncing dance (really just choreographed hopping) performed by Bobby Van on the back lot small-town set. (Mr Van said he was sick for a year after doing this number, and it's not really surprising). Bobby also does a socko number in his father's small town store, the lyrics of which (if memory serves) go something like, "Hey, Mister Taxi Driver, take me to Broadway, to wonderful Broadway, that razzle dazzle heart of New York." The kid really knocks himself out.The cast includes Fay Wray and Robert Keith (as Jane's parents), S. Z. "Cuddles" Sakall (as Bobby's father), Billie Burke (as Farley's mother), and Chill Wills (as the jailor). Jane Powell is lovely, charming, and a beautiful singer. It's a nice little show you will probably enjoy.

Typical Hollywood fanfare with rich playboy Farley Granger sentenced to 30 days for speeding in a tiny hick town. Engaged to Ann Miller, he protests his sentence to no avail, but gets the judge's daughter to get him out of the slammer for one night.Ann Miller does two nice dances but her talents are largely wasted here along with Billie Burke, who plays Granger's mother. Missing in the film is that usual high-pitched voice of hers. Instead, she plays the wealthy mother without much fanfare on her part either.Constant interruptions while saying grace come about due to the presence of the boyfriend of the judge's daughter, an aspiring dancer, who yearns for such a career on Broadway. Even his dad S.Z. Sakall is subdued here and only confuses the word pardon with something else.

The small Connecticut town "Duck Creek" is shaken by the arrival of handsome Farley Granger (as Rick Livingston). The wealthy young man was caught "driving like a maniac" (at 85 MPH) and sentenced to 30 days in the pokey. Duck Creek's young women practically camp out at the jail, due to Mr. Granger's extreme handsomeness and wealth. The "Small Town Girl" to watch, though, is bubbly blonde Jane Powell (as Cindy Kimbell). The judge's daughter, Ms. Powell sings soprano in the church choir (and elsewhere). She wants to reform Granger, who was all set to marry sophisticated Broadway musical star Ann Miller (as Lisa Bellmount)..."Small Town Girl" would have you believe Powell and Granger are an exciting young couple. They are not. Watching the dull duo's courtship would be insufferable, if not for the movie's musical numbers performed by Ms. Miller and aspiring young Bobby Van (as Ludwig Schlemmer). Granger has no chemistry with Powell, but Miller makes his kissing scenes simmer. And Powell is a fool to pass on Mr. Van, who looks like he'd be a fun and devoted lover. Miller's highlight is her sizzling "I've Gotta Hear that Beat" and Van's energetic jumping "Street Dance" must be seen. Even better is Van's earlier store-stopper "Take Me to Broadway".***** Small Town Girl (1953-04-10) Leslie Kardos ~ Jane Powell, Farley Granger, Bobby Van, Ann Miller

How often do you get two topnotch tap dancers of opposite sex in the same film. Yes, Fred and Eleanor, and Fred and Rita. Here, we have two very under-appreciated dancers and all around actors in Ann Miller and Bobby Van. And what luck, Busby Berkeley is the choreographer! But, this is not to say that the pure singing and screenplay is without interest, as well. Brodszky and Leo Robin composed some decent upbeat songs for particular situations or messages or for the dances. Too many reviewers just highlight Van's cartoonish extended bunny hop around the town, with an uncredited musical background. Yes, this is quite a unique and interesting scene. Certainly, more interesting than Kelly's much ballyhooed "Singing in the Rain" number. But, in truth, it doesn't showcase Van's versatile dancing talent. Presumably, most any slim young man in good shape could easily learn to do this scene. Several reviewers mistakenly claim this is his "Take Me to Broadway Number". It isn't! This was a prior romp through his father's department store, in which he is demonstrating his dancing talent, dressed as Fred Astaire, hoping to become a Broadway star. This act is also quite impressive, and impressively staged, if shorter than the bunny hop scene. Although dressed as Astaire, this is more a Gene Kelly or Don O'Connor-type performance, with lots of bounding around on furniture and banisters. In contrast to Kelly's "Singing in the Rain", in which he is celebrating a new -found love, Van, in his bunny hop number, is celebrating the rejection of his marriage proposal to Jane's character, which his father pressured him into doing. Now , he is free to go to NYC from little Duck Creek, and pursue his ambition, without conflict from Jane, who wants to stay in Duck Creek. Van also had a third bouncy dance number, with Jane and a female chorus, in a park setting. In the song, they say they feel fine, optimistic, as small towners. This isn't bad either!. Hollywood sure missed the boat when it failed to groom Van as a big musical star. He will likely remind you of a mix of Don O'Conner and Ray Bolger in looks and dancing style.Ann Miller plays her typical role as the sensuous 'other woman', sole dancer talent. Ann has 2 dance productions. The unique "I've Got to Hear that Beat", with musicians(supposedly) under the floor or behind the wall, and only hands and instruments showing above. Ann dances up a storm between and around the instruments. Lots of above shots, with Ann often in a spotlight, and an oversized shadow of a drummer often in the background. Later, in a more conventionally staged number, she dances to "My Gaucho", as a flamingo dancer, with a bevy of gaucho dancers. Shorter, and no overhead shots, but not bad either!Earlier, while visiting snobbish big city Rick(Stuart Granger), in jail for arrogantly speeding through Duck Creek at 85 mph, Jane sings "Small Towns are Smile Towns", extolling an idyllic picture of slow-paced, friendly, small town life, in contrast to the supposed superficial bustle of big city life. Later, she sings "The Fellow I'd Follow", in Rick's opulent family mansion. This functions to suggest her incongruous warming up to Rick. Very formulistic! Meanwhile, Rick, who is engaged to Ann's character, is quickly warming up to Jane, setting the stage for a switcheroo. He's also OK to move to Duck Creek, having been won over by the character of the people there during his short stay. During his jail stay, Granger supposedly goes on a hunger strike, but is secretly supplies with goodies through his window by various hopeful female admirers, later including Jane. The take home message is that some people are happiest in big cities, while others only feel comfortable in small towns. Where you grew up is not necessarily where you feel most comfortable as an adult. However, the bias is still clearly toward small towns. In addition to top musical talent, some wonderful character actors are included. Will Rogers-like Chill Wills serves as the town sheriff, while the inimical fuss body "Cuddles" Sakal serves as Van's department store-owning father, who wants Van to stay in Duck Creek. Billie Burke, who played the 'good witch' in "The Wizard of Oz", and was Florenz Ziegfeld's widow, is Rick's charming mother, who is won over by Jane's beauty, charming personality and singing. Robert Keith serves as Jane's father and the judge in Duck Creek: a town so informal that he sentences Rick to jail time while in his home, after a policemen brought Rick to his home. The film makes the point that church is important in promoting the sociability and morality of small town people, presumably more so than in big cities. We have a church scene near the beginning and in the finale, with Jane a lead singer in the choir. Seems everyone in this town goes to the same church!Jane's MGM films from the late '40s and '50s nearly always included at least one other 'name' musical talent. Those that included some unusual dancing are generally the most popular in recent times. Ann Miller would return to do several specialty dances in Jane's last MGM musical "Hit the Deck", but without BB to direct them.