Some fun forgotten songs by the still mostly unknown Jule Styne ("Gentlemen Prefer Blondes", "Bells Are Ringing", "Gypsy", "Funny Girl") helps move this post war military musical right along, basically "This is the Navy" with a splinter of a plot, yet totally appealing once you get into it. Janet Blair was the big name at the time on screen, so naturally, she gets top billing, but for me, this was a curiosity to see Alfred Drake, the original "Curly" of Broadway's "Oklahoma!", later achieving legendary stage status with "Kiss Me Kate" and "Kismet"), in his only major film role. His singing voice isn't Sinatra or Tony Martin, so it's difficult to imagine the appeal of him on screen, but when he starts to croon "Love is a Merry Go Round", the magic at least briefly strikes. He's handsome and charismatic, but it's obvious that like John Raitt, he belonged to the stage.
Funny man Sid Caesar had better luck, providing the laughs and winning the affections of the man crazy Jeff Donnell (all woman, I assure you), following him from their hometown into the navy and giving him plenty to play off of. Donnell, one of the busiest contract players at Columbia, was never a household name, but became known at the height of "General Hospital's" earth shattering fame as Quartermain housekeeper Stella, just one of many film actors to have a regular role on the show, in her case nearly a decade. Of course, much of the comedy is dated today, and some of it may be painful to most audiences. But for a country recovering from war and heading into other serious issues, this was exactly what audiences then. The stars are sincere, Blair and Drake very attractive, and Caesar trying out many of the styles of routines with Donnell that he would later perfect with Imogene Coca.
Funny man Sid Caesar had better luck, providing the laughs and winning the affections of the man crazy Jeff Donnell (all woman, I assure you), following him from their hometown into the navy and giving him plenty to play off of. Donnell, one of the busiest contract players at Columbia, was never a household name, but became known at the height of "General Hospital's" earth shattering fame as Quartermain housekeeper Stella, just one of many film actors to have a regular role on the show, in her case nearly a decade. Of course, much of the comedy is dated today, and some of it may be painful to most audiences. But for a country recovering from war and heading into other serious issues, this was exactly what audiences then. The stars are sincere, Blair and Drake very attractive, and Caesar trying out many of the styles of routines with Donnell that he would later perfect with Imogene Coca.