Blue Skies

Paramount, 1946
Starring Bing Crosby, Fred Astaire, Joan Caulifield, and Billy De Wolfe
Directed by Stuart Heisler
Music and Lyrics by Irving Berlin

Holiday Inn was a huge hit in 1943, and this one was even bigger, in fact the biggest blockbuster of 1946. It continued Crosby's winning streak and was to have been Astaire's swan song before his retirement. Is the movie "nothing but blue skies from now on," or do gray clouds rain on this Technicolor extravaganza? Let's head to a radio station, where Jed Potter (Astaire) is about to tell the story of his life, and find out...

The Story: Potter was once and up-and-coming hoofer in New York in 1919 who pursued pretty Mary O'Hara (Caulifield) while they were appearing in a show together. He took her to a nightclub owned by his former vaudeville partner Johnny Adams (Crosby). Johnny has a habit of buying one club he claims he adores, then selling it and buying another one elsewhere when he gets a better idea. Mary falls for Johnny, but he's not much for commitment, and she's looking for security. They eventually get married, but he keeps moving her around to bigger and better clubs. Fed up with his inability to stay in one place, she returns to Jeb...but ends up leaving again, causing him to turn to liquor. After an accident leaves Mary blaming herself and she flees, will either man ever see her again?

The Song and Dance: The first half is pretty fluffy, with Caulifield being pursued by both men. It's the second half where the story takes a surprisingly dark turn for a musical from this time, with it's fairly frank talk of divorce and the accident that ends Jeb's career. It gives this story a slight edge that even Holiday Inn lacked. The Technicolor cinematography is also quite good, with glowing colors and lush sets.

Favorite Number: The movie opens with the spectacular girls-on-the-staircase "A Pretty Girl Is Like a Melody." Astaire gets a solo dancing around the ladies in their elaborate gowns, then pulls Caulifield out for a brief duet. Dancer Olga San Juan gets two numbers, the suggestive "You'd Be Surprised" at one of Johnny's clubs and the hotter Hispanic-themed "I'll See You In Cuba" later in another club. Crosby introduces "You Keep Coming Back Like a Song" in a simple routine at the club, and does the adorable "(Running Around In Circles) Getting Nowhere" with his daughter (Kathryn Grimes) later. He and Astaire have a lot of fun with their duet recreating Johnny and Jeb's old vaudeville act, "A Couple of Song and Dance Men."

Astaire figures into the film's two biggest - and most famous - numbers. He'd been associated with "Puttin' On the Ritz" for years, and Paramount pulled out all the stops, from him dancing in slow motion to appear older to a dance done with what appears to be a whole chorus of Fred Astaires. "Heat Wave" is the number that ends that accident, with Astaire first dancing with the chorus, then San Juan, in a lush routine that somewhat resembles some of his routines from the more fantasy-oriented Yolanda and the Thief.

Trivia: Dancer Mark Draper was supposed to have been Crosby's partner in this film. His speech impediment and constant criticism of Caulifield's dancing lead to Crosby insisting that he be replaced by Astaire.

Astaire, tired and frustrated with his lack of good roles (like this one), retired after making the film...for two whole years, until he returned to MGM for Easter Parade.

What I Don't Like: Even with the slightly tougher second half, the story here is still pretty fluffy. Those looking for something more substantial will have to go elsewhere. It's supposed to be set in the Roaring Twenties...but you'd never know it from anything but Astaire's narration. The costumes and sets never change and never look like anything besides 1946.

The Big Finale: If you're a fan of either leading man, this is worth checking out for the dance routines alone.

Home Media: Currently only available as part of the Universal Vault direct-to-DVD series on Amazon.

DVD