Luxury Liner (1948)

MGM, 1948
Starring Jane Powell, George Brent, Lauritz Melichor, and Frances Gifford
Directed by Richard Whorf
Music by various

Jane Powell came into MGM in the late 40's as their newest go-to teen star, with an opera-worthy singing voice to boot. After doing A Date With Judy with other up-and-coming MGM teens of the time, she went into the second of three musicals she appeared in where she plays matchmaker to her parent in an exotic location. Is this voyage worth it, or should we end up jumping ship? Let's head to the home of Captain Jeremy Bradford (Brent) as he prepares to see his daughter's spoof operetta melodrama, and find out...

The Story: Polly Bradford (Powell) so desperately wants to join her father on his current voyage to Rio de Janeiro, she stows away on his ship. He first sends her to the galley when she's found out, then has her scrubbing floors when she starts sending messages in the mashed potatoes. Passenger Laura Dene (Gifford) finds her and immediately bawls out the Captain for her treatment. She eventually takes the girl in, which pretty much forces father and daughter to acknowledge each other. Polly eventually befriends her favorite opera singer Olaf Erikson (Melichor) and tries to get Laura back with her ex-fiancee Charles (Richard Derr)...at least until she realizes her father has fallen for Laura.

The Song and Dance: There's some first-rate musical numbers in this ocean-going extravaganza. Melichor is charming, funny, and performs his big opera solos quite well. Marina Koshetz is also funny as Zita Romanka, the opera star who has her sights set on the Captain. The sherbet Technicolor is gorgeous, amplifying the shipboard romance.

Favorite Number: The movie kicks off with the cute spoof operetta "Spring Came to Vienna," complete with waltzes, a chorus number, and Powell in a "trouser" (leading man) role. She turns the traditional French song "Alouette" into a big routine for the chefs and cooks in the galley, to the consternation of her father and the guests who want their dinners. Melichor does a sing-a-long version of another traditional song, "Helan Gar," with the audience and the vocal group The Pied Pipers, and a solo "Come Back to Sorrento." Powell joins Xavier Cugat and his Orchestra for "The Peanut Vendor."

What I Don't Like: I'm normally fond of Powell, but Polly comes off as less a hopeful teen than a spoiled brat who constantly lies to her father and everyone else around her and almost ruins his love life. Brent and Gifford are bland and annoying as the reluctant lovers; we don't really believe they'd fall for each other so quickly. The story is obviously goofy fluff designed to show off Powell and Melichor, nothing more. The only other people who sing are The Pied Pipers and Koshetz, who does a weird version of "I've Got You Under My Skin."

The Big Finale: Some people love this one, but I wasn't crazy about it. Only for major fans of Powell and the MGM musicals of the 40's and 50's.

Home Media: Currently DVD only via the Warner Archives.

DVD