Starring Ann Sothern, Robert Young, Eleanor Powell, and Red Skelton
Directed by Norman Z. McLeod
Music and Lyrics by various
MGM hoped to build comedienne Ann Sheridan up as a major musical star with this release. They paired her with smooth leading man Robert Young and their most popular musical performer, Eleanor Powell, along with up-and-comers like Red Skelton and Virginia O'Brian, and brought Busby Berkeley along as choreographer. How does this mix of experience and vitality look today in this story of a pair of songwriters who can't seem to stay together look today? Let's begin in the courtroom, as Judge Murdock (Lionel Barrymore) hears the story of lyricist Dixie Donegan (Sothern) and her up-and-down relationship with composer Eddie Crane (Young) and find out...
The Story: Dixie and Eddie first start writing together when she's with him and his current lyricist Bill Pattison (Dan Dailey) and they can't think of words for his music. When she sings the words she wrote on a handkerchief, Eddie realizes that she and the words are a perfect match. The song is a hit, and they end up getting married. It doesn't last for long. She would prefer to return to work, and he wants to entertain his society friends. The judge decides they're not compatible and grants the divorce.
Dixie's best friend Marilyn Marsh (Powell), singer Buddy Crawford (John Carroll) who has a crush on Marilyn, Eddie's best friend Joe "Red" Willet (Skelton), and his deadpan girlfriend Lull (Virginia O'Brian) all try hard to get them back together. It seems to work for a while, long enough for Dixie and Buddy to write another smash hit, "Oh Lady Be Good" and get remarried. Once again, though, she wants to work and he wants to play - she wants to start in on a show, and he wants to go on a honeymoon. It'll take a ploy playing on Eddie's hot temper and jealousy to make the two of them realize just how much their words and music can't live without each other.
The Song and Dance: This unique twist on the typical romantic comedy musical is mostly a peg on which to hang some excellent numbers. Powell gets two of her best solo routines and handles the sequence when she and Dixie are using Carroll to make Eddie jealous very well. Skelton and O'Brian have their own fun as the comic relief couple. The Berry Brothers, a black dancing trio, show of some amazing dance moves in several numbers. While not elaborate to the degree of his earlier Warners extravaganzas, Berkeley still puts in some great work, especially on "Fascinating Rhythm." Barrymore makes the most of his brief but memorable role as the judge with some wise words on marriage for Dixie and Eddie in the end.
Favorite Number: "Your Words and My Music" is the major hit that brings Eddie and Dixie together after they divorce the first time. After they get a cute rendition at the piano, we hear a more operatic version from Carroll and O'Brian's deadpan spin. The Barry Brothers get two amazing, high-splitting dance routines to "You'll Never Know" and "Oh Lady Be Good." "Lady Be Good" turns into a long montage, showing how the song becomes wildly popular across the country. Sothern gives a lovely performance "The Last Time I Saw Paris" at the awards dinner honoring their partnership.
Powell has the film's two most memorable numbers. She's joined by a lively pup who performs in perfect time to an instrumental "Lady Be Good." Berkeley's touches pop up for "Fascinating Rhythm," including the sets that move as Powell taps away in her white tuxedo, ending with a great finale that has her being tossed to the camera by many hands.
Trivia: When Powell couldn't find a trained dog she liked for the Lady Be Good dog number, she bought one from a prop man and trained it herself.
"The Last Time I Saw Paris" won an Oscar, despite not being written for the film. Jerome Kern, who intended for it to be a pop song, was one of the major people who pushed for the rule change to only original songs written for the film being eligible.
The original Broadway Lady Be Good debuted in 1924 and was a hit for the time, running almost a year. There were two film versions. The silent version from 1928 that used the original film has since been lost. This one uses absolutely nothing from the original show but "Lady Be Good" and "Fascinating Rhythm." The Broadway show itself doesn't often turn up nowadays outside of an occasional summer staging.
What I Don't Like: First of all, as good as the musical numbers are, most of them don't really have much to do with the story and barely move it along. Young's charming and sings well, but he's too laid-back to be a temperamental musician. Southern has the same problem - she's funny, but doesn't seem much like a workaholic, either. The story is a bit of a muddle, especially once they get into the elaborate and rather annoying attempts to make Eddie jealous in the end.
The Big Finale: The terrific numbers alone make this highly recommended if you're a fan of Powell, Skelton, or the MGM musicals of the 1940's.
Home Media: Easily found on DVD via the Warner Archives and streaming.
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