Starring Martha Tilton, Iris Adrian, Charles Collins, and Cliff Nazarro
Directed by Sam Newfield
Music by Jay Livingston; Lyrics by Ray Evans and Lewis Bellin
This year, we honor secretaries, clerks, customer service representatives, and those who keep the country organized and up and running with this low-budget tuner. PNC was the smallest and least prestigious of the 11 movie studios that had filming facilities in Hollywood during the 40's. Though they were mainly known for westerns and film noir, they did occasionally dip into musicals. How does the story of a woman taking phone calls for a jukebox firm who discovers another woman using her voice look today? Let's begin with singer Judy Alvin (Tilton) gathered with other women to audition for prestigious bandleader Benny Jackson (Collins) and find out...
The Story: Jackson is so fussy about who sings with his band, none of the women pass the audition. Judy is so desperate for any kind of musical work, her best friend Marge (Adrian) gets her a job with a jukebox company that allows bar patrons to call and choose the songs heard over the loudspeakers. Judy, Marge, and the residents of the theatrical boarding house where they live are shocked when they hear spoiled southern belle Phoebe (Betty Brodel) singing with Judy's voice. Turns out Judy and Iris recorded the same song on the same day, and Phoebe's current boyfriend Mr. Fralick (Harry Holman) would rather promote her as a star. Marge is furious and recruits the other boarding house residents to help her prove which woman really has talent.
The Song and Dance: First of all, Judy's occupation is a new one on me. According to Wikipedia, telephone jukeboxes really were a thing in the 40's. These operators "streamed" music into bars via records 60 years before the internet existed. Just having a musical about it is pretty creative. Adrian does by far the best as the hilariously sarcastic best friend who is determined Judy will be heard, no matter what. Brodel also has some good moments as the bratty southern lass who is more than willing to use someone else's voice to get a big job.
Favorite Number: We open with a montage of several women singing the ballad "Let's Capture the Moment." Judy is by far the best of them, but Jackson won't listen to her. Judy and Phoebe both sing "Say It With Love" at the recording studio when the producers accidentally grab the wrong record for Benny Jackson to hear. Judy creates a unique hat from flowers, fruit, and a lamp shade while singing about how "I'll Eat My Hat" if it doesn't go over well.
Judy, Marge, and their dates Benny and his trumpeter Bobo (Cliff Nazarro) sing "Highway Polka" while out in Benny's car. Phoebe attempts to reprise "Let's Capture the Moment" in the recording studio, but her voice is very different from Judy's. We hear Judy twice later with "Got an Invitation" and "Music to My Ears." Phoebe's dull rendition of "Music To My Ears" is laughed off the stage of the Tropics Club. When Merlini the Magician (Phillip Van Zandt) makes her appear onstage, she finishes things off by reprising "Let's Capture the Moment."
What I Don't Like: Um, did I mention "low budget B-movie musical?" I appreciate the unique telephone jukebox angle, but otherwise, this is a pretty standard backstage story. Tilton is a fine singer, but she's not the best actress in the world and comes off as a little dull against take-no-prisoners Adrian in particular. The men barely register, including Collings, the one they're all supposed to be auditioning for. And speaking of those auditions, while Brodel's singing voice isn't great, I don't think it was as horrible as they were playing it up to be, either. She lacked passion more than anything.
The Big Finale: While not a masterpiece, or even on par with PNC's film noirs, this is a pleasant enough way to spend an hour and twenty minutes if you ever run into it online.
Home Media: This is in the public domain, so it's easy to find anywhere. The cheapest way to get it on disc is as part of a double-bill with the school-themed All-American Co-Ed. It's currently free with Amazon Prime.
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