Springtime in the Rockies

If I didn't read it somewhere, I'm sure I'd appropriate the assertion myself: "Technicolor was invented for Carmen Miranda." That fabulously talented lady from Brazil possessed a sense of humor which brightened many an hour for me. (Yes, she was assisted by scriptwriters and directors who knew how to showcase her gifts, but her personality simply leaps from the screen and into all those receptive hearts who so regret her untimely passing.)

This is one of the better films in which Carmen appeared (Luvved her character's moniker: "Rosita Murphy" - What fun!) and other comments on this site aptly point out its delights. Everyone in the cast gets to add to the pleasure and let no one cast aspersions on Miss Betty Grable - her verve and naturalness were one of Twentieth-Century Fox's most valuable assets, especially during those difficult WWII years. A friend of mine, whose youthful cinema-going was considerably less supervised than mine, was absolutely besotted with Betty's blonde beauty and bounce. I believe he saw everyone of her films first-run, when he was barely old enough to enter a theater unaccompanied, as he did, and he insisted I catch TV showings of those Grable gems (and her fabled gams) whenever he saw a broadcast listing. Each time I was able to follow his recommendation, I was not in the least sorry. And with Senorita Miranda to whip this confection into frothy perfection...well, as the saying goes: "They don't make 'em like that anymore."

A film that takes all the stock conventions of Betty Grable musicals and distills them into one big bright package. This shows what the Hollywood dream factory could do with even the most obvious and conventional script. Filmed in lush Technicolor the film is loaded with so much talent and trimmings that the threadbare story becomes unimportant.

Betty Grable was at the peak of her popularity all dolled up in the height of 40's fashion, she and John Payne make a handsome and charming pair. They were strong enough to carry a film themselves but Fox managed to cram all the strongest supporting players from their other various movies. Charlotte Greenwood does the faithful sidekick role she did so well and gets a chance to do her unique dance routine. Caesar Romero is the dashing snook and Edward Everett Horton the droll faithful retainer. Then there's that party all on to herself Carmen Miranda fracturing the language and wearing outfits that as John Payne says are a little overdone outside a Mardi Gras. Topped off with Harry James' stellar music, including Sleepy Lagoon and I Had the Craziest Dream, weaving it's spell throughout this is the kind of shiny bauble that kept the public's mind off the war and still can't help but entertain today.

I've just viewed the video of 'Springtime in the Rockies' for perhaps the 50th time and it just keeps getting better. My video runs for 87 minutes; just what is in the missing 4 minutes, if the stated 91 minutes running time is correct, I wonder?

What do I like about this movie? It is beautiful to look at with superb sound that sweeps you back to the 1940s. John Payne and Carmen Miranda never made a better movie. Harry James wisely performs with the band and has few lines. But, if I have to pick out one actor, it is the wonderful Charlotte Greenwood, she of the L O N G legs. Her solo on the dance floor is the highlight of the movie. Betty Grable is nice to look at as well, of course! Then we have Edward Everett Horton and a number of other fine supporting actors who go to make up one of the best musicals to come out of the war years.

I wouldn't argue with anyone who said that Springtime in the Rockies might just be Betty Grable's best film. It certainly has a lot going for it.

The plot's a skimpy one as these types of films are. Betty's in love with her act partner John Payne who says he reciprocates, but can't get pinned down for marriage. After a performance in their show, she and Payne get into one fight too many and she takes off for an engagement with her former partner Cesar Romero in a resort on the shore of Lake Louise in those beautiful Canadian Rockies.

No one got near Lake Louise from 20th Century Fox. A few establishing shots of the lake with the mountains behind are all you see. Of course John Payne chases after her with some mixed motives. He wants to marry her, but he also wants her for a new show. He takes his own scenic route to Lake Louise, flying under his own power as well as by plane and finds when he both arrives and sobers up he's hired himself a secretary in Carmen Miranda and a valet in Edward Everett Horton.

Betty gets to make her first appearance on screen with her new husband, Harry James and his orchestra. Just prior and during World War II was the era of the big bands and all the studios tried to sign them up and shoe horn them into films. It was an easy fit in this case for Harry James.

Especially with a score from Harry Warren and Mack Gordon who provided James with one of his biggest hits. I Had The Craziest Dream. Played by the band with inimitable James trumpet and sung beautifully by Helen Forrest this was one of the biggest song hits of the World War II years. It still plays beautifully today.

Carmen Miranda does a couple of numbers in her unique style, you haven't lived until you've heard her do Chattanooga Choo Choo in Portugese. And in this wonderful cast in a small role is Jackie Gleason as Payne's agent. It's sad that in this wonderful cast, Gleason had a most nondescript part that shows absolutely nothing of his comic abilities.

There's nothing deep about Springtime in the Rockies, it's just fabulous entertainment with a cast you could never assemble like this today.

"Springtime in the Rockies" is another delightful 20th Century Fox musical, this time starring Betty Grable, John Payne, Carmen Miranda, Charlotte Greenwood, Edward Everett Horton, Cesar Romero, and Harry James. All of them are wonderful, but Grable really sparkled in this as Vicky Lane, a Broadway actress whose heart is broken by Dan (John Payne). She quits the show they're doing and teams up for a song and dance act with handsome Victor Prince (Romero). The show's producer (Jackie Gleason) is in need of backing for his next show, finds Dan in a bar, and insists that he get Vicky back to New York. She's currently performing at Lake Louise. Payne is drunk out of his mind, so the bartender (Horton) escorts him to the Canadian resort.

Grable looks fantastic and dances with Romero beautifully. Romero was tall, handsome, a beautiful dancer, and could do drama (Captain from Castile) as well as comedy (Julia Misbehaves). He enjoyed a wonderful career but had he not been Cuban, his film work would probably not been limited to supporting roles. Payne is handsome and delightful, and Carmen Miranda as Rosita Murphy is very funny.

The scenery is gorgeous, the music upbeat with lots of great trumpet-playing by Harry James, and the actors marvelous. "Springtime in the Rockies" is a real treat.