Best Foot Forward

Enjoyed viewing this old timer from 1943 and seeing Lucille Ball acting as herself and getting plenty of laughs. In this film, Lucille's career is sort of fading and her agent thinks it is a good idea for her to get some press coverage by becoming a date for a Senior Prom at Winsocki Military Academy. The lucky guy is Bud Hooper, who at the same time has a girl friend who wants to go with him to the prom also. June Allyson, (Ethel) does some fancy dance steps and sings a few tunes, which sort of launched her career in films. There is some great entertainment from Harry James and his orchestra, he plays a great version of "Flight of the Bumble Bee" and also does a funny dance routine with Nancy Walker, who really was the great comic in the film and got most of the laughs. This is definitely a look back in the past, with plenty of 1943 entertainment. Enjoy

When this first came out in the theater and I saw it then, there was a military academy in the town where I lived. And I was just going into high school. I thought this movie was the greatest thing I had ever seen, maybe the greatest movie ever made. I felt like it had been made especially for me, my friends and our local cadets. And the song, Buckle Down Winsocki was absolutely the best fight song in the world. I realize now that the movie probably wasn't that good, it was trite and predictable, as well as being juvenile. It still thrills me, and the memories that I have of that time all come back when I watch this movie again. I'm not capable of seeing it from any other point of view, so I am going to give this a 10, just for old times' sake.

Here's a movie I adored when I was a kid, thrilled by "Buckle Down Winsocki", the spirited song sung at a military academy by a bunch of singing, dancing and marching cadets. But seeing the film now, is a real letdown. It's below par in every department.

At second glance, it's really a minor musical with HARRY JAMES and his Orchestra and a little gal named NANCY WALKER (making her film debut) as the chief compensations for a script full of lame, dated one-liners and some trifling songs with bad choreography.

Even the great LUCILLE BALL, as the movie star invited to the prom, has a hard time getting any laughs. She's supposed to be a faded star whose press agent talks her into accepting an invitation from TOMMY DIX, who overlooks his girlfriend VIRGINIA WIEDLER because of his crush on Lucy.

Lucy looks great and the Technicolor makes her a glamorous creature, but the script defeats everyone. It's nice seeing JUNE ALLYSON, GLORIA de HAVEN and NANCY WALKER having fun with a couple of tunes but while the picture at least got their careers off to a good start, it's no great shakes as a musical--especially one from MGM which specialized in the very best of that ilk.

NANCY WALKER struts her stuff as "Blind Date" material--although some of the humor at her expense is a little cruel. But she's a reminder that real talent can even overcome some witless material. And I have to ask the question so many others have: whatever happened to Tommy Dix???

'Best Foot Forward' is a long way from perfect, having its fair share of flaws. This said it is an enjoyable diversion even if falling well short of being great. It does decently with what it set out to do, knows what it wants to be and tries not to do any more than it needs to.

The weak link is the story, which is as paper thin and nonsensical as they come. The songs are pleasant enough, but with the exception of one they are overlong, easily forgettable after a few hours and are mostly sloppily choreographed. The script is uneven, some of it is amusing and sparkles but other parts are leaden, corny and hopelessly out of date now.

Not all the cast work, with the ladies faring far better than the men. Kenny Bowers is very feeble with very little charisma, while Jack Jordan has the opposite problem of overacting and being insufferably irritating.

Lucille Ball however looks as though she is thoroughly enjoying herself and she is terrifically supported by glamorous and scene-stealing Gloria De Haven, peppy June Allyson and especially zesty and often hilarious Nancy Walker (who actually steals the show). Harry James is also great, as is William Gaxton. While Tommy Dix has his bland moments, he is more often than not appealing.

'Best Foot Forward' looks great, love the colours and handsome production design. Of the musical numbers, coming off best by far is the rousing in every sense of the word "Buckle Down Winsocki". Edward Buzell directs reasonably competently if slightly undistinguished.

Overall, enjoyable if unexceptional. 6/10 Bethany Cox

Not one of MGM's more memorable musicals. Except for the show-stopping Winsocki number, the music is undistinguished at best. Walker steals the show as the wisecracking plain-Jane, while Ball looks gorgeous but in a routine role. Nice boy Tommy Dix has a good voice, but little charisma. Thus, it's the rare Hollywood movie without a leading man.

Too bad the sparkling June Allyson and Gloria DeHaven weren't given more to do. They could have added much needed bounce, since Weidler has an unenviable killjoy role. And, please, couldn't someone put a leash on Kenny Bowers (Dutch) who mugs it up unmercifully like a pet chimp. Contrast his excess with the expertly expressive Donald McBride (Capt. Bradd), one of the fine, unsung comedic players of the 1940's.

No surprise that no choreographer is listed since the dance numbers are also forgettable. Even Harry James looks a bit discomfited by the brief shuffle he's required to do. At the same time, director Buzzell fails to bring off the madcap bedroom scene with the farcical coordination needed. As a result, the hectic mix up comes across as more frantic than funny.

All in all, it's a movie of bits and pieces with some good color photography and spot performances. My sense, however, is that this was a second-tier effort, without the peacetime cast (it is, after all, 1943) and top-notch director that could have made the many parts gel in typical MGM fashion.