Hit Parade of 1943

Although this was a dull film, the 20 year old Dorothy Dandridge was outstanding in this token production for marginalised performers. It was good to get Dandridge alongside of Susan Hayward, but as a self contained film it was diabolical.

"Hit Parade of 1943" was later re-titled "Change of Heart", though changing the title did nothing to improve this second-rate bit of fluff. Although it stars Susan Hayward, this was before she became a top star and the film is clearly a case of her slumming it at Republic Studios. Her co-star is the equally non-famous John Carroll--who, as usual, plays a bit of a slime-ball.

Hayward plays a song writer who is supposed to be quite smart and a tough cookie as well. So, when she meets up with a slimy song writer (Carroll) and he steals her music, you assume she'll make sure to get her revenge. So far, so good. However, soon she falls in love with him and all is forgiven--although he's clearly a jerk who's made a career out of stealing other people's work! I HATE films that feature supposedly smart women acting like total idiots--and that certainly is the case here. What will happen with this budding love--especially when Carroll's OTHER woman makes an appearance? Who cares.

The only thing about this film that is worth seeing is the big musical number featuring some top Black entertainers of the era--including Count Basie and a young Dorothy Dandridge. The plot, in contrast, is a complete mess--and never comes close to being engaging or believable in any manner. A bad film redeemed, very slightly, by the music.

Minor programmer has a silly plot but Susan Hayward, looking beautiful, is saucy in the lead and was actually engaged briefly in real life to costar and Clark Gable lookalike John Carroll. Eve Arden is thankfully aboard to offer her peerless wisecracks and look glamorous. Gail Patrick is on hand as well playing a silky villainess adding a nice touch to the proceedings. They are all better than the nothing script deserves. On top of that you get Count Basie and Dorothy Dandridge in a wonderful specialty number. Originally called Change of Heart this is as good an example as any of the low budget films studios used to pump out on a weekly basis to keep their theatre chains supplied with product but it's also how they built stars. With all the superior talent involved it's worth catching once but that will probably be enough.

The plot is so tiny it almost falls off the screen. Of course it's just an excuse for Hayward to look gorgeous and for the performance of a number of wartime hits. But what is remarkable here are the black performers, including Count Basie and Dorothy Dandridge and a pair of amazing male dancers. The central Sandman of Harlem number is outstanding.

The rest is pretty dull with John Carroll trying to be Clark Gable - but Eve Arden provides a few laughs and she works very well with Hayward.

This "Hit Parade" movie made a huge impression on me when i saw it on television back in the 1980s under the title "Change of Heart." Two things about it gave me reason to search it out for a repeat playing -- the wonderful art deco sets in the second half of the film and the spectacularly eccentric dancing of the team of Pops and Louie. It is well worth looking for, and i am glad i finally located it again, but i sure had to look for a long time, as there is another film with the title "Change of Heart" that -- until the advent of the IMDb -- folks always seemed to get confused with this one. Susan Hayward and John Carroll are quite good, the music is fine, but, really, for me this movie is all about Pops and Louie and that wild Art Deco set decoration.