Here Come the Waves

A previous reviewer remarked that part of the plot involved Bing Crosby memorizing color tests to mask his color blindness to get in the Navy. In point of fact Bing was actually color blind. During the 1930s and 1940s it was not uncommon to see him photographed in a lot of loud and mismatched apparel which was a source of fodder for Bob Hope's monologues. The reason was he couldn't pick out matching stuff for his wardrobe.

Harold Arlen and Johnny Mercer wrote a great score for Bing and Betty Hutton to vocalize. Hutton manages to take her manic energy down a notch in the duet I'll Promise You with Bing. But Betty goes full blast on There's A Fella Waiting in Poughkeepsie. Bing has a nice solo ballad in Let's Take The Long Way Home.

The hit song of the movie was one of Bing's biggest Ac-cent-chu-ate the Positive. Johnny Mercer wrote that Bing was an instant study, he could hear a tune once and get it. He knew without being told where to come in on the downbeat. But you had to record him that first time if you wanted your version of the song. After that he started with the ad-libs his recordings are famous for.

The plot is easy to take and it allowed Crosby to satirize his up and coming rival Frank Sinatra. Too bad he never commercially recorded That Old Black Magic which was reprised for this film.

This film should have worked. great Mercer score, Bing Crosby songs and Mark Sandrich directing.. but along comes Hutton to spoil the show.

Screeming like a demented banshee for much of the film, Hutton spoils what merit there is in the somewhat thin plot. Basically a flag waver along the lines of the earlier Crosby film "Star Spangled Rhythm" where Hutton also ruined the stirring Crosby number "Old Glory" again with her ear shattering screems, this film fails because someone failed to put prosac into Hutton's tea. If you can put up with Hutton then this makes for average rainy afternoon viewing. Bing deserved a better co-star than this and there were plenty around in 1944.

Do you recall the brouhaha when Elvis was drafted? Well, that's nothing compared to what happens when the Navy lowers their physical requirements and the bobbysoxer's idol Johnny Cabot (Bing Crosby) enlists. Bing is quite funny spoofing that Hoboken lad as he ca-roons into the microphone for legions of swooning gals. His biggest fan is entertainer turned WAVE Susie Allison (Betty Hutton) who goes ga-ga in a big way. Susie's twin sister Rosemary (Betty Hutton) is the more sensible and reserved type so, naturally, Johnny falls for her. Sonny Tufts is appealing as a sailor pal with his own agenda. Lots of laughs and Harold Arlen/Johnny Mercer tunes make this wartime morale booster a pleasant way to spend an evening. Look for Ann Doran and Noel Neil in uniform.

Time capsule alert: The Arlen/Mercer standard "Acc-Cen-Tu-Ate the Positive" is introduced in this feature. Georgia boy Johnny Mercer wrote the tune to a specific cadence that fans of his recordings recognize and enjoy. I'm certain no offence was meant (even at such as late date as 1944) by introducing the song in blackface, but oh my, that sort of thing can be hard to take in 2007. On the plus side the performance of the song is straight-forward and attached to a delightful ensemble dance routine.

If a plot involves twins you know what you are in for and this film gives you all of the mistaken identity situations that you expect.

Crosby is good as always but seems to be coasting here and the existence of Sonny Tufts' career still escapes me but while this is far from her best film the reason to watch this film is Betty Hutton. She plays twins - one amped up and zany and one demure - and does a very good job with each. The story goes that after this film came out Paramount got a lot of calls from moviegoers asking who the brunette was that played Betty's sister. She does photograph differently in each role and it is not from any makeup but from the differences in her performance.

James Agee wrote about Betty Hutton over 50 years ago, "to me she is beyond good and evil." and I agree with him completely, watching her energy and talent on the screen it is easy to see why she such a huge star in the 1940s and early 50s. Her best films are Annie Get Your Gun, The Perils of Pauline, and The Stork Club. Also try to catch The Fleet's In whenever AMC gets around to showing it to see her first film which instantly turned her into a star.

My late aunt, Kathleen C. Quinn, was the technical advisor for "Here Come the Waves". She was a Lieutenant(jg) in the WAVES and was assigned to the movie. She said that the most difficult part of her job was in getting both the studio and the female cast, including Betty Hutton, to keep the hair styles within WAVE regulation length. (Regulation length was much shorter than the popular styles of the time.) She always told us that both Bing and Betty were very easy to work with.