Song of the Open Road

Jane Powell's film debut is now forgotten and seems to have disappeared into obscurity--unlike her later MGM technicolored treats. A pity, because this cheerful tale of a teenaged movie star, fed up with her mediocre films and bland girl-next-door image, runs off incognito to join a group of youngsters striving to preserve the fruitions of farming. If that synopsis sounds dated, it certainly is, and who cares?. The plot is a serviceable enough vehicle for an unpretentious, black-and-white, engaging spotlight for a number of first-rate songs (Jane's zesty renditions of the catchy "Rolling Down the Road," "Here it is Monday"; and the underrated Jackie Moran's haunting rendition of the lovely, wistful ballad "Too Much In Love," deserving its Oscar nomination for Best Song). Plus a finale with special appearances by, among others, the Great Man W.C. Fields, absolutely dead-on hilarious in his last film appearance. AMC has the rights to this film and every two years or so, sneaks it quietly into early A.M. slots when they figure no one is watching TV anyway. A pity, because this low-keyed gloriously melodic charmer is first-rate in every department and deserves a long-overdue rescue from obscurity.

Jane Powell (in her screen debut) is tired of the grind of being a Hollywood star. She runs away and joins a group of teenagers called the U. S. Crop Corps, picking crops during the season. At first she's enthusiastic and volunteers for everything. However, everything she knows is what she learned in the movies, which doesn't help much.

Clearly this Charles Rogers production for United Artists was intended as a sort of Deanna Durbin movie, with some jabs at the way Hollywood treated its talent. There's lots of talent on the screen, from Bonita Granville and Jackie Moran, to faded stars like Reginald Denny, Regis Toomey, and Rose Hobart. It's undoubtedly appearance by W. C. Fields and Edgar Bergen and his dummies that people came to see, as well as frequent musical interludes that had Miss Powell singing in a variety of styles.

Although director S. Sylvan Simon shows his abilities here -- including locking Fields in his trailer so he could sleep off the previous night's drinking and perform -- it's not a sparkling movie, in large part because every problem is quickly solved. Still, it's a worthwhile 90 minutes of watching for the specialty acts if nothing else.

This movie made such a wonderful impression. Unable to find it on tape or CD, I still recall the story and songs more than forty years later. Fell in love with Edgar Bergen, Jane Powell etc. for life. Sadly it is not on TV for unknown reasons. Wish everyone who loves music could see it.

YOU CAN'T CHEAT AN H ONEST MAN(1939) was not the only time W. C. Fields and Charlie McCarthy locked horns onscreen,In Fields' next-to-last film,he and Charlie lock horns at a benefit show,however briefly. Just as nobody remembers Bergen's "Effie mae"(a spinster dummy), nobody remembers the debut of "Charlie McCarthy Jr.".

A miniature version of himself that sits on the normal-sized dummy's lap,with CHARLIE as the ventriloquist. Naturally,Big harlie has trained Little Charlie well.

"What is the lowest form of animal life,Junior?" W,C Fields!",replies Junior.

Fields throws away his bottle and vows to give up drinking.

I can't count the number of unsuccessful hours I have spent searching for a copy of the precious movie on the Internet. I was so impressed with it that, in the fall of 1944 and at the age of eight, I ran away from home. Came back the next day. I guess Jane was better prepared! I have read and reread her biography, The Girl Next Door which makes this, her first film, all the more amazing. Regardless, if anyone knows where a copy of this adorable film is available, please contact me. I would certainly appreciate receiving an email about getting a copy or just a general chit-chat about my first love. Ron in Texas (gingaw@earthlink.net)