Step Lively

STEP LIVELY is a vast improvement over Sinatra's HIGHER AND HIGHER at RKO, but that's hardly a big compliment. Nevertheless, it's a more enjoyable romp with some good work from others in the cast, including GEORGE MURPHY and GLORIA DeHAVEN, but much of the comedy is played so broadly that it seems forced at times.

Based on "Room Service", a comedy starring the Marx Bros. and based on a stage play, it's about a nervous hyperactive producer (Murphy) who wants to put on a show and is encouraged when he finds a talented writer/singer (Sinatra). The trouble is he can't pay his hotel bill and is constantly being badgered for money by WALTER SLEZAK and ADOLPHE MENJOU who don't want him to hold rehearsals for a new show in a penthouse suite.

It's a broad farce and is played for non-stop zaniness by the entire cast, but the constant shouting by Murphy and Menjou becomes tiresome after the first half-hour. ANNE JEFFREYS has a thankless role as a young lady who is only interested in having EUGENE Palette back the show because she's got a crush on Sinatra once she hears him sing.

The songs themselves don't make much of an impression, but are handled suitably by Sinatra and GLORIA DeHAVEN. It's no more then a B-musical with some A-sets for the hotel settings and production numbers.

Sinatra is his casual self in a role that makes no great demands of him except to sing on cue, but everyone else is given to extravagant bits of overacting. His best number is "As Long As There's Music", but it's a good thing he was soon grabbed by MGM for ANCHORS AWEIGH.

Do you like good romantic music with beautiful vocals and crisp clear images? Certainly you do. But if you're looking for "Citizen Kane" or "Gone With the Wind" then you too should be gone and not allowed to comment on this sparkling gem. The film was made in 1944 with a gorgeously tender 19-year-old Gloria DeHaven and a 29-year-old Frank Sinatra in perfect voice. The songs are perfect: Where Does Love Begin (and where does friendship end), Some Other Time (I could resist you), Ask the Madam (she knows it all), and the fantastic Come Out (wherever you are) featuring Gloria in a bathtub in the final year of her teenage glory. Good God how could anyone resist the lure of this film? Now I will admit that George Murphy and company are way over the top as far as vociferous antics are concerned and they are certainly no match for this film's progenitors, Room Service, and the Marx Brothers. And I admit that according to IMDb the film did not do well at the January 1945 box office when it was released. But then honestly if you consider the fact that the USA was fighting for its life in World War II and it was frigid throughout half of the country that is extremely forgivable. Just ask yourself how many Academy Awards are ever given to films released in January! So in summary I suggest that this movie is artistically filmed, delightfully cast and a true beauty in every way. However I do suggest that you turn down the sound until Frankie and/or the incredibly delectable Miss DeHaven (or even Mr. Murphy) begin to sing. Watch the crip clean contrasts of the film and immerse yourself in the perfect images captured and then when the greatest song phraseologist of the 20th century, Frank Sinatra, or his distaff partner, gloria DeHaven, open their mouths to sing turn up the volume and luxuriate in the fantastic melodies and harmonies from Gene Rose, Alex Stordahl and C. Bakaleinikoff. This is a film to immerse oneself in and feel the joy of life and love rather than tear apart pretending one is some sort of Ebert and Roper tyro. This movie is an emotional rejuvenation. Frankly I love this film, Gloria DeHaven, and the era in which it was made; the greatest generation as Tom Brokaw would say. If you're out of high school and capable of any sincere feelings you will love it too.

This features an emaciated young crooner by the name of Frank Sinatra who is a playwright writing unmitigated rubbish which a producer (George Murphy) is trying not to put on stage. When he hears young Frankie sing though, he wants to put him in a musical he is rehearsing in a hotel. Unfortunately, Murphy is low on funds and an exasperated hotel manager (Walter Slezak) and the hotel auditor (Adolphe Menjou) are having kittens trying to get their hands on some folding stuff or throw this producer and his retinue out on the street.

Frankie reluctantly decides to sing in the musical - most probably because the female lead in it is Gloria DeHaven and of course in the end everything turns out well for all concerned in the tradition of MGM musicals of the period.

This film is very enjoyable - even though the general theme of it is the same as many others, Adolphe Menjou, whilst at the same time being sartorially elegant, manages to go over the top a number of times and don't we all love it when he does? Gloria and Frankie sing a number of songs and they are all nice and tuneful. Eugene Pallette walks on blustering a few times and we wonder if at any time he may suddenly explode. The script is amusing, the story tight and the direction by Robert Fellows quite capable. Good entertaining fun.

Yes, it's a flimsy but very funny, fast-paced script. George Murphy's brief dancing and comic delivery is excellent. Sinatra is terrific in his young, vibrant, handsome and romantic best. His ever move from his first entrance shows natural skill and timing. The songs are vastly better than most 1940s musicals. Cone Out Wherever You Are sticks with me for days whenever I hear it. DeHaven is gorgeous as us AnnJeffries. Whenever I watch a film like this I lament that there is no well known talent alive today that could duplicate this film with 1/2 the charm.

In this comedy of errors, a broke producer is staying in a swanky hotel without paying his bill. His excuse? He's producing a hit Broadway musical and will soon come into a lot of money. It's not enough that the hotel owner is about to evict him, the playwright he's also scammed out of a bundle of money under the pretense that he'll produce his play shows up and demands to see the show! The producer discovers that the playwright can sing, and he tries to persuade him to star in his musical, hoping he won't notice that the drama he originally wrote will never see the light of day.

The playwright is played by Frank Sinatra, in his first acting role where he doesn't play himself. The first four films he acted in, he literally played Frank Sinatra. Although he does sing several songs in this zany 1940s musical, he must have been relieved to play a character with a different name. Jule Styne and Sammy Cahn wrote the songs for Frankie and Gloria DeHaven, but unless you're a die-hard fan of silly musicals, this one will probably feel a little campy and tiresome. If you like very light-hearted stories, like On the Town or Take Me Out to the Ball Game, you find good company in Step Lively.