Diamond Horseshoe

I have loved this movie since the first time I saw it on TCM years ago. I love classic movies and when I found out that this one isn't even available on VHS I was heartbroken. I can never seem to catch it on television anymore and I as such haven't seen it in years. Also, I love sharing my favorites with friends and family, but am not able to do so with this one. I desperately want it in my collection. If you're as much a fan of this movie as I am, please go to the following websites and put in your request to have it released for purchase. Hopefully, fans of the movie will eventually be able to have it in their collection!

E-mail Universal Studios and request that it be released.

Vote at Turner Classic Movies. Search for The Diamond Horseshoe and on the side of the page will be an icon to click on and vote!

The best thing I like about Diamond Horseshoe is the original songs that Mack Gordon and Harry Warren wrote for the score, interpolating it with some old standards. The More I See You and I Wish I Knew were mega hits in 1945 bigger for Dick Haymes than Betty Grable because Haymes was a big selling recording star for Decca Records and Darryl Zanuck kept Grable as he did many of his stars away from the record studios.

The backstage plot is simple enough and doesn't get in the way of the extravagant musical numbers for Grable, Haymes and the rest. Haymes is the son of veteran performer William Gaxton who doesn't want Haymes going into show business. He might become the victim of golddigging dames so Grable is supposed to make Haymes fall for her and dump him. Then Haymes will go back to medical school and become a doctor as he's supposed to.

Of course best laid plans never quite work out in these situations and in Diamond Horseshoe that's no exception.

It was nice to see William Gaxton who did most of his work on Broadway in this, one of his rare screen appearances. According to a recent biography of Betty Grable she was one of the very few of his co-workers to have a kind word for Dick Haymes. He was not one of the most savory people out there in spite of having one mellow singing voice. She did do The Shocking Miss Pilgrim with him a couple of years later.

Darryl Zanuck spared no expense with Diamond Horseshoe, one of the bigger budget items for 20th Century Fox that year. It holds up very well and a must for fans of its leads.

"Billy Rose's Diamond Horseshoe" is another effervescent Fox musical in Technicolor starring Betty Grable, this time supported by Dick Haymes, Phil Silvers, William Gaxton and Beatrice Kay.

Grable plays Bonnie Collins, a performer at the Horseshoe who doesn't get along with the head guy, Joe Davis Sr. (Gaxton). When Joe Davis Jr. Arrives (Haymes), Senior turns his attention to Junior, ignoring his girlfriend Claire (Kay).

Junior has decided to try his hand at show business and forget his studies to be a doctor, to the chagrin of his dad. Desperate to get the kid out of the way, Claire asks Bonnie to pretend she likes Junior and then dump him, figuring that Junior's ego won't allow him to stick around.

The prize for doing this is a fur coat of Claire's that Bonnie has always envied. Of course, the inevitable occurs.

Grable looks fabulous in a variety of costumes and is very funny as Bonnie, who is annoyed at first by Junior's attention. She has some good numbers - "Shoo Shoo Baby" and "A Nickel's Worth of Dime," plus a reprise of "More than You Know."

Dick Haymes' lyrical sound is delightful singing "I Want to Know" and "The More I See You." Silvers has a great comic bit at a dinner table.

The one off note is William Gaxton's character of Joe, who for most of the movie is absolutely hateful and so nasty to poor Claire, you want to slap him.

Great entertainment, the kind of stuff that made Betty so popular.

This movie has always been one of my very favorites. The songs (by Harry Warren) are lovely, especially the classic "the More I See You". Anyone watching the picture can see why Grable was a huge star. Dick Haymes sings like a dream and makes a terrific leading man. Although it centers on Grable and Haymes getting together, the story is not one of the silly boy meets girl plots so typical of the 40s. Many of lines still have a bite more than fifty years later. Anytime this picture is on TV, I'll treat myself to it.

This wonderful 1945 musical has a terrific plot. Dick Haymes, 6 months away from being a doctor, wants to chuck it all and join his widowed father, Bill Gaxton, in show business.

His appearance is a threat to Beatrice Kay, who is about to tie the knot with the widower Gaxton. She enlists the help of Betty Grable to fall for Haymes and then dump him so that he will go back to medical school and she can resume her life with the Gaxton character.

Naturally, Grable falls for Haymes, but eventually comes around to the idea that he should finish medical school.

The songs are wonderfully staged and Grable does well as the girl disliked by Gaxton, but comes around to do what's right.

Of all people, Margaret Dumont appears in a one scene dream sequence and actually sings part of her lines! Wonder what Groucho thought about that. Naturally, she is an upper crust matron in the dream.

A blend of great music, good story and all enhances this well done 1945 film.