Somebody Loves Me

This film is noted as the last of the big Betty Hutton films before her first "retirement" from the spotlight. The story is a biography of the famous Vaudevillian Blossom Seeley and her husband Benny Fields. What really distinguishes this film is the soundtrack of Betty's singing of a bushel of old-time songs in her inimitable style. She acts with her usual panache. Ralph Meeker plays Benny Fields in much the same way that John Lund played Betty's paramour in "The Perils of Pauline." Billie Bird is a standout as Essie, Blossoms' friend and confidant. Betty would come out of her "retirement" to play in the 1957 film "Spring Reunion" and then appear in the 1959-60 CBS sitcom "The Betty Hutton Show."

Somebody Loves Me is a terrific vehicle for Betty Hutton, who in turn elevates an undistinguished script by being simply sensational in each musical number of the film. She is gorgeous in this movie, and her singing was never better, especially the title song plus 'Way Down Yonder in New Orleans", "San Fransisco Bay", "Rose Garden" and "Dixie Dream".

As everyone knows, Betty Hutton has no peer in belting out a song, but she also has the most amazing ability to sing a torch song or a ballad in such a way as to break your heart. She was always under-appreciated--probably because her films didn't benefit from the big budgets that MGM put into their musicals--but if you watch 'Somebody Loves Me', I think you'll agree that no one was better in making entertaining musicals.

God bless her soul.

In her last major film, Betty Hutton gives a great performance in the story of Blossom Seeley, a legendary star of the early 20th century.

Subduing her usual bop character for the more sedate style of Blossom Seeley, Betty Hutton perfectly captures the mood and pace of the teens and 20s. Singing some great standards and few new songs, Hutton exudes warmth and an era long gone. Blossom Seeley was a major star of the early 20th century, one of the biggest vaudeville stars.

Seeley made a few film appearances, her best being a Vitaphone short in 1928 with Benny Fields. This short film is available on DVD.

Hutton looks great, sings great, and turns in a boffo performance. Ralph Meeker is dubbed and seems uncomfortable in a musical. Solid support from Robert Keith, Billie Bird, Sid Tomack, and Henry Slate.

Sadly, this was the end of Betty Hutton's studio career in Hollywood. She made this film the same year as starring in THE GREATEST SHOW ON EARTH. She made several TV specials and guest appearances but appeared in only one more film: 1957's SPRING REUNION. One of the biggest stars of the 40s, she was tossed aside by the studio system.

Hutton's performance in this films ranks among her best. Worth a look to see one great star impersonating another great star.

Betty's last major film for her home studio Pararmount was one of her best. Her acting is toned down,her singing is warm and mellow. Vocal surgery had kept her from the shouting type of singing she did so in a way this was a more mature role for her. Ralph Meeker is good as her husband Benny Fields. The sets,costumes and color are very lush and typical of the big studio's fifties product. Billy Bird is a riot as Betty's companion. Ironically,in real life Blossom Seely did retire so Benny Fields could be the star of the family but his career fizzled and he retired a year later,also. There was a soundtrack issued at the time but it hasn't resurfaced. I never was a big fan of Hutton's but thought her role in this film was very good.

This was Betty Hutton's last major film at Paramount and she gave her all playing Blossom Seeley. She looked beautiful and was singing better than ever. Blossom worked with Betty on the songs and movements. If Paramount ever releases this film on DVD, it would be a good idea to track down some of Blossom's early musical shorts and include them. Blossom's partner, Benny Fields, is played by Ralph Meeker and he does a fine job with his numbers. His singing is dubbed by Pat Morgan, but it's a good match. Betty wanted Frank Sinatra. Great idea. Too bad it didn't happen, but everything turned out quite well and it's one of my favorite movies starring my favorite bombshell. There are nearly 20 songs and maybe someday there will be a decent soundtrack released on CD. The 10 inch LP that RCA put out at the time was a very sloppy mix of Paramount studio tracks and RCA studio sessions. You can hear the splices.