Red, Hot and Blue

If you don't want to kill the late Betty Hutton (at her over-the-top over-energetic worst here) six minutes into the film, you'll probably have a good time with this Frank Loesser vehicle that disappointingly has no relationship at all to the better known and more tuneful Cole Porter stage show with Ethel Merman. There's nothing here to erase memories of Hutton's hit song "Murder He Says" from her best film, 1943's HAPPY GO LUCKY with Mary Martin.

GUYS AND DOLLS it isn't, but it is fun to see Loesser himself (who wrote the semi-score for Hutton to chew scenery through) turn in a credible acting job as a mobster who just might bump off the always irritating Hutton before her screen roommates quite reasonably get the idea. June Havoc (Gypsy Rose Lee's real life sister) is a bit long in the tooth but excellent as the chief imposed-upon roommate, as is an almost young William Frawley as Hutton's eager agent (years before he became "Uncle Charley" on TV's MY THREE SONS) and co-top billed Victor Mature as the director in the central backstage story who is also a rooming house neighbor and inexplicable boyfriend.

There are only so many twists on the familiar backstage film plot, and this RED, HOT AND BLUE bowwows most of the best from more famous films like 42ND STREET, but John Farrow and Charles Lederer's screenplay makes them almost feel fresh as it bounces pin-ball fashion from point to point.

Look for William Talman (later prosecutor Hamilton Burger on TV's PERRY MASON) and Broadway's Jack Kruschen in a couple of effective small roles.

For me, though, the high point of the film was when Percy Helton's stage manager (looking remarkably like the stage's Harold J. Kennedy) gives a perfect assessment of the star's talent following a number imposed upon him outside the stage door. THAT'S entertainment.

"'Starring Betty Hutton' is the clue to watch or not to watch, that is the question." This particular movie is even sillier than her usual stuff. But I had some fun...I even liked the songs and I did so appreciate her "Give It All" delivery. Admittingly I couldn't have a steady diet of her films but I liked this one.

As been stated in the summary she so wants to be a great actress..her publicity agent William Demarest (not Frawley) is really over the top and winds up getting her into dangerous situations. She gets mixed up with the mob, and all that fun stuff but never fear, Betty will prevail.

The huge weakness was pairing her with Victor Mature. I understand it was Paramount's call but still...there was no chemistry even tho' good old Betty tried her best but Victor looked like a fish out of water but being this movie was a bit of fluff it made no difference.

Bottom line...if you're at all a fan of Betty's sit back and watch and listen to her sing and then run and watch something really dark!

Despite having a good cast and a good script, this film is not that good at all. Betty Hutton is an aspiring actress who is absolutely bonkers in more or less every film she's in. It would be good to see her in a serious role rather than comedy roles where she is over the top. Victor Mature wants to be a Broadway director and is a bit more believable. This is probably down to the writing rather than his performance. He has some good lines, but it's just that other characters around him are not so well drawn or believable. Hutton is quite spirited, and you well believe that she can hold her own in a fight with a man or woman, maybe even two men. It would take a big woman to get the better of Hutton. Overall, it is disposable fun.

There's not much to this film other than star Betty Hutton herself. The production values are minimal, the storyline (about a small theatre company trying to hit the big time) is simultaneously convoluted and unengaging. And your guess is as good as mine as to what the title has to do with anything (taken from a relatively successful Cole Porter stage production, there is *nothing* here by Cole Porter).

But, if you like Betty Hutton, you'll probably enjoy the film. It isn't as key a film in her career as "Annie Get Your Gun," "The Perils of Pauline," or "The Miracle of Morgan's Creek," but it certainly gives her plenty of room to showcase her manic comic ability and her own (shall we say) unique way of putting over a number. You just haven't experienced Betty Hutton until you've seen her perform a four-minute musical encapsulation of "Hamlet." Fasten your seat belts and hold onto the arm rests, because she is dialed up to eleven throughout the piece. Everytime you think she can't get anymore over the top, she manages to push even farther! This number alone makes the entire film worthy of some interest.

I never have understood lists of best and worst actors. First, they too often focus only on recent actors and actresses. Second, I've never seen a worst of list featuring Betty Hutton..and she has to be among the least talented and unlikable leading ladies of all time. Here in "Red, Hot and Blue", she is at her worst--loud, obnoxious and about as believable as a $7 bill. It's a shame, as the plot idea isn't bad...but Hutton practically screams her lines and is about as subtle as a stripper at a Baptist barbecue. Overall, a film I had to struggle to finish because I simply hated the leading lady and her acting. I've seen Hutton in a few films which were good, but too often her persona was just loud, loud, loud...and I cannot recommend the film no matter how VIctor Mature and the rest try to save the story.