Feliz mentira

While MGM was producing immortal big-budget musicals in Culver City, the producer Johnny Taps was churning out low-budget very forgettable "B" features like this 1952 one for Harry Cohn at the Columbia Pictures studio on Gower Street. Very pretty Charlotte Austin, the daughter of crooner Gene, is the star and never quite pulls it off the role. (Her career as a leading lady was short-lived.) Richard Quine, who had been a kid singer in Judy Garland pictures, is the contract director who keeps the silly story moving. (Quine went on to direct many of Kim Novak's early films for the same studio.) Perhaps the only plus is that the picture shows actual Columbia Pictures projection rooms and sound stages, and gives the viewer of feeling of what this famous Hollywood studio looked and felt like back then. Other than that, not much else to recommend other than the chance to see and hear 1950's nightclub performers Frankie Laine and Billy Daniels entertain.

First of all, a couple of those 'critics' particularly the jasper moaning about what he calls unmemorable songs. "Rainbow 'Round My Shoulder," "Bye Bye Blackbird," hardly fit that category. There were other good standards, and some of the less-known items were very, very good. Also, the dance number in the playground was imaginative and most enjoyable.

Someone was yapping about Charlotte Austin's smile. It was beautiful, and so was she. Many others pale by comparison, especially some of today's phonies whose beauty comes from skilled make-up artists. Gene Austin's daughter was a beaut.

Someone said that Lloyd Corrigan was not as good as usual. What b.s. He played the same part he usually did, and just as enjoyably.

Two of the best singers in the business, Frankie Laine and Billy Daniels, are two more excellent reasons for trying to get your hands on this virtually unknown gem.

Once again, TCM pressed the confusion button and scheduled another picture with the same title (the title of this one was changed a couple of times). The other starred the great Margaret Rutherford and I hope to catch up with it some time.

For now, I'm happy about putting this one on instead. Forget the negative yapping. Guarantee - you'll enjoy every moment.

This film was shown accidentally on Turner Classic Movies as part of a series celebrating Margaret Rutherford's birthday. The film's title was "Castle in the Air, formerly (Rainbow 'Round My Shoulder)" which is why you may not have ever seen it listed! There was another film also called "Castle in the Air" and also made in 1952 co-starring Margaret Rutherford. TCM obviously confused the two films.

I'm sure that Rutherford fans were disappointed but the former "Rainbow 'Round My Shoulder" was an enjoyable light musical replacement. Frankie Laine and Billy Daniels and the real star, Charlotte Austin, all had good songs. I feel sorry for the fans of those singers who missed this opportunity to enjoy their performances! I suspect that TCM will air both films in the near future to make up for their mistake.

This modestly budgeted musical was extremely popular in the UK on its release in 1953, featuring a few good songs (including the memorable "Girl in the Wood") performed by the ever popular Frankie Laine and by that marvellous showman Billy Daniels who subsequently became a major attraction at variety theatres all over Britain. So why do the television broadcasters never give us the chance to see this very pleasant movie again?

I came across this delightful film about 10 years ago. Long after Jonnie Taps was producing B musicals at Columbia Studios. I had always enjoyed Frankie Laine's singing style and have been attempting to collect his musicals. They all have good familiar songs and two have Billy Daniels who became more popular in England than in the U.S. I believe that it is the biggest role that Ida Moore has ever had. You get a glimpse of the Columbia screening room, recording studio and inside a sound stage. Released in Technicolor gives the film extra points and the fact that I live in Pasadena brought a smile on my face. I've been waiting for Columbia to release these B musicals on DVD.