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As of this writing, the IMDb user rating for this unpretentious musical is an amazingly high 8.3 - higher than The Band Wagon also released in 1953. So what accounts for such a rating? Most of the songs are awful ("I'd rather have a pal than a gal, anytime" is an example), and the choreography is just so-so. But despite these deficiencies, The Girl Next Door is one of the most amiable entertainments from the '50s. The slight story is played with humor and warmth by the entire cast. The dialog is bright. The modest fashions and decor make this a fascinating time capsule - closer to early 50s suburbia than the highly stylized productions from MGM.

Although it's not about to supplant The Band Wagon from a critical standpoint, this film does weave a particular magic and has obviously won its way into a lot of hearts - mine included!

Fred Astaire and Gene Kelly reigned as the male masters of dance in movies through the mid-20th century. Theirs were the large-scale production numbers and solo creative routines that dazzled audiences in many very good to great musical films. But a number of other very talented "hoofers" did a good share of entertaining as well. Donald O'Connor, Danny Kaye, Jimmy Cagney, Mickey Rooney and Dan Dailey come to mind. Besides dancing, they had singing voices and could act. The one who could do the best job of the latter was Dan Dailey. This intrepid happy camper could turn from a comedic role to a serious one with seeming ease.

Dailey also had a persona about him that made audiences feel comfortable and cozy with his dance scenes. He seemed relaxed and natural in his movements. Usually those were with a romantic partner. In "The Girl Next Door," June Haver fits very nicely in that role. The Betty Grable look- alike had good dance and singing skills, so theirs was a very good match.

Other actors in this film gave top performances as well – most notably Dennis Day, Cara Williams and Billy Gray as Dailey's son. The movie has a good plot, and Dailey and Gray have a couple of very good and amusing father-son skits. While there are no hit parade numbers in this film, the songs are all quite good. Haver has one very dramatic solo dance role and Dailey has a dream sequence. Finally, two animated comic sequences round out the humor in the film. Taken together, these qualities earn "The Girl Next Door" a high score for entertainment and enjoyment.

Dan Dailey had a lot of strain and turmoil in his life. But he seemed to leave it at the stage door. He believed strongly in family life, yet he was married four times. He fought alcoholism early in his career, and his only son committed suicide in 1975. Dailey died three years later of anemia when he couldn't recover after a hip fracture from a fall. He was just 64. Dailey was well-liked by people on his movie sets, and he brought smiles and cheerfulness to rehearsals. His musicals especially, should still entertain people for decades to come.

The Girl Next Door is a surprising and fascinating film, partly for what it delivers, and partly because of what it indicates the future could have been for its star. The film opened quickly, and disappeared just as quickly, in New York, because its start June Haver had already entered a convent (she, of course, didn't stay there long). Not expected to be box office, the film, though, has some extraordinary moments, and the most surprising element of all is the work of June Haver. Although her voice is dubbed, her dancing is a complete revelation. Her work with Dan Dailey is superlative and shows maturity that she had never shown before. Indeed, her torch song indicates a Haver never seen before...and never to reappear. The cartoon networking is fun, and the dish number between Dailey and Billy Gray is a joyous scene. Haver also displays a wide range of emotions that indicate she had matured as an actress and was no longer the perennial ingenue. Even her figure is more eye-watchable than in previous vehicles -- including The Dolly Sisters. The film sags badly whenever Dennis Day is at hand, and even more sadly because he sings the one number that had a brief bit of fame - If I Love You a Mountain. His voice allows no emotion, and his expressions are devoid of any acting. His vis-a-vis, Cara Williams, is totally wasted. It's nice, though, that the film has hit DVD, because its merits are commendable. Certainly, it is professional work - with the sad exception of the scenes with Dennis Day.

Candy-colored, candy-coated musical comedy from Fox with lots of effervescence and wiseacre pizazz. June Haver plays globe-trotting musical starlet who buys her first (rather beautiful) home in Scarsdale and, despite some reservations ("Frankenstein slept here!"), she moves right in and throws a party; the widower next door quickly becomes the main attraction in her life, but his young son isn't so happy about having to compete with this female interloper ("I'd rather have a buddy than a female fuddy-duddy anytime," his dad lies to him). Surprisingly funny, lively, studio-set suburban shenanigans has more songs than "Tommy", yet the choreography is rather intricate and the cast is full of joshing good cheer. Haver's new beau Dan Dailey soft-shoes through with a big goofy grin; Cara Williams is June's tippling best friend who pairs off (rather unconvincingly) with tenor Dennis Day, who sings to the rafters (literally); Billy Gray is Dailey's son, who has an excellent dramatic scene at the police station. Notable for two animated sequences (courtesy UPA), as well as a lovely fantasy number where Dailey is forced to choose between his son and his new sweetheart. Not quite in the same class as MGM's musical entries from this era, but a lot of jovial fun. **1/2 from ****

I am an odd person in that I like musicals BUT dislike them when they have a lot of songs or unnecessary song and dance sequences that slow down the plots. So, while I really loved the plot from "The Girl Next Door", I felt that a couple times the song and dance routines got in the way--particularly the fantasy sequences. Now this is NOT to say I disliked the film. I think it's actually highly underrated and don't exactly know why it isn't thought of as one of the better musicals. Perhaps it's because it starred Dan Dailey and June Haver--and they were not see as in the same level as Fred Astaire, Gene Kelly, Judy Garland and other top Hollywood names. Well, despite this, it is a very good picture...even with a song or two too many.

The film begins by showing us very quickly the life of the actress Jeannie Laird (Haver). Now, after wowing audiences all over the world, she has just bought a home and plans to settle down a little bit. She's still a working woman and loves acting, but now she has a house to call her own. But, on the night she's throwing a big housewarming party, she runs afoul of her neighbors--Bill and Joe Carter (Dan Dailey and Billy Gray). Fortunately, this minor tiff did not characterize the movie or their relationship and soon she and Bill are dating. The problem is that Joe LOVES all the attention he gets from his single dad--and he naturally resents anyone who might try to take him away from him. Unfortunately, Bill is a bit oblivious to this and it takes patience from Jeannie and some understanding from Joe to work through all this.

This is a very nice family film. The relationship between father and son seemed natural and sweet. Daily and Haver are exceptional, but the real star to me was Gray. While he'd played precocious and ill-behaved brats in a few previous films, here he was all boy--and I mean that in the best possible way. He seemed very natural and was in his element in the film. Overall, apart from one or two songs too many, the film has a nice story, excellent acting and is well worth your time.

By the way, this was Haver's last film, as she soon retired to be a nun. This didn't take, apparently, and a bit later she became Mrs. Fred MacMurray and never looked back at her film career. Also, get a load of the big kiss at the end--it's one of the best of the era!

If you see this on DVD, look for the special features--they are excellent!