La jeunesse s'amuse

For all those like me who have wondered and searched for information on what became of Tommy Dix.I came across a site with information on him from 2009. According to the site Dix was drafted after "Best Foot Forward" and severely injured in a stateside training accident. I don't know what the injury was. Because of the injury he was unable to go overseas with his regiment which was decimated at the Battle of the Bulge. He apparently lives in Savannah Georgia. I wish he had been able to continue his career.I really enjoyed his singing. "Wynsocki" tends to stick in your mind.The music makes this otherwise mundane movie worth watching. I hope Tommy Dix's life has been rich and satisfying

I usually don't like movies wherein stars "play themselves" but cable TV plays this movie so often I've seen it like a million times and each time I catch something different. The story is somewhat contrived and, true-to-form, movie star (as opposed to TV star) Lucille has a hard time getting rid of her somewhat brassy edge. She herself has commented that this trait held her back in films. Toward the end, however, she does soften up, especially in the hilarious Marx Brothersesque scene in the dormitory when everybody has to hide in closets to keep from getting busted by the general. I can envision this picture playing during the war as the second feature. It's one of those movies that, in the days when you could stay at the movies all day, you wouldn't mind coming in in the middle of it and then staying later to catch just the beginning. Harry James is a surprisingly good dancer and his scene with little Nancy Walker is good. All-in-all a good movie to watch on a rainy day or when you're home sick with the flu.

When this first came out in the theater and I saw it then, there was a military academy in the town where I lived. And I was just going into high school. I thought this movie was the greatest thing I had ever seen, maybe the greatest movie ever made. I felt like it had been made especially for me, my friends and our local cadets. And the song, Buckle Down Winsocki was absolutely the best fight song in the world. I realize now that the movie probably wasn't that good, it was trite and predictable, as well as being juvenile. It still thrills me, and the memories that I have of that time all come back when I watch this movie again. I'm not capable of seeing it from any other point of view, so I am going to give this a 10, just for old times' sake.

'Best Foot Forward' is a long way from perfect, having its fair share of flaws. This said it is an enjoyable diversion even if falling well short of being great. It does decently with what it set out to do, knows what it wants to be and tries not to do any more than it needs to.

The weak link is the story, which is as paper thin and nonsensical as they come. The songs are pleasant enough, but with the exception of one they are overlong, easily forgettable after a few hours and are mostly sloppily choreographed. The script is uneven, some of it is amusing and sparkles but other parts are leaden, corny and hopelessly out of date now.

Not all the cast work, with the ladies faring far better than the men. Kenny Bowers is very feeble with very little charisma, while Jack Jordan has the opposite problem of overacting and being insufferably irritating.

Lucille Ball however looks as though she is thoroughly enjoying herself and she is terrifically supported by glamorous and scene-stealing Gloria De Haven, peppy June Allyson and especially zesty and often hilarious Nancy Walker (who actually steals the show). Harry James is also great, as is William Gaxton. While Tommy Dix has his bland moments, he is more often than not appealing.

'Best Foot Forward' looks great, love the colours and handsome production design. Of the musical numbers, coming off best by far is the rousing in every sense of the word "Buckle Down Winsocki". Edward Buzell directs reasonably competently if slightly undistinguished.

Overall, enjoyable if unexceptional. 6/10 Bethany Cox

Here's a movie I adored when I was a kid, thrilled by "Buckle Down Winsocki", the spirited song sung at a military academy by a bunch of singing, dancing and marching cadets. But seeing the film now, is a real letdown. It's below par in every department.

At second glance, it's really a minor musical with HARRY JAMES and his Orchestra and a little gal named NANCY WALKER (making her film debut) as the chief compensations for a script full of lame, dated one-liners and some trifling songs with bad choreography.

Even the great LUCILLE BALL, as the movie star invited to the prom, has a hard time getting any laughs. She's supposed to be a faded star whose press agent talks her into accepting an invitation from TOMMY DIX, who overlooks his girlfriend VIRGINIA WIEDLER because of his crush on Lucy.

Lucy looks great and the Technicolor makes her a glamorous creature, but the script defeats everyone. It's nice seeing JUNE ALLYSON, GLORIA de HAVEN and NANCY WALKER having fun with a couple of tunes but while the picture at least got their careers off to a good start, it's no great shakes as a musical--especially one from MGM which specialized in the very best of that ilk.

NANCY WALKER struts her stuff as "Blind Date" material--although some of the humor at her expense is a little cruel. But she's a reminder that real talent can even overcome some witless material. And I have to ask the question so many others have: whatever happened to Tommy Dix???