Dansons gaiement

In this comedy of errors, a broke producer is staying in a swanky hotel without paying his bill. His excuse? He's producing a hit Broadway musical and will soon come into a lot of money. It's not enough that the hotel owner is about to evict him, the playwright he's also scammed out of a bundle of money under the pretense that he'll produce his play shows up and demands to see the show! The producer discovers that the playwright can sing, and he tries to persuade him to star in his musical, hoping he won't notice that the drama he originally wrote will never see the light of day.

The playwright is played by Frank Sinatra, in his first acting role where he doesn't play himself. The first four films he acted in, he literally played Frank Sinatra. Although he does sing several songs in this zany 1940s musical, he must have been relieved to play a character with a different name. Jule Styne and Sammy Cahn wrote the songs for Frankie and Gloria DeHaven, but unless you're a die-hard fan of silly musicals, this one will probably feel a little campy and tiresome. If you like very light-hearted stories, like On the Town or Take Me Out to the Ball Game, you find good company in Step Lively.

Do you like good romantic music with beautiful vocals and crisp clear images? Certainly you do. But if you're looking for "Citizen Kane" or "Gone With the Wind" then you too should be gone and not allowed to comment on this sparkling gem. The film was made in 1944 with a gorgeously tender 19-year-old Gloria DeHaven and a 29-year-old Frank Sinatra in perfect voice. The songs are perfect: Where Does Love Begin (and where does friendship end), Some Other Time (I could resist you), Ask the Madam (she knows it all), and the fantastic Come Out (wherever you are) featuring Gloria in a bathtub in the final year of her teenage glory. Good God how could anyone resist the lure of this film? Now I will admit that George Murphy and company are way over the top as far as vociferous antics are concerned and they are certainly no match for this film's progenitors, Room Service, and the Marx Brothers. And I admit that according to IMDb the film did not do well at the January 1945 box office when it was released. But then honestly if you consider the fact that the USA was fighting for its life in World War II and it was frigid throughout half of the country that is extremely forgivable. Just ask yourself how many Academy Awards are ever given to films released in January! So in summary I suggest that this movie is artistically filmed, delightfully cast and a true beauty in every way. However I do suggest that you turn down the sound until Frankie and/or the incredibly delectable Miss DeHaven (or even Mr. Murphy) begin to sing. Watch the crip clean contrasts of the film and immerse yourself in the perfect images captured and then when the greatest song phraseologist of the 20th century, Frank Sinatra, or his distaff partner, gloria DeHaven, open their mouths to sing turn up the volume and luxuriate in the fantastic melodies and harmonies from Gene Rose, Alex Stordahl and C. Bakaleinikoff. This is a film to immerse oneself in and feel the joy of life and love rather than tear apart pretending one is some sort of Ebert and Roper tyro. This movie is an emotional rejuvenation. Frankly I love this film, Gloria DeHaven, and the era in which it was made; the greatest generation as Tom Brokaw would say. If you're out of high school and capable of any sincere feelings you will love it too.

Step Lively is simply Room Service with a musical score by Jule Styne and Sammy Cahn. It was Frank Sinatra's second feature film role and it marked the first time he worked with that team of songwriters. There would be others, especially with Cahn who has the distinction of putting more words in Frank Sinatra's mouth than any other lyricist.

The original Room Service took place in the hotel suite of Gordon Miller, fast talking producer/conman and was originated by Sam Levene on stage and Groucho Marx on screen. George Murphy is certainly a lighter, gentler version of both of them. But he's passable enough in the part because we wouldn't want too much attention taken from Frank Sinatra.

Sinatra's role as the naive singer/playwright from Oswego was built up considerably from the original play. It was because of him that this film version was taken out of the one room setting of the original. His role was first played by Eddie Albert on Broadway and Frank Albertson with the Marx Brothers.

One song stands out in the score, As Long As There's Music which Sinatra really aces. Yet while Step Lively was being filmed at RKO and while it was out the recording industry was being struck by the musicians union. Additionally shellac which was needed to make those 78 RPMS was in short supply because of World War II. Sinatra never recorded the songs from Step Lively even after the strike was over. Yet As Long AS There's Music still became a hit. I have a version by Eddie Fisher on one of my record albums. Yet it's never identified with Sinatra.

Playing the roles that Chico and Harpo did are the comedy team of Wally Brown and Alan Carney, RKO's attempted answer to Abbott and Costello. RKO also got Adolphe Menjou and Walter Slezak to play the exasperated hotel managers and Eugene Palette had a memorable bit as the representative of Murphy's secret show backer who wants discretion in all things.

The female roles are from a pair of lovely RKO starlets who had substantial careers, Gloria DeHaven and Anne Jeffreys. So you can't say they didn't do all right by Old Blue Eyes.

On the strength of this film which did very well at the box office, MGM bought half of Sinatra's contract from RKO and he went on to make some great musicals in the Forties with them. But that's coming very soon.

Step Lively is both funny and contains some great singing by The Voice.

This features an emaciated young crooner by the name of Frank Sinatra who is a playwright writing unmitigated rubbish which a producer (George Murphy) is trying not to put on stage. When he hears young Frankie sing though, he wants to put him in a musical he is rehearsing in a hotel. Unfortunately, Murphy is low on funds and an exasperated hotel manager (Walter Slezak) and the hotel auditor (Adolphe Menjou) are having kittens trying to get their hands on some folding stuff or throw this producer and his retinue out on the street.

Frankie reluctantly decides to sing in the musical - most probably because the female lead in it is Gloria DeHaven and of course in the end everything turns out well for all concerned in the tradition of MGM musicals of the period.

This film is very enjoyable - even though the general theme of it is the same as many others, Adolphe Menjou, whilst at the same time being sartorially elegant, manages to go over the top a number of times and don't we all love it when he does? Gloria and Frankie sing a number of songs and they are all nice and tuneful. Eugene Pallette walks on blustering a few times and we wonder if at any time he may suddenly explode. The script is amusing, the story tight and the direction by Robert Fellows quite capable. Good entertaining fun.

A screwball comedy, Step Lively is a remake of the Marx Brothers' Room Service, with a B-level musical score made listenable largely by the crooning voice of young Frank Sinatra. Released at the height of World War II, this farce does not pretend to make sense; it clearly was made to showcase Sinatra's talents as a singer and sex symbol. It works; you can't take your eyes off the skinny little guy from Hoboken, New Jersey. Supported by an enormously talented cast that includes Gloria DeHaven, Anne Jeffreys, Walter Slezak, Adolphe Menjou, and George Murphy. The choreography, however, could have used a hand from Busby Berkeley.