Two Girls and a Sailor

Saw this delightful musical, filled with great performers: James, Durante, Cugat, Iturbi, and many others, when I was eleven while in New York with my mother in 1944, and never saw it again until today 14 Feb, 2006 in TCM... easy going plot, well articulated with good acting, fine music and mainly everlasting songs... All in all, just great fun all the way... the fine start of June Allyson brilliant career...

What a great feeling to live back those far gone days when even though in war, America was united as ever, with natural sorrow and hardships, but full of dreams, commitment, proud of itself, with high hopes for a better world... Made me nostalgic? Yes indeed!

This movie was made in the years when life was turmoil, when Europe was at war and the US military was more than visible. Consequently the plot twists and turns but you know it will turn out happy. I was enthralled by the movie. Lots of humor and sisterly love draw you into the plot. The mystery of who will end up with whom keeps you riveted. But most of all June Allyson and Van Johnson together, in their 1940's lovemaking way, make this one of the best movies I've seen in a long time.

Perky June Allyson and lovely Gloria DeHaven are two vaudevillians given a chance to open their own canteen for military personnel by a mysterious benefactor. The very thin plot revolves around this simple premise and at over two hours running time it becomes very stretched indeed. However, as this is an MGM movie, there is much to enjoy thanks to the plethora of studio talent involved. The highlights for me were gorgeous Virginia O'Brien doing her usual 'deadpan' number, June Allyson's terrific 'Young Man With A Horn', beautiful Lena Horne singing 'Paper Doll' and who could resist Jimmy Durante performing 'Inka Dinka Doo'? The production is lavish with huge sets, hundreds of extras and fabulous costumes. The bizarre dream sequence is quite eye-popping and even includes a fashion parade with some truly beautiful models. Quite an extravaganza!

TWO GIRLS AND A SAILOR (1944) is mindless fluff featuring a string of guest stars and musical acts, meant to cheer audiences up while WWII raged on overseas.

In the tradition of many other wartime musicals, the film is almost like sitting through a concert. A simple plot serves as an excuse for a parade of musical numbers that aim to entertain the cinema-goers as much as the in-movie club patrons. It's pure escapism. Throw in some romance, some comedy, and a dash of patriotism and you have a very pleasant movie indeed.

And TWO GIRLS AND A SAILOR is a very pleasant movie. Fluff, yes, but it's fun. June Allyson and Gloria DeHaven play showbiz sisters who sing at a nightclub and entertain servicemen at their apartment. Thanks to the generosity of a mysterious admirer, the girls are able to open their own canteen to put on shows for the men in uniform. But what happens when both sisters start falling for the same guy (Navy sailor Van Johnson)?

Both actresses are charming and do a nice job. Gloria DeHaven is very beautiful, but it is June Allyson as the protective older sister who wins us over. I've never considered myself much of a June Allyson fan, but she certainly was talented and her performance here (singing, dancing, acting, comedy) is great.

Jimmy Durante provides solid comic relief and even sings his hit "Inka Dinka Doo". Van Johnson plays an all-American good guy, a sailor who happens to be a multi-millionaire. Tom Drake is Johnson's rival for DeHaven's affections, an Army sergeant who's really kind of a jerk.

MGM showcases many of its top musical acts throughout the film, including popular trumpeter and bandleader Harry James, the exotic Xavier Cugat Orchestra, jazz vocalist Lena Horne, deadpan singer Virginia O'Brien, the singing Wilde Twins (sisters Lee and Lyn), and piano maestro Jose Iturbi. Even Gracie Allen shows up for a comedic piano number.

Thinly plotted musicals aren't always my thing, but there's something very likable about this production. Allyson, DeHaven, Johnson, Durante, and Henry Stephenson (as Johnson's grandfather) are all great. The musical acts serve as a 1940s time capsule. The story is sweet and innocent. Just sit back and be entertained.

Considering the talent involved, the movie should be better than it is. What's needed is a lot more bounce and about twenty minutes less of the romantic guessing game, which drags along too much of the time. Too bad we don't get more of the sparkle and zip of the Young Man with a Horn number. Allyson really comes alive during those moments. Durante is of course Durante lending his inimitable style of pizazz, while the baby-faced De Haven shines, along with Johnson who really deserves more screen time. The love-struck soldier is a novel touch for a movie of this type, though somewhat creepy at times. And what in the heck does the subplot of the two elderly gentlemen do other than meander a story-line that's already too drawn-out. Note how high-brow musicians Albert Coates and Jose Iturbi do musical spots. Having the classically trained making guest appearances was not unusual for popular musicals of the time. I suppose producers thought this would broaden audience appeal. Anyway it's a good chance to scope out Harry James at his peak and vintage Lena Horne. Fortunately, the kids themselves would go on to bigger and better things.