It Happened in Brooklyn

"It Happened In Brooklyn" is so good-natured and cloying you can't help but like it. It's about a soldier (Sinatra) just discharged from the army after WW II to find a girl friend and a life. He disembarkation point is England, and after making friends with Peter Lawford, off he goes, returning to Brooklyn. From here the plot is so contrived it is hard to recount due to the lack of believability, and the story can barely drag its carcass from one song to the next, so shameless are the screenwriters.

But the songs. They are exquisite, written by Sammy Cahn and Jule Styne, and the main reason for my rating. Sinatra is in fine voice, and Jimmy Durante has been irreplaceable on America's stellar list of entertainers. "Time After Time', "It's the Same Old Dream" are two of Frank's better numbers, but the piece de resistance is Sinatra and Durante doing, " It's Gotta Come From The Heart". Priceless. There are a couple of opera numbers for Kathryn Grayson, so there is something for everyone in this picture.

It is a flag-waver and a preposterous tall tale, but it all works. All you have to do is wait for the musical numbers. And they are worth waiting for.

Most MGM musicals of the late 1940s were lavish, Technicolored extravaganzas, which is why this modest, low-keyed, filmed in glorious black-and-white effort has always been overlooked. A pity, because it's one of the most endearing, enduring musicals of all time. Firstly, it has a plot--a bittersweet Isobel Lennart screenplay about an ex-soldier (Frank Sinatra) returning from WWII to his beloved Brooklyn, and realizing it is not the same as he remembered it. Secondly, that dream cast working together in perfect dramatic and vocal harmony--Sinatra (never more likeable and sweet-natured); Kathryn Grayson (whose charming down-to-earth sincerity truly makes the screen glow); Peter Lawford (has anyone ever given this actor the credit for the class and gentlemanly warmth he brought to every film he was in?), and, of course, the immortal Jimmy Durante (bolstering all of his co-stars with his brilliant comedic and dramatic talents). And thirdly, an immortal Jule Styne score to die for. "Time After Time" ranks as one of the most poignant, melodic ballads ever composed. Many artistic greats have recorded it, but no one has ever interpreted it with the wistful perfection of Grayson and Sinatra. Add Sinatra's "The Brooklyn Bridge" and "It's the Same Old Dream". Lawford's delightful jive turn "Whose Baby Are You?" And the rousing Sinatra/Durante showstopper "The Song's Gotta Come from the Heart" (excerpted in "That's Entertainment II"). "It Happened in Brooklyn" is a wistful, rueful, enchanting musical the likes of which MGM (nor any other studio) ever made nor even attempted. A buried treasure occasionally unearthed by TCM! See it, tape it, and savor one of the most loving and lovely movie-musicals ever made!

It occurs in the cafe scene in "It Happened in Brooklyn." Sinatra joins Katherine Grayson in the famed duet, "La ci darem la mano" from Mozart's "Don Giovanni." What a novelty--and the two don't do too badly together, though the presentation is somewhat in a buffo style.

It points up the fact that Sinatra was born to be a singer; indeed, if he'd been endowned with an operatic vocal instrument, he probably would have been an opera singer. In fact, when he was coming out of his Palm Springs "retirement" to return to the stage, he reportedly got Met Opera baritone Robert Merrill to coach him. And in his latter days, became quite of fan and friend of Pavarotti and the "other two tenors." He also recorded Brahm's "Lullaby," (which he featured in "Anchors Aweigh") and an impressive "Soliloquy" from "Carosel."

There's just no doubt about it: the man loved to sing. In his second major musical for MGM, "It Happened in Brooklyn" Sinatra solos in some marvelous songs by Jule Styne and Sammy Cahn, including "Time After Time," "It's the Same Old Dream," and "The Brooklyn Bridge," while Grayson reprises the first and is featured in the complete "Bell Song" from Delibes' opera, "Lakme." Grayson is also featured in an novel arrangement based on Bach's "Two-Part Invention in F Major," featuring a children's choir and strings. Other delights are "I Believe" and "It's Gotta Come from the Heart," in which the "Ol' Snazolla," Jimmy Durante, joins Frankie for a comic romp.

With all these tunful treats, plus fine support from Peter Lawford and Gloria Graham, one would think this musical were a blockbuster. Not really so, surprisingly. It seems to be a case of the parts not quite equalling the whole. However, it's still a personal favorite, as these musical selections are just plain fun to hear and enjoy. So "It Happened in Brooklyn" is a staple in my video collection, which I replay with great pleasure and downright good fun.

Very enjoyable musical romp. Wonderful songs and adaptations.

The stars bring us much to smile about. JIMMY DURANTE steals every scene he's in - even when SINATRA is with him. A great tribute to the magnetic personality of the great and good-hearted "snoz".

Young BOBBY LONG charms us with spectacular dancing and fresh voice in "I BELIEVE". Too bad we never saw him again. Show business is sure a tough business.

In the world of colorful musicals, the quiet charm of this one never leaves you feeling cheated just because it's in B&W.

Enjoyed this picture from the beginning to the very end with great old time musical numbers sung by Frank Sinatra, (Danny Webson Miller) who returns from the Army after four years of service to his hometown of Brooklyn, New York and meets up with some of his old friends. One of the friends is Jimmy Durante, (Nick Lombardi) who really stole the entire film in almost every scene. Kathryn Grayson, (Anne Fielding) had such a fantastic opera voice and sang some very famous Classical musical numbers. It was enjoyable seeing Peter Lawford, (Jamie Shellgrove) give a great song and dance number and also a blooming romance between him and Anne Fielding. Even Gloria Grahame, (Nurse) gave a great supporting role as a nurse taking care of Danny while he was in the service and how he sort of remembers her at the very end of the picture. Great film, don't miss this great Classic from 1947. Enjoy.