Thrill of a Lifetime

Silly plot about a trio (Johnny Downs, Eleanore Whitney, and Judy Canova) trying to get into a show at a summer resort camp where the Yacht Club Boys are posing as the theatrical producers Wattle, Wattle, Wattle, and Wattle. Of course the big summer event is a show and everyone gets a chance to shine.

Camp is run by a rather glum Leif Erickson who does not believe in real romance so he manufactures it for summer guests via employees like Betty Grable and Buster Crabbe who schmooze the guests. But romance is everywhere. Who will end up with whom? Lots of comedy here especially once Canova meets up with Ben Blue. They have a bubble dance number that is very funny and very well done. Grable gets to sing and dance to "Sweetheart Time" with Erickson, and the Yacht Club Boys sing two rousing and clever numbers. Downs and Whitney finally get a novelty dance number toward the end (along with a doll and Tommy Wonder). Canova gets a spot of her own (along with Anne Canova and Zeke Canova) and is very funny with her hillbilly yodeling act.

Dorothy Lamour, dripping in satin glamour, shows up as a guest star and sings "Thrill of a Lifetime" and steals the show. She's spectacular and is filmed in loving close-up. Wow! Others in the cast include Franklin Pangborn as the real Wattle, June Schafer as his secretary, and Marjorie Reynolds is one of the chorus girls.

Oh yes, and the Yacht Club Boys were James Kern, Billy Mann, George Kelly, and Charles Adler.

What a waste of time. Ben Blue (Skipper) has some physical comedy skills which are the highlight in the film. Unfortunately, the songs are appalling and the Yacht Club Boys are dreadful. You keep hoping for Betty Grable (Gwen) to get into a swing song or dance routine but it never happens and Dorothy Lamour appears as herself and performs a terribly boring song. She looks different, not yet developed into how she came to be known, obviously being showcased.

The story is about Camp Romance where guests can fall in love and there are a cast who do precisely that. It really is a boring, film, though with comedy and music that falls flat. The film needed a serial killer to take out all the cast one at a time - the audience would have appreciated that.