L'ora, il luogo e la ragazza

Pleasant musical, colorfully produced, but with more plot and talk than necessary for a musical. The plot's well worn—the guys and gals want to put on a musical in spite of a couple of killjoys (Bates & Woods). Seems the money needed for the show keeps getting passed around between good guys and not-so-good guys. Anyway, count on Morgan and Carson to get things right. The musical numbers are eye-catching, especially the rope-twirling "Calico", along with tap-dancing whirlwinds the Condo Brothers. I expect one reason for the talk is the large number of featured players, from Morgan to Bates. Each name player has to get enough dialogue to maintain status and pay-rate.

This is still early in the Morgan-Carson pairing, so fans may be disappointed they don't get more shtick. Nonetheless, their chemistry shows promise. And, of course, there's Cuddles Sakall doing his ain't-I-adorable bit, which of course he is. But the real surprise, to me at least, is noir vamp Martha Vickers. None of that here; instead, she shines in a sparkly role I would never have suspected. Too bad she never rose to the level her talent clearly warranted. For those fans of 40's women's big hats, catch Paige's menacing flower combo early on. I'm surprised the actress kept her head.

Anyway, it's an eye-catching 100-minutes, and if not memorable, at least entertaining.

For what it is, and it is simply a well crafted ball of fluff, THE TIME,THE PLACE and the GIRL is a delight. From Dennis Morgan crooning to Jack Carson clowning there are worse ways to spend a few hours. Best though is the Arthur Schwartz score with RAINY NIGHT IN RIO and A GAL IN CALICO rolling around in your brain days after the film is over. Check your brain at the door and sit back and relax. THE TIME THE PLACE AND THE GIRL is a real old fashioned charmer!!!!!!!!!!

The beautiful "Oh, But I Do," is the Arthur Schwartz theme song of this Warners entry, with "Calico" and "Rainy Night in Rio" completing the tuneful bill.

These fine numbers are given full production numbers to their credit, which are colorful and pleasing.

There's nothing wrong with the casting either, headed by the lovable Dennis Morgan and versatile Jack Carson.

If only the scripting were better. It's really quite stock writing, with formula lines and situations--nothing special.

Don't know about you, but having "blackface numbers" pop up from nowhere for laughs is increasingly irksome in these period pieces.

All in all, a slight pastiche in the WB stock company folio.

A very funny movie. Dennis Morgan and Jack Carson are two guys who want to put on a musical, but they need a backer. Also hindering their plans is an orchestra conductor (S.Z. Sakall) who lives next door and doesn't like their "noise". Morgan simply has the conductor's daughter (Martha Vickers) - who is also an opera singer - fall in love with him. Then everyone gets along fine. Lots of good one-liners - Sakall gets a lot of the laughs. One of my favorite actresses, Janis Paige, also appears, as one of the show's stars (and Carson's girlfriend, if I remember correctly). There's one number that Morgan sings in blackface and there's a big production number with all the dancing girls dressed as cows that has just got to be seen to be believed! The only time I was bored was during the tap dancing - I have trouble watching that. Keep your ears clear for the best line, spoken by Vickers to Morgan - "I don't want the best, I want you!". I could say something similar to this film.

While THE TIME, THE PLACE AND THE GIRL never rises above being a pleasant little "let's put on a show" musical, it does feature a few sprightly song numbers that are easy on the eyes and ears--and all of the performances are genial and appealing.

Dennis Morgan and Jack Carson are ideal as show biz guys willing to put something over on Martha Vickers in order to get backing for their enterprise. Vickers comes across as even more appealing than she was in THE BIG SLEEP as the nymphomaniacal daughter. And for good measure, there's the always vivacious Janis Paige doing her standard musical comedy thing with finesse. Donald Woods does a standout job as the stuffy tutor of musical pupil Vickers.

Comic relief from Florence Bates and S.Z. Sakall is a big help--especially since the script itself is none too witty. But what really makes the film a special delight are the handsome production values which went into this formula musical and two outstanding songs that are given first-rate treatment: A GIRL FROM CALICO and A RAINY NIGHT IN RIO.

If you like backstage musicals, you'll enjoy this minor delight.