Rosa, A Revoltosa

Robert Young is perfectly cast as a wise-guy reporter writing for a pre-Enquirer rag called the Police Gazette who is assigned by his crusty Editor, played perfectly by Adolph Menjou (Walter Burns from the original Front Page), to write a series of expose-type articles on returning stage star Betty Grable's burlesque beginnings. The Technicolor is luscious throughout. Reginald Gardiner is a stitch, as usual, playing Betty's British betrothed who breaks off the engagement as a result of the scandal. Virginia Grey is perky and decorative as Grable's maid. Byron Folger also lends support as a perfectly prissy prig (what else?).

Betty, of course, is the star. She sings and dances with aplomb. The added delight is her comic timing and chemistry with Young. We enjoy and believe them at each others throats which makes the inevitable payoff in each others arms that much more enjoyable.

Much better than many of the acclaimed MGM musicals. Take a look at "Summer Stock" and compare it to this. "Rosie O'Grady" wins by a mile. Voters and reviewers have not been privy to seeing this classic because movie networks continuously show film product from MGM, Warners, and RKO, but they do not own the movie rights to Fox. Thus, the public has rarely seen these movies. I am 70 years old, have heard of Betty Grable before, but this is the first Grable film I've ever seen. I saw it courtesy of FXM. In years to come as all movies are put up to critical comparison, it won't be only MGM vs. MGM like it is now... there are many great musicals, from every era, from several studios, that the general public has rarely seen. This is one of them. Not spectacular, but better than the average MGM musical of the 40s. Grable had personality, style, and she could sing.

SWEET ROSIE O'GRADY is typical of the Fox musicals Betty Grable made during her long reign as Queen of the Technicolor musicals, zooming to popularity at the box office during the '40s. Robert Young is the writer at the Police Gazette who churns up stories on her past as a burlesque queen, much to her dismay. She's the fiancé of a stuffed shirt (Reginald Gardiner) and for awhile Young is the cause of a rift in all three relationships.

Forget the paper-thin plot, the kind that Fox used all the time to display Grable in pretty costumes, given the chance to warble a few undistinguished song-and-dance routines in pleasant style.

With a supporting cast that includes Adolphe Menjou, Sig Ruman and Virginia Grey, it passes the time pleasantly but is the sort of film that is quickly forgotten after seeing it once.

Grable fans will appreciate the warmth and humor she brings to a basically one-dimensional role as a showgirl.

At 74 minutes, "Sweet Rosie O'Grady" is just long enough and does not wear out its welcome. But it is so good good-humored and good-natured that it is tough to dislike. It must have been a B musical when it came out and there is only one memorable song in the score, "My Heart Tells Me", sung by Betty Grable. The male lead, Robert Young, is a stranger to musicals but does, in fact, get to sing the title song - and was amazingly good.

The story is outlandish, about a saloon singer from Brooklyn who becomes an international sensation and returns, hopefully in triumph. Young is a reporter who spills the beans about her humble beginnings, and she vows revenge. From there they each try to outdo the other in revenge mode, and from here the plot goes far afield.

It is all harmless fun, and as bright and glossy as Fox could make it. The surprise, as noted above, is Young, who I didn't consider as either particularly funny or as a singer, but who proves he can be both here. Good support from Adolph Menjou and Reginald Gardner helps the cause. Leonard Maltin raved about Menjou in his review, and he gave a workmanlike but unspectacular performance. Makes you wonder if he ever sees any of these oldies he reviews.

Although Sweet Rosie O'Grady is set in the past and that might not make it apparent at first, the film is a remake of the Tyrone Power-Don Ameche-Loretta Young classic Love Is News. Set in the gaslight era of the 1880s it's the same plot involving an actress instead of an heiress.

The actress is Betty Grable who has just scored a big triumph on the London stage and is the toast of two continents. She's also about to marry a title in the person of Reginald Gardiner, but she's gotten wind that that notorious scandal sheet, the Police Gazette has uncovered her past as a burlesque queen. The reporter with the nose for news is Robert Young and his editor is Adolphe Menjou.

If you've seen Love Is News and That Wonderful Urge than you know exactly how this will all end up. But along the way with several musical numbers you'll see Betty Grable probably at the height of her career when she and Rita Hayworth vied to be the GI's number one pin-up girl of the barracks.

Harry Warren and Mack Gordon wrote a beautiful ballad My Heart Tells Me which Betty and Phil Regan sing during the film. Sadly Darryl Zanuck banned her from a commercial recording so others made hit records and money off the song she introduced. Robert Young got to sing the title song and he was not going to be a threat to Bing Crosby or that new singer from Hoboken that was coming up at the time.

The film was significant in another way for Betty Grable. During the production it was shut down for a bit when Betty ran off and married Harry James. Apparently that was cause for great happiness, even Darryl Zanuck didn't mind the production delay.

If you're a Betty Grable fan Sweet Rosie O'Grady is an absolute must.