La jeunesse s'amuse

Based upon the 1941 Broadway musical, I found this to be a fun,charming, and well written screenplay that entertains from beginning to end. Although not her best film, Lucille Ball is more than adequate playing herself in this early teen romp. June Allyson, Gloria DeHaven, Virginia Weidler, Beverly Tyler, and Sara Haden are great as the quirky,loud-mouthed, obnoxious teenagers hell-bent on ruining Lucy's night at the prom. But, this film is completely and utterly stolen by Nancy Walker as the way-over-the-top "Blind Date" girl. She is hilarious, and talented in this, her 1943 film debut. Her comedic genius is in full view in this film for which she should have received an Oscar nomination as Best Supporting Actress, but did not. Tommy Dix does a fine job as the star cadet the screenplay revolves around, and Harry James' music is more-than-worth watching the movie. When combined together, the above make this film a worthwhile watch; your belly will hurt from the hearty laughs you will emit!

Here's a movie I adored when I was a kid, thrilled by "Buckle Down Winsocki", the spirited song sung at a military academy by a bunch of singing, dancing and marching cadets. But seeing the film now, is a real letdown. It's below par in every department.

At second glance, it's really a minor musical with HARRY JAMES and his Orchestra and a little gal named NANCY WALKER (making her film debut) as the chief compensations for a script full of lame, dated one-liners and some trifling songs with bad choreography.

Even the great LUCILLE BALL, as the movie star invited to the prom, has a hard time getting any laughs. She's supposed to be a faded star whose press agent talks her into accepting an invitation from TOMMY DIX, who overlooks his girlfriend VIRGINIA WIEDLER because of his crush on Lucy.

Lucy looks great and the Technicolor makes her a glamorous creature, but the script defeats everyone. It's nice seeing JUNE ALLYSON, GLORIA de HAVEN and NANCY WALKER having fun with a couple of tunes but while the picture at least got their careers off to a good start, it's no great shakes as a musical--especially one from MGM which specialized in the very best of that ilk.

NANCY WALKER struts her stuff as "Blind Date" material--although some of the humor at her expense is a little cruel. But she's a reminder that real talent can even overcome some witless material. And I have to ask the question so many others have: whatever happened to Tommy Dix???

Not one of MGM's more memorable musicals. Except for the show-stopping Winsocki number, the music is undistinguished at best. Walker steals the show as the wisecracking plain-Jane, while Ball looks gorgeous but in a routine role. Nice boy Tommy Dix has a good voice, but little charisma. Thus, it's the rare Hollywood movie without a leading man.

Too bad the sparkling June Allyson and Gloria DeHaven weren't given more to do. They could have added much needed bounce, since Weidler has an unenviable killjoy role. And, please, couldn't someone put a leash on Kenny Bowers (Dutch) who mugs it up unmercifully like a pet chimp. Contrast his excess with the expertly expressive Donald McBride (Capt. Bradd), one of the fine, unsung comedic players of the 1940's.

No surprise that no choreographer is listed since the dance numbers are also forgettable. Even Harry James looks a bit discomfited by the brief shuffle he's required to do. At the same time, director Buzzell fails to bring off the madcap bedroom scene with the farcical coordination needed. As a result, the hectic mix up comes across as more frantic than funny.

All in all, it's a movie of bits and pieces with some good color photography and spot performances. My sense, however, is that this was a second-tier effort, without the peacetime cast (it is, after all, 1943) and top-notch director that could have made the many parts gel in typical MGM fashion.

A kid at a military academy named Bud Hooper (Tommy Dix) sends a fan letter to Lucille Ball asking her to be his prom date--despite the fact that he has a girlfriend, Helen Schelsinger (Virginia Weidler). Ball accepts under the pressuring of her agent (William Gaxton). Bud's two roomies (Kenny Bowers, Jack Jordan) are also hot for Ball. Add Nancy Walker and Harry James and his Orchestra and thing go barreling out of control.

Not a great musical but enjoyable. The color is bright, the film is full of life and there are some very funny (if dated) lines. Most of the songs are unmemorable (and go on far too long) until the last one--it's a great little number called "Buckle Down Winsocki" and easily stops the show.

Acting--well Ball is just incredible--VERY sexy, funny and believable. Dix is just so-so as Bud, Weidler is good as his girlfriend. His two roomies--one is OK (Bowers) but the other (Jordan) over OVER ACTS to a truly annoying degree. It reached the point that every time he was on screen I was cringing away. Walker's character is treated dreadfully--she's the butt of some VERY cruel jokes. Still she manages to be funny regardless. Also this is one of you few chances to see Walker sing and dance (pretty well) and see Lucy sing (although her voice is obviously dubbed). And there's Gloria DeHaven and June Allyson in bit parts!

Nothing great but I enjoyed it. If the songs had been better this would have gotten a 10. As it is I'm giving it a 7. Worth catching.

When this first came out in the theater and I saw it then, there was a military academy in the town where I lived. And I was just going into high school. I thought this movie was the greatest thing I had ever seen, maybe the greatest movie ever made. I felt like it had been made especially for me, my friends and our local cadets. And the song, Buckle Down Winsocki was absolutely the best fight song in the world. I realize now that the movie probably wasn't that good, it was trite and predictable, as well as being juvenile. It still thrills me, and the memories that I have of that time all come back when I watch this movie again. I'm not capable of seeing it from any other point of view, so I am going to give this a 10, just for old times' sake.