Three Little Girls in Blue

Wish there were movies today made with the fun and laughter and brilliance this encompassed .. Loved this film and never forgot it! Would love to purchase it if anyone has an idea where I can please let me know .. Thank you ..

Where has this musical been hiding for the last 50 years? It's a total delight. Special bouquets go to the feminine side of the cast--June Haver, Vivian Blaine, and Celeste Holm. But perhaps the top stand-out is lovely and piquant Vera-Ellen. Her rendition of "You Make Me Feel So Young" is one of the best solo dances ever filmed.

Films like "Three Little Girls in Blue" are a hard-sell for me. While I like some musicals, the style of musical that this film is would be among my least favorite films of the day. The songs are not naturally integrated into the film (like they generally were in Astaire-Rogers musicals) but were insanely big and ridiculous production numbers. So, while some of the songs were really nice (such as "You Make Me Feel So Young"), to me they were ruined with all the gloss and because they were so stilted and overdone. I am sure other old film buffs wouldn't agree with me. I am just saying this so you'll be able to put my review into context.

As for the film, it's very, very similar to the later film "How To Marry a Millionaire" but instead of three gold digger friends going to the big city to marry a mega-rich man, this involves three sisters doing the same thing (Vivian Blaine, June Haver and Vera- Ellen). But instead of the three separately looking for a guy, they pick one of them to pose as a rich woman and the other two to pose as a maid as well as a secretary. While some mind find this cute, I also have a bias and felt this wasn't exactly romance!

The overall production is extremely glossy--with the full Twentieth Century-Fox treatment--vivid Technicolor, lovely music and nice sets. The film DOES look very nice but otherwise it left me a bit flat. Watchable but nothing special.

This version of the story is a musical. when this was introduced on Turner Classics, Michael Feinstein discussed the background of the song-writing team Myrow and Gordon. June Haver, Vera-Ellen, and Vivian Blaine are the Charter sisters, who leave the farm to go man-hunting. They have limited funds, so just like in moon over miami, one will play the rich girl, while the others will be maid and secretary. seems overly complicated, but adds mystery to the plot. it's a predecessor to how to marry a millionaire, but a successor to three blind mice and moon over miami. all similar stories, where the girls pool their resources and hope to find a (rich) hubby before they run out of cash. at one point, one of the farm girls even says you can be just as happy with a rich guy as a poor one... in true marilyn monroe style, which she quoted in both gentlemen prefer blonds and how to marry a millionaire, both in 1953. again, just like in moon over miami, there are some twists and surprises, when the girls are caught in their scheme. Not really a fan of this 1946 version; it's a period piece, takes place around 1900. I'd have to say How to Marry a Millionaire is best, and Moon over Miami is next. some of the songs they sing here just bring the story to a screeching halt. the dance on the giant piano keyboard is clever, but SO out of place in this film. another odd decision. doesn't help the story any. feels like they had a collection of songs they were determined to use, whether they fit the story or not. Directed by Bruce Humberstone. and oddly, Mack Gordon, one of the song writers is also producer and writer. he sure earned his pay on this one. it's okay, but nothing too special. the best part is a 29 year old Celeste Holm, so young and skinny. just four years later, she will be nominated for her role in All about Eve.

Lush musical where the title tells all. The three little-- actually well-developed-- farm girls are out to marry rich guys in Atlantic City. Being cute as buttons and over-dressed in styles of the day, they meet up with guys who at least act rich. Trouble is, the girls have agreed that Haver should pretend to be rich while other two sisters (Blaine & Vera-Ellen) should pretend to be her assistants. Thus complications ensue, especially of the romantic kind.

In my book Vera-Ellen steals the show with her gamin looks and lively style. Plus she gets that really long song and dance number—You Make Me Feel So Young-- which amounts to the movie's centerpiece. I hope TCF paid her well for the lengthy effort. Meanwhile, Blaine and Haver get the glamor and the good-looking guys, Latimore and Montgomery. And catch Celeste Holm's ante-bellum southern lady, with her sharp-tongued Scarlett O'Hara asides. They're a hoot for old movie fans. And in case you're in doubt about the plot, surprise, surprise, things do get sorted out in typical Hollywood musical style.

Anyway, the 100-minutes is lavishly produced, with glossy candy-box colors. I suspect the film's not better known because it lacks headliner male leads—Montgomery would eventually find his niche in B-westerns. Also, I agree with some reviewers that editing down the romance parts would give the movie and musical numbers more impact. Nonetheless, the film remains a lively mix of glamour and song from TCF's golden period.