Trois gosses sur les bras

This TCF production looks like an attempt to update the standard 40's musical. Instead of romantic youngsters, there's Grable and Dailey as a mature married couple; and in place of the usual wispy storyline is a surprisingly biting one; while banal dialog is peppered with risqué throw-away lines; and most topically, there's that new-fangled livingroom monster, television. On the whole, however, the combination doesn't go down well.

For one, the main plot thread simply doesn't lend itself to light-hearted entertainment. Ping-ponging adoptive babies back and forth, plus an auto accident, is the stuff of dramatics, not fluff, and leads to abrupt interruptions in mood. Sure, Grable gets to show some acting chops, which I expect was the intention, but it comes at the expense of overall results. Then too, the musical numbers are forgettable, to say the least. But at least, big-budget TCF mounts them in splashy Technicolor keeping the eye entertained even when the ear isn't. And I agree with the reviewer who thinks the vibrant young Mitzi Gaynor steals the show. She's clearly on her way up the Hollywood ladder.

Anyway, Dailey and Grable hoof and warble well enough. But, unfortunately, the movie comes across as two Hollywood vets doing their best with difficult material, yet only partially succeeding.

Wonderful Bette Grable and Dan Dailey fanfare dealing with a musical couple's hard luck in having their own child. They are forced to resort to adoption when a traffic accident causes the loss of her unborn child. We then see unscrupulous adoption procedures and other mayhem preventing this couple from having a child of their own.

The couple do a routine on television and Dailey along with Grable show they could still sing and dance at their best. In a brief role, Mitzi Gaynor, who would play Daley's daughter 4 years later in "There's No Business Like Showbusiness," turns up as a fellow dancer who is ready to flirt and take Daley away from Gable.

The wonderful is ending but we expected that. In such film predicaments, they usually do just that.

Popular radio-program duo in New York City, a chummy married couple about to make that transition to television, have troubles adopting a baby. Colorful Betty Grable vehicle weighted down with musical chaos. Granted, "My Blue Heaven" is a 20th Century-Fox musical--and anyone going into it should rightfully expect lots of singing and hoofing--but here the story is far more substantial than the song numbers, which simply get in the way. Screenwriters Claude Binyon and Lamar Trotti, working from S.K. Lauren's story "Stork Don't Bring Babies", tentatively touch upon several topical issues (both satiric and dramatic) which are not explored with any depth. The sudden boom in television (and its impact on radio), the perils of a working mother who leaves her job to be with her child, and the reluctance of adoption agencies to assign babies with those "constantly divorcing" show-biz couples are all products for a satisfying comedy-drama. Grable and Dan Dailey are a lot of fun on the dance-floor, but this glossy product could actually use less pussyfooting around and more narrative heart. It's a feel-good movie, all right, but a picture for its time and not for the ages. **1/2 from ****

One of Bettys more grown up movies and she does well. Strong acting on her part and always a joy to watch her sing and dance. Plot is melodramatic as was her Dolly Sisters movie. Some mistakes in the screenplay though. I go for realism and a couple of scenes had me confused due to sloppy writing. Toward the beginning when Bette and Dan go into their dressing room at the radio station, they confront their dog. A few lines and they leave by closing the door. The dog is still inside??? Who looks after him till the next day?? They don't take the dog home with them? Another example of poor writing is when the couple visit their writers and best friends at the farmhouse. They are are surprised to see the couples six kids and say they didn't know they had kids. WHAT?? They've known them for years and didn't know they had kids???? Didn't anyone, including the actors question this oddity?? So very strange. And while the friends/writers are in their NY place, who watched those six kids???? Debut of Mitzi Gaynor and she doesn't have much to do, but dances well.

Musicals wasn't my favorite genre but there are so many that offer an sexy appeal like this, Betty Grable was well-known for your fabulous legs and in this she show us in plenty shape, as a dramatic comedy wasn't enough funny, but the story is smart and fully interesting was musicals suggested, David Wayne had a good role and works well as supporting casting, Mitzi Gaynor in your first real debut is always unnoticed, the songs are outdated as well, so remains the great and sexy Betty Grable delivery all that can offer....what a pair of legs!!!

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First watch: 2010 / How many: 2 / Source: DVD / Rating: 7