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THe role that made Mitzi Gaynor a star. As musical formulas go, this is as formulaic as it gets. But formula hath not make a bad picture. As with any musical, no matter how mundane or pedestrian the plot, good songs and singing can always save it. That is the case here, especially one song I can't get out of my head. You'll know it. It's played again and again as hollywood pro Lloyd Bacon uses it as a transitional device. All scenes are shot and edited well and all acting is good and Mitzi Gaynor delivers a star performance.

A most fictionalized biography of 19th century star Lotta Crabtree is the subject of Golden Girl. Having just read the Wikipedia article concerning Crabtree a real version of her life would be a truly great picture.

Mitzi Gaynor of whom it has been said came along just a tad too late and missed the real golden era of Hollywood musicals during the 30s and 40s plays the title role. She was one of the best dancers of the female gender ever to hit the big screen and there was no need to dub her singing voice. Mitzi would have been a much bigger star a bit earlier, she had all the right talents.

Her romance with courtly southerner Dale Robertson was a pure fiction, but Robertson is just fine in a role tailored for his talent and speech pattern.

Sharing the singing duties with Gaynor is Dennis Day taking time off from the Jack Benny program. Dennis gets to sing the song Never which got an Oscar nomination.

James Barton and Una Merkel play Lotta's parents and Barton who was an old song and dance man himself and scored a big hit on Broadway in Paint Your Wagon around this time gets a nice number with Gaynor. The name Crabtree suits Merkel's complaining character. Wikipedia says that the real Lotta Crabtree's parents were from Great Britain, but there sure is no trace of any of that kind of accent with Barton and Merkel.

Golden Girl is fine musical entertainment even though it's not a patch on the real story of Lotta Crabtree.

In common with a fellow reviewer I saw this movie as a teenager.I remember it vividly, probably THE FILM which made the deepest impression on my young mind. I would really love for my grown children to see it.Yes I have moved on to appreciate much more sophisticated movies,in fact have little time for the majority of films made today. GOLDEN GIRL is-was a really good feel movie that has stayed with me for fifty years. I may add that few persons have seen anything like the number of films I have devoured in my lifetime.To films every day, three-hundred and sixty days a year. Can anyone tell me if it is possible to order a DVD of this movie or if anyone would part with their copy? Lets form a Golden Girl fan club? Lyn Kristensen Oslo Norway

All the elements for an enjoyable, if unchallenging musical. These include fine costumes, pleasing music, romance, and wit. Mitzi Gaynor works well in her first true showcase, and Dennis Day works overtime with his winning charm, easing us over the slow parts. The costumes are perfect, especially Miss Gaynors' ensembles, especially designed to display her abundant charms. Not great, but representative of its genre and quite entertaining

An ok film and great for Mitzi Gaynor fans. It seemed like a Calamity Jane wanna be... but Dennis Day, a pretty bland performer (albeit with a really good voice) and Mitzi are not a match for Howard Keel and Doris Day and an MGM production. It's the usual Hollywood totally fabricated biography, 90% fiction, so don't expect this to be a true story. One of the great things about Mitzi was that although she wasn't in the league of Cyd Charisse or Vera Ellen as a dancer....at least she did her own singing which made her a true all-around performer (her voice is not all that powerful, but it is pleasing). At 19, when this was filmed, her energy is boundless and when she's onstage, particularly with Dennis Day, he becomes invisible.She is cute, talented and this really was her first chance to strut her stuff.