If you can ignore the melodramatic script which looks like it was drafted by a distracted 5 year old, and concentrate on the music, Deanna's acting, and Don O'Connor's notable "I Love a Mystery" performance, we might give this film a passing grade. Be forewarned that I have not seen any other films starring Deannna(DD), whereas I have seen most of Don's (DO) starring or costarring films. Thus, my comparisons with other films will be confined to those relating to DO, and I think I have some interesting insights in that regard.
In his many Universal films during WWII, DO, in addition to his standard dance and comedy partner Peggy Ryan, was nearly always paired with one of several noted young operatic-styled soprano singers. They were signed mainly to replace a younger DD or to provide some leverage in negotiating with DD. Nearly always this songstress also served as DO's main romantic interest in the film. By the time DO returned to Universal from WWII service, all 3 of these singers, along with Peggy, had left Universal. Thus, Universal had to find a new costar for DO. To fit the previous pattern, DD was the obvious choice, although older. However, there are several differences in this film. There was no one to provide DO with a comedic dancing and skit costar. Thus, DO had to rely pretty much on himself to do his standard clownish dancing and skits: the result being his "I Love a Mystery" performance. Secondly, DD didn't end up his romantic partner, probably because he was a few years younger at 22. From my viewpoint, they should have been paired romantically regardless. The on again-off again romantic dalliance of DD with character Don Read(John Dall) never is convincing, nor especially interesting.
I would like to comment on the full significance of DO's "I Love a Mystery" performance, in regard to 2 later MGM films he costarred in. Several reviewers have noted the similarity of the couch segment of this performance with part of his classic "Make 'Em Laugh" solo performance in "Singing in the Rain". But, I can see more. The latter routine did not have the theme of murder mysteries. However, in his '53 film "I Love Melvin", with Debbie Reynolds, he again has an extensive comedic skit with the same theme, that strongly resembles the non-dancing portions of "I Love a Mystery". Also,the dancing portions of the latter strongly resembles the scene in that film where DO and Debbie dance and cavort around the living room and on the furniture. Just, DD is minimally involved in the present performance. Obviously, we are missing some major features of "Make 'Em Laugh" in "I Love a Mystery". But, we can find some of them elsewhere!. The cloth dummy he cavorted with can be found in the previous "Top Man". His terminal plunge through a papery wall after dancing around is seen in his '48 "Feudin', 'Fussin', and A-Fightin'". Even the melody was essentially stolen from Cole Porter, as performed by Gene Kelly and Judy Garland in the "Be a Clown" performance in "The Pirate". Thus, "Make 'Em Laugh" can be viewed as a remake of "Be a Clown", using essentially the same tune with different lyrics, based largely upon modified pieces of several of Don's previous routines.
Since I'm running short on space, I will simply agree with most previous reviewers that DD did a great job with her several songs and her dramatic and comedic acting, and looks great.
Now, the negatives: As I mentioned, the last minute romantic switcheroo so common in musicals of this era seemed to pair the wrong people. How did DO end up with Dall's former squeeze, model Charissa, with no prior indication of her interest in such?? And just how does DO fit into this Read family crisis over DD(as younger Mary Collins)? In contradiction to the clear statement that DO's character(Charlie Read) is a 3rd cousin to Don Read, several previous reviewers state that DO was Don's younger brother. This is understandable, since DO has the same last name and always seems to be around Don and his grandmother. However, he sides with DD in her conflict with the Reads because he's not part of the wealthy Reads. And how does DO, a mere poor cousin of the rich Reads, obtain the vital financial records to the exclusion of the others that implicate DD as an imposter of her aunt? And where are the parents of Charlie Read(DO), Don Read, and Mary Collins(DD)in this extended family crisis?? Are the younger set all orphans? Except for DD and maybe DO, the main characters are all faceless one-dimensional cardboard characters the audience has little reason to care about. Jean Adair, as DD's aunt(great aunt?) of the same name, whom she lives with, being 74y.o, was at age 54 the 'young' never married fiancé of recently deceased grandpa Read! And why don't the Reads check out DD's claim that she had a baby with grandpa Read? Any why don't the Reads continue to pay Mary Collins a living sum rather than the $ 1 million extortion settlement alternative she demands? And how does Uncle Charlie get DD put in jail when he doesn't yet know she's a fraud? I could go on, but I'm out of space. Yes, it's mostly kind of fun anyway. Ha!Ha!.
Currently viewable at You Tube
In his many Universal films during WWII, DO, in addition to his standard dance and comedy partner Peggy Ryan, was nearly always paired with one of several noted young operatic-styled soprano singers. They were signed mainly to replace a younger DD or to provide some leverage in negotiating with DD. Nearly always this songstress also served as DO's main romantic interest in the film. By the time DO returned to Universal from WWII service, all 3 of these singers, along with Peggy, had left Universal. Thus, Universal had to find a new costar for DO. To fit the previous pattern, DD was the obvious choice, although older. However, there are several differences in this film. There was no one to provide DO with a comedic dancing and skit costar. Thus, DO had to rely pretty much on himself to do his standard clownish dancing and skits: the result being his "I Love a Mystery" performance. Secondly, DD didn't end up his romantic partner, probably because he was a few years younger at 22. From my viewpoint, they should have been paired romantically regardless. The on again-off again romantic dalliance of DD with character Don Read(John Dall) never is convincing, nor especially interesting.
I would like to comment on the full significance of DO's "I Love a Mystery" performance, in regard to 2 later MGM films he costarred in. Several reviewers have noted the similarity of the couch segment of this performance with part of his classic "Make 'Em Laugh" solo performance in "Singing in the Rain". But, I can see more. The latter routine did not have the theme of murder mysteries. However, in his '53 film "I Love Melvin", with Debbie Reynolds, he again has an extensive comedic skit with the same theme, that strongly resembles the non-dancing portions of "I Love a Mystery". Also,the dancing portions of the latter strongly resembles the scene in that film where DO and Debbie dance and cavort around the living room and on the furniture. Just, DD is minimally involved in the present performance. Obviously, we are missing some major features of "Make 'Em Laugh" in "I Love a Mystery". But, we can find some of them elsewhere!. The cloth dummy he cavorted with can be found in the previous "Top Man". His terminal plunge through a papery wall after dancing around is seen in his '48 "Feudin', 'Fussin', and A-Fightin'". Even the melody was essentially stolen from Cole Porter, as performed by Gene Kelly and Judy Garland in the "Be a Clown" performance in "The Pirate". Thus, "Make 'Em Laugh" can be viewed as a remake of "Be a Clown", using essentially the same tune with different lyrics, based largely upon modified pieces of several of Don's previous routines.
Since I'm running short on space, I will simply agree with most previous reviewers that DD did a great job with her several songs and her dramatic and comedic acting, and looks great.
Now, the negatives: As I mentioned, the last minute romantic switcheroo so common in musicals of this era seemed to pair the wrong people. How did DO end up with Dall's former squeeze, model Charissa, with no prior indication of her interest in such?? And just how does DO fit into this Read family crisis over DD(as younger Mary Collins)? In contradiction to the clear statement that DO's character(Charlie Read) is a 3rd cousin to Don Read, several previous reviewers state that DO was Don's younger brother. This is understandable, since DO has the same last name and always seems to be around Don and his grandmother. However, he sides with DD in her conflict with the Reads because he's not part of the wealthy Reads. And how does DO, a mere poor cousin of the rich Reads, obtain the vital financial records to the exclusion of the others that implicate DD as an imposter of her aunt? And where are the parents of Charlie Read(DO), Don Read, and Mary Collins(DD)in this extended family crisis?? Are the younger set all orphans? Except for DD and maybe DO, the main characters are all faceless one-dimensional cardboard characters the audience has little reason to care about. Jean Adair, as DD's aunt(great aunt?) of the same name, whom she lives with, being 74y.o, was at age 54 the 'young' never married fiancé of recently deceased grandpa Read! And why don't the Reads check out DD's claim that she had a baby with grandpa Read? Any why don't the Reads continue to pay Mary Collins a living sum rather than the $ 1 million extortion settlement alternative she demands? And how does Uncle Charlie get DD put in jail when he doesn't yet know she's a fraud? I could go on, but I'm out of space. Yes, it's mostly kind of fun anyway. Ha!Ha!.
Currently viewable at You Tube