There's nothing wrong with this biopic, and frankly, I'm tired of hearing about Judy Garland. Judy Garland was not in this film. Period. End of that story.
This film has the feel of a rather templated musical biopic. Nothing wrong with that...other than that it doesn't tell the real story of Marilyn Miller. It's a nice musical...rather lavish, actually.
I think the issue here (note I didn't say problem) is that June Haver was a "good" actress, but not a "great" actress. As I watched the film, here and there I would think, "She's pretty good!" But other times I would think she was adequate. The worst scene in the film is when she learns her husband has been killed in an auto accident. The drama needed was a tad beyond Ms. Haver. But again, overall, she did "okay".
Ray Bolger is entertaining as real-life dancer Jack Donahue. Gordon MacRae does nicely as Miller's first husband. Charles Ruggles is delightful as Miller's father, and I enjoyed seeing Rosemary DeCamp as the mother.
It's a formula musical. Not outstanding, not bad. Middle of the road. Entertaining, but not true to life. Wonderful Technicolor. Nicely staged musical numbers.
You probably won't watch it repeatedly, but it's worth a watch one time as a regrettably forgotten musical.
This film has the feel of a rather templated musical biopic. Nothing wrong with that...other than that it doesn't tell the real story of Marilyn Miller. It's a nice musical...rather lavish, actually.
I think the issue here (note I didn't say problem) is that June Haver was a "good" actress, but not a "great" actress. As I watched the film, here and there I would think, "She's pretty good!" But other times I would think she was adequate. The worst scene in the film is when she learns her husband has been killed in an auto accident. The drama needed was a tad beyond Ms. Haver. But again, overall, she did "okay".
Ray Bolger is entertaining as real-life dancer Jack Donahue. Gordon MacRae does nicely as Miller's first husband. Charles Ruggles is delightful as Miller's father, and I enjoyed seeing Rosemary DeCamp as the mother.
It's a formula musical. Not outstanding, not bad. Middle of the road. Entertaining, but not true to life. Wonderful Technicolor. Nicely staged musical numbers.
You probably won't watch it repeatedly, but it's worth a watch one time as a regrettably forgotten musical.