In MGM terms this was a 'B' movie which makes it the equivalent of an 'A' movie at the two other outfits, Fox and Paramount, who had a strong focus on musicals. Funny thing about MGM, they had trouble with threes; take On The Town, Frank Sinatra, check, Gene Kelly, check and Jules Munchin? Same thing here, Marge Champion, Debbie Reynolds and Helen Wood? That apart we're talking slightly terrific; Burton Lane and Ira Gershwin weighed in with a great score, not a clinker amongst them and if MGM had put a few bucks behind them they may well have made a noise on radio and/or juke-box. Alas, the studio didn't even see fit to issue a single let alone an album. It was also a great chance to see Bob Fosse and Gower Champion dancing up a storm in the same movie. The studio was well served for female hoofers and Debbie Reynolds wasn't going to give either of them any sleepless nights but after this they threw in the towel on Marge and Gower Champion which was a shame. Alll in all it's a delightful effort.
Review of Give a Girl a Break
