Springtime in the Rockies

Among the Fox musicals of the early 40s, there isn't much to distinguish one from the others. The leading lady will be Alice Faye or Betty Grable, the leading man will be Don Ameche or John Payne, the setting will be a scenic paradise, the story slight, and the success of the picture will depend on the supporting players and/or specialty acts.

In this case there are some very welcome highlights that elevate the picture above most of the others. Caesar Romero reveals himself to be a first-rate ballroom dancer: lithe, graceful, totally appealing. He brings out the best in Betty Grable in their nightclub routine - she who so often had done the simplest steps in production numbers while the chorus did the real dancing around her. She is put to the test this time, and acquits herself very well.

Then there is Edward Everett Horton, at last able to play a character with aspirations, motivation, a background that matters - instead of the less-than-one dimensional nervous, dithering purveyor of the double-take. Arguably, this is his best performance.

And finally we have Carmen Miranda at the top of her form (Was she ever not?). Good songs, terrific gestures and facial expressions, flashing eyes, dazzling smile - even a part that has an effect on the story (such as it is).

There were no better musicals at this time than those being produced by Fox. MGM was just getting its A-team together, and within a year or two would render the Fox musicals decidedly less impressive than they had seemed. But Leo the Lion had Kelly, Astaire, Garland, Grayson working for him; Fox had to do with less.