Broadway Rhythm

Of course some folks want everything in a musical, and there are very few musicals that offer everything. What this one has in profusion is brilliant color, the MGM Technicolor that infuses almost every frame and dazzles in a nice variety of musical numbers.

While the viewer is stuck with the singularly charmless George Murphy, he is surrounded with folks that offer everything from a strange, unforgettable contortionist act, the Ross Sisters in polka dots to a double dose of Lena Horne at her best, singing some Gershwin with her usual sophisticated aplomb.

Character actor Charles Winninger is at his best here, and turns on an authentic folksiness, even getting to do some vaudeville dancing with a knowledge born of past triumphs. One of the musical highlights, and good fun it is, is watching Winninger and orchestra leader Tommy Dorsey in a friendly trombone duet, instruments gleaming as gold as MGM could make it!

The plot really doesn't matter much, as it's the old saw "Hey Kids--Let's Put On A Show," but if you just want some dazzling escapism and can immerse yourself in some MGM musical cotten candy, this fills the bill.