Cast overview, first billed only: | |||
Frank Sinatra | ... | Clarence Doolittle | |
Kathryn Grayson | ... | Susan Abbott | |
Gene Kelly | ... | Joseph Brady | |
José Iturbi | ... | José Iturbi | |
Dean Stockwell | ... | Donald Martin | |
Pamela Britton | ... | Girl from Brooklyn | |
Rags Ragland | ... | Police Sergeant (as 'Rags' Ragland) | |
Billy Gilbert | ... | Cafe Manager | |
Henry O'Neill | ... | Adm. Hammond | |
Carlos Ramírez | ... | Carlos (as Carlos Ramirez) | |
Edgar Kennedy | ... | Police Captain | |
Grady Sutton | ... | Bertram Kraler | |
Leon Ames | ... | Admiral's Aide | |
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Sharon McManus | ... | Little Girl Beggar |
James Flavin | ... | Radio Cop |
Two sailors, one naive, the other experienced in the ways of the world, on liberty in Los Angeles, is the setting for this movie musical. Written by Stewart M. Clamen <clamen@cs.cmu.edu>
Overall this is a delightful, light-hearted, romantic, musical comedy. I suppose a small case could be made for the movie being to long. But I'm not sure what you would cut out. The singing that Kelly and Sinatra do? No. The fabulous dancing that Kelly does? No. The time the movie takes to develop the story line and develop the relationships of the characters? No (that seems to be a common complaint many times that more recent movies don't develop the characters).
Some comment that Iturbi didn't bring much to the movie but this gives us a chance to see and hear a great talent from the 1040s. So what if he wasn't an actor? He was an important part of the movie as the basic plot was to get Grayson an audition with him.
Originally Katherine Grayson wanted to be an opera star. Louis B. Mayer brought her to MGM for a screen test that included an aria. During her audition in the movie there is a shot of the MGM brass nodding and smiling. You can just imagine it was like that when she had made her real screen test years before.
This movie is so full of life it is hard to hit all of the highlights. Great use was made of color and lighting throughout the movie. You can see why Frank Sinatra became the star he did. A nice counter-point in the movie is how Sinatra (a ladies man even then) played the role of wanting to just find a date while on leave. You'll feel good after seeing this movie. 7/10