MARION DAVIES may not have been the inspiration for the lady in Citizen Kane's life, but she sure comes close to making us believe Orson Welles based his story on the Hearst/Davies relationship.
As seen here, Miss Davies looks like Joan Crawford with bleached blonde hair and a fixed stare in her starry eyes. She has a big, hearty smile but when it comes to singing, dancing and acting, her talents are scarcely there. She is clunky, to say the least, in her dancing moments and has a voice as smooth as sandpaper when she tries to sing with Bing. As for her acting--well, let me put it this way, three strikes and you're out.
As for BING CROSBY, he does very well in this early film, sounding every bit like the classy crooner he was in those days. His talent is evident throughout, overcoming the pedestrian script with his own brand of casual charm. Too bad he had no one with corresponding skills to play opposite. He sounds especially mellow with his rendition of "Temptation" and a couple of other tunes are pleasantly rendered.
But let's face it, this is one dated, clunky musical that falls flat in the attempts at laughter even though Patsy Kelly is present to deliver her own brand of humor. Stuart Irwin is wasted in a supporting role as a hapless producer. The less said about Fifi D'Orsay and her French accent the better. She's another triple threat.
Highly recommended that you skip this one and catch Bing in one of his better films instead.
As seen here, Miss Davies looks like Joan Crawford with bleached blonde hair and a fixed stare in her starry eyes. She has a big, hearty smile but when it comes to singing, dancing and acting, her talents are scarcely there. She is clunky, to say the least, in her dancing moments and has a voice as smooth as sandpaper when she tries to sing with Bing. As for her acting--well, let me put it this way, three strikes and you're out.
As for BING CROSBY, he does very well in this early film, sounding every bit like the classy crooner he was in those days. His talent is evident throughout, overcoming the pedestrian script with his own brand of casual charm. Too bad he had no one with corresponding skills to play opposite. He sounds especially mellow with his rendition of "Temptation" and a couple of other tunes are pleasantly rendered.
But let's face it, this is one dated, clunky musical that falls flat in the attempts at laughter even though Patsy Kelly is present to deliver her own brand of humor. Stuart Irwin is wasted in a supporting role as a hapless producer. The less said about Fifi D'Orsay and her French accent the better. She's another triple threat.
Highly recommended that you skip this one and catch Bing in one of his better films instead.