This film is the color version of Shop Around The Corner black & white which featured Jimmy Stewart. The differences are a mature Judy Garland, a decent performance from Van Johnson, and more. The film is well directed including some direction by stone face Buster Keaton.
Actually this is one of Van Johnson's better screen performances. This might be thanks to Keaton who was at that time teaching Lucille Ball comedy too. Johnson is actually pretty good here. So is Judy Garland as she shines in her musical numbers. I only wish more newer numbers were written for this picture as some of the older ones while well done seem worn by the late 1940's.
Still, it is so rare and so exciting to see Judy in prime time color. The story does get a little confused though as even though her and Van Johnson are in love by letter, the sparks between them never really seem to hit the screen in a physical way that well.
Van Johnson would continue his association with Keaton & Lucy including getting into television as early as 1957 because of Lucy while the other, Van Heflin, turned down being Elliot Ness on the Untouchables. Johnson ran up quite a string of television credits before retiring. Seeing the work of Johnson in this film shows he did take some advice from Keaton as this is his best comedy performance on film. Good thing his wife wasn't on the set.
Actually this is one of Van Johnson's better screen performances. This might be thanks to Keaton who was at that time teaching Lucille Ball comedy too. Johnson is actually pretty good here. So is Judy Garland as she shines in her musical numbers. I only wish more newer numbers were written for this picture as some of the older ones while well done seem worn by the late 1940's.
Still, it is so rare and so exciting to see Judy in prime time color. The story does get a little confused though as even though her and Van Johnson are in love by letter, the sparks between them never really seem to hit the screen in a physical way that well.
Van Johnson would continue his association with Keaton & Lucy including getting into television as early as 1957 because of Lucy while the other, Van Heflin, turned down being Elliot Ness on the Untouchables. Johnson ran up quite a string of television credits before retiring. Seeing the work of Johnson in this film shows he did take some advice from Keaton as this is his best comedy performance on film. Good thing his wife wasn't on the set.