Don't know why this title was chosen, as it doesn't seem to relate at all to the film. Apparently, it was intended as a parody on real life for most people, as demonstrated by our 3 male stars. It was perhaps appropriate for the theme of the TV show included in the film, hosted by Dolores Gray. Originally conceived as a sequel to the hit "On the Town", possibly with the 3 original male stars. But, two were quickly eliminated, with Kelly the sole returnee. Dan Dailey was an excellent choice as one replacement, having established similar screen skills to Kelly's as a dancer, singer and comedian, though with a more blase screen personality, as demonstrated in his too brief solo 'lampshade' act. Michael Kidd, normally an expert choreographer, was an unexpected choice as the third male lead. Unfortunately, his innovative solo scene "Jack and the Space Giants" was cut from the film, but can be seen as an outtake on the 2006 Warner DVD release.Another very ill-advised cut was the only dance featuring Kelly and Cid Charisse: the one romantic couple featured! Again,this outtake can be seen on the 2006 DVD. Dolores Gray provides a classy-looking hostess for a TV combo variety and "This is Your Life " program, primarily serving as a parody of the common sugary TV shows and their often inane commercials of the times. She could also sing, as demonstrated several times.
Despite a number of unusual dance numbers, including the 'trash can lid' dance by the drunken trio, Kelly's impressive roller skating street dance, Dailey's drunken unpredictable 'lampshade' act, and Cyd's"Baby You Knock me Out" song and dance , I can understand why this film lacked the audience appeal of "On the Town".It's not just the obvious fact that the 3 buddies at the beginning of the film realize they have become irrelevant strangers to each other for most of the rest of the film. It's not just that Dailey's and Kelly's characters have led mostly meaningless or shady lives since their GI days. The film mainly follows Kelly after the 3 have had enough of each other. Since the other 2 ex-buddies are married, we only have one quickie romance to follow instead of the 3 in "On the Town", and Kelly and Cid never have a 'mating dance', as occurred in "On the Town" and many other musicals of those times.On the other hand, I found the last portion of the film much the best. First, we have Kelly's roller skating dance routine,followed by Dolores's unusual "Thanks, but no Thanks" routine.This is followed by the 3 former buddies being reluctantly forced to meet and tell all on Dolores's over the top 'This is your Life' portion of her TV show, and the subsequent brawl with Kelly's mobster associates that brings them together again briefly: a hilarious and very clever device for ringing an apparently happy ending out of a largely pessimistic story, along with parodying the emerging competing entertainment medium of TV.
Incidentally, Kelly's impressive roller skating dance-comedy routine was not the first feature film roller skating dance to include some tap dancing. Nearly 20 years earlier, Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers had done an impressive roller skate duo dance, including a bit of tap dancing, in "Shall We Dance". Also, 2 years earlier, Don O'Connor did a solo roller skate dance, including hopping up a series of stair treads, in "I Love Melvin".
Despite a number of unusual dance numbers, including the 'trash can lid' dance by the drunken trio, Kelly's impressive roller skating street dance, Dailey's drunken unpredictable 'lampshade' act, and Cyd's"Baby You Knock me Out" song and dance , I can understand why this film lacked the audience appeal of "On the Town".It's not just the obvious fact that the 3 buddies at the beginning of the film realize they have become irrelevant strangers to each other for most of the rest of the film. It's not just that Dailey's and Kelly's characters have led mostly meaningless or shady lives since their GI days. The film mainly follows Kelly after the 3 have had enough of each other. Since the other 2 ex-buddies are married, we only have one quickie romance to follow instead of the 3 in "On the Town", and Kelly and Cid never have a 'mating dance', as occurred in "On the Town" and many other musicals of those times.On the other hand, I found the last portion of the film much the best. First, we have Kelly's roller skating dance routine,followed by Dolores's unusual "Thanks, but no Thanks" routine.This is followed by the 3 former buddies being reluctantly forced to meet and tell all on Dolores's over the top 'This is your Life' portion of her TV show, and the subsequent brawl with Kelly's mobster associates that brings them together again briefly: a hilarious and very clever device for ringing an apparently happy ending out of a largely pessimistic story, along with parodying the emerging competing entertainment medium of TV.
Incidentally, Kelly's impressive roller skating dance-comedy routine was not the first feature film roller skating dance to include some tap dancing. Nearly 20 years earlier, Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers had done an impressive roller skate duo dance, including a bit of tap dancing, in "Shall We Dance". Also, 2 years earlier, Don O'Connor did a solo roller skate dance, including hopping up a series of stair treads, in "I Love Melvin".