I would have given this a higher rating, but there is so much filler in this pleasant but generic musical. The basic story (of three candidates for the leading role in a Broadway musical) doesn't take a brain matter, but there is still a lot of imagination in that filler that it's hard not to like it. In fact, I smiled vividly in watching this again (for the fifth time, last time about six years ago), especially in the opening title song, the balloon/confetti dance, and the elaborate finale, which uses the title of a future Broadway musical based upon "All About Eve".
This is also a very historical movie and must for dance students because it features dancing together for the only time on screen future legendary Broadway directors/choreographers Gower Champion and Bob Fosse. As Gower's wife Marge Champion is one of the three girls, it is sort of sad that Fosse's dancer wife Gwen Verdon wasn't. But Fosse doesn't skimp on his dance partner-he gets the wonderful Debbie Reynolds who you can't help but adore. Comedy relief comes in the form of chunky Kurt Kasznar whose character could be compared to Zero Mostel's lecherous Max Bielestock in "The Producers"; In fact, if you don't look close enough, you might think it is Mostel!
Larry Keating is the kindly producer who must make the decision (with the helpful advice of the other three), while Helen Wood is the third girl. I didn't think she had as much charisma as the other two; That is probably why you never heard of her. In a sense, this is a re-do of "42nd Street", which Champion would direct to great acclaim and an opening night he never got to see because of his sudden tragic death. But to see the two future Broadway legends together is as dreamy as seeing Mary Martin and Ethel Merman together in their famous TV special.
This is also a very historical movie and must for dance students because it features dancing together for the only time on screen future legendary Broadway directors/choreographers Gower Champion and Bob Fosse. As Gower's wife Marge Champion is one of the three girls, it is sort of sad that Fosse's dancer wife Gwen Verdon wasn't. But Fosse doesn't skimp on his dance partner-he gets the wonderful Debbie Reynolds who you can't help but adore. Comedy relief comes in the form of chunky Kurt Kasznar whose character could be compared to Zero Mostel's lecherous Max Bielestock in "The Producers"; In fact, if you don't look close enough, you might think it is Mostel!
Larry Keating is the kindly producer who must make the decision (with the helpful advice of the other three), while Helen Wood is the third girl. I didn't think she had as much charisma as the other two; That is probably why you never heard of her. In a sense, this is a re-do of "42nd Street", which Champion would direct to great acclaim and an opening night he never got to see because of his sudden tragic death. But to see the two future Broadway legends together is as dreamy as seeing Mary Martin and Ethel Merman together in their famous TV special.