As the old saying goes, critics come and go, but films last forever. And who can turn down Betty Grable? This is a fun movie, reminiscent of Barbara Stanwyck's LADY OF BURLESQUE, all about a backstage murder and showgirls slash witnesses Grable and Sheree North (in her first starring role) are off and running, both from the killer and the pesky cops! One hilarious note is the name of the deceased, Miss Cherry Blossom Wang??? The gals end up in an exclusively male college dorm, only adding to the complications, especially due to their "lack" of clothing! Good supporting cast with Bob Cummings, who was born to play somebody's earnest neighbor, and with a roving eye!, and the versatile Alice Pearce, always on hand with a snappy one liner, if not the traditional poker face. As musicals declined in the 1950s, this became Grable's swan song, who went on tour with husband Harry James and his band in Las Vegas. And she was missed. Sheree North luckily secured the co-star lead when Marilyn Monroe flatly turned it down and got suspended, though her next film (one year later) would be the iconic BUS STOP. This was also produced by director Nunnally Johnson, who was one of Hollywood's greatest screenwriters. Give this one a look-see, as it's not all that bad and on a wide screen it plays well in technicolor. We all miss you, Betty! We do!
Review of How to Be Very, Very Popular
