This is a wonderful example of early 1940s Hollywood cinema. Paramount pulled out the stops. The most important leading lady in musicals at that time, Ginger Rogers, who even though has little opportunity of showing off her music and dance talents in this film, for what she does could not be bettered. This Oscar-winning actress gives us a spot on performance. Ray Milland, as ever, also hits the mark. Jon Hall, well cast as is Mischa Auer and Warner Baxter. The film 'looks' good too. This film does not reflect the musical play, which it is based upon. The Kurt Weill/Ira Gershwin score is almost gone, not quite, and the screenplay which even though it sticks to the Moss Hart original veers about, but nevertheless this is much more faithfully treated. When G. R., Fred Astaire's most important dancing partner dances, one feels that what she has been given is not the best to be given, but she is fun to watch in this film. It's amusing that the song Suddenly It's Spring, which almost was to become 'a standard', replaces all of that Weill/Gershwin score....but it is there and even that song is not given a proper vocal airing.....but that said...this is an enjoyable film of its period.....and if you are lucky to see a good copy, the technicolor alone is worth the price of a ticket.....it is brilliant...quite brilliant and can rival anything from Fox.....No, there is no Gertrude Lawrence, who originated the lead part on Broadway stunningly, no, the score is not there, no, Moss Hart's work has been fiddled with.....but this is an entertaining film which looks just great and has so many flavourable performances especially Ginger Rogers....... SEE IT.
Review of Lady in the Dark
