Three navy men run into a shady producer who convinces them to invest into his new show. When they meet the show's female star attraction, they're sold. Have they become the latest showbiz p... Read allThree navy men run into a shady producer who convinces them to invest into his new show. When they meet the show's female star attraction, they're sold. Have they become the latest showbiz players or just three more suckers?Three navy men run into a shady producer who convinces them to invest into his new show. When they meet the show's female star attraction, they're sold. Have they become the latest showbiz players or just three more suckers?
- Marine
- (uncredited)
- Dancer
- (uncredited)
- Moss Hart
- (uncredited)
- Sailor
- (uncredited)
- Actor
- (uncredited)
- Nightclub Patron
- (uncredited)
- Director
- Writers
- All cast & crew
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaJane Powell's off-screen romance with Gene Nelson ended her marriage, but Nelson's wife refused to give him a divorce. Nelson directed Powell in a segment of the made-for-TV anthology movie The Letters (1973).
- Quotes
Marine: [tapping him on the shoulder] Pardon me, Mr. Woods.
Joe Woods: [without turning round] Yeah?
Marine: I'm with the Marine outfit that's backing the show and I, I hear the Navy is taking your leading man tonight.
Joe Woods: Don't worry about it, I'll get another.
Marine: I know. That's what I wanted to talk to you about, Sir. You see, I was wondering if, maybe you could er... what I mean to say is, you see I used to be with the circus once and friends of mine think that I have great deal of, well I don't mean to sound conceited, I was...
Joe Woods: [he turns to look] Sorry son, I know talent the minute it taps me on the shoulder, you just ain't got it, Kid.
Faye Foss: Gosh, Joe, weren't you a little rough on that boy? I thought he had something.
Joe Woods: Kindest thing I ever did for him. Never get anywhere in this business. Looks too much like Burt Lancaster.
- ConnectionsReferenced in Them! (1954)
- SoundtracksYou're But Oh, So Right
(uncredited)
Music by Sammy Fain
Lyrics by Sammy Cahn
Sung by Gordon MacRae, Gene Nelson and Jack E. Leonard
'Born to Dance' and 'Three Sailors and a Girl' have exactly the same plot: a Navy submarine docks in New York, and three sailors (a singer, a dancer and a funny guy) go ashore. They meet a musically talented actress named Powell who deserves to be a star, and they pool their efforts to make her the star of a hit Broadway musical (as sailors do). In 'Born to Dance', the actress is vivacious tap-dancer Eleanor Powell. In 'Three Sailors and a Girl', the actress is Jane Powell (more brassy than usual, but quite good). The three sailors -- with the unfortunate nicknames Porky, Twitch and Choirboy -- are played by Jack E. Leonard (the funny guy), Gene Nelson (the dancer) and Gordon MacRae (the singer and romantic lead). MacRae was never better than his material, so here he's much less interesting than he was in 'Oklahoma!' and 'Carousel'. Gene Nelson is excellent as the acrobatic dancer, although he too has been better elsewhere.
The real find in this movie is Jack E. Leonard, a vulgar and heavy-set insult comic who pre-dated Don Rickles, and who is not normally considered an actor. He's not very good here, but he's better than I expected him to be, and he might have had a decent career in supporting roles. His 'singing' voice is nothing to boast about, although he acquits himself well alongside Nelson and MacRae in the opening number (a snappy ditty called 'Oh, So Right!'), and he's decent enough in a (poor) comedy number with Jane Powell: 'Show me a happy woman, and I'll show you a miserable man.' Leonard also does a comedy monologue which isn't funny, and which relies heavily on a ludicrous costume and a penguin walk. Jack E. Leonard was severely overweight: a fact which shouldn't have disqualified him from movie roles, but which renders him utterly implausible here in the role of an active-duty sailor. Even more implausibly, the three sailors finance their Broadway musical by having a whip-round among their shipmates (yes, we all know that sailors have got lots of money socked away) ... and then, when these funds prove insufficient, they get further backing from the Marines. (Yes, we all know that the Navy and the Marines always work hand in hand towards mutual goals.) Still, this is a fun movie, and I don't want to dissect the plot line.
Sam Levene, giving his usual performance, is quite good as the sharpy who produces the Broadway musical ... which of course is a hit. There's a totally unexpected (and very funny) cameo appearance by Burt Lancaster as a leatherneck, which leads to Levene speaking the funniest line in the movie.
Except for that Powell/Leonard duet, the songs (by Sammy Fain and Sammy Cahn) are excellent: very nearly as good as Cole Porter's score for 'Born to Dance'. I'll rate 'Three Sailors and a Girl' 7 points out of 10. Delightful!
- F Gwynplaine MacIntyre
- Dec 31, 2002
Details
- Runtime1 hour 35 minutes
- Aspect ratio
- 1.37 : 1