"Lucky Me" is a very good film with a fine mix of comedy and music, and a touch of romance. It's a colorful film, and the first musical made in CinemaScope. The setting is Miami, but the plot is quite an old one - entertainers who are down on their luck, looking for a break. They cross paths with a successful Broadway musical writer and composer, and voilá! Of course, it doesn't happen just like that. But this is the type of plot one would have to be a toddler or younger to not be able to guess the outcome.
So, as with many other musical revue types of films of the mid-20th century, the music and comedy are what make the film. Although the plot has a somewhat different and enjoyable twist of the entertainers having to work off a very expensive dinner in a ritzy hotel. That is the place of much of the comedy, and also where and how they run across Dick Carson, the recent musical maestro of Broadway hits. All of the cast are very good in their roles.
Phil Silvers especially shines as Hap Schneider, mainly for how well he impersonates a couple of characters in putting them over. Nancy Walker has a somewhat unusual snappy role as Flo Neely, part of Hap's four-member song and dance troupe. Eddie Foy Jr. Is the fourth member of the troupe, as Duke McGee. Of course, Doris Day is the troupe's star, as Candy Williams. This foursome has a couple of numbers with routines that are very good. Candy Williams is an exceptionally peppy role, even for Doris Day, but that helps overcome the one flaw of the plot - her superstitions. After a while, that aspect becomes irksome in the plot. It could easily have been done away with after the opening scene and Day's clever song about superstitions.
Robert Cummings is Dick Carson, and part of the enjoyment here is hearing him sing. Carson was one of several Hollywood stars with musical talent, mostly singing, but who didn't play many musical roles. All of the supporting cast are good. One who should be mentioned is Marcel Dalio who played Anton, the owner and/or maître d'hôtel of the swanky hotel that is the setting for much of the film.
Here are some favorite lines from this comedy musical.
Candy Williams, "I thought you said we'd murder 'em." Hap Schneider, "They're dead ain't they?"
Hap Schneider, "I can't understand Max doing a thing like this. And after all the money I borrowed from him."
Dick Carson, "It, uh, must be a new service the hotel has. Instead of television sets, they're sending the act around to the rooms."
Dick Carson, "Her father is Otis Thayer." Tommy Arthur, "Not the Otis Thayer with the 42 oil wells?" Lorraine Thayer, "Forty-four. Two more came in this morning." Carson, "Welllll. I knew he was expecting, but we hardly hoped for twins."
Dick Carson, "I'm just the kind of a guy that likes to put his cards on the table." Lorraine Thayer, "Sure, darling. But that doesn't mean you have to play solitaire."
Candy Williams, "You're very kind." Dick Carson, "Oh, kind nothing. I just feel safer with you in the car."
Dick Carson, "I was wondering if you'd like to go out with me tonight. We could eat and dance, have some fun and go to The Quarter Deck." Candy Williams, "No, no, I don't think I could really. After all, I hardy know you. You're practically a stranger."
Candy Williams, remembering a fortune teller from the penny arcade, "You are a stranger. A mysterious stranger." Dick Carson, "I, I am?" Candy, "It's amazing." Dick, "Well, of course, I think everyone starts out that way, and they just sort of work their way up from there, don't you? You couldn't possibly consider tonight?" Candy, "Ah, ordinarily I wouldn't, no. But, but since you're a stranger, I'd love to." Dick, "Yeah. Yeah, well, the way you've got it worked out's better."
Dick Carson, "Well, she's a jealous, possessive woman" Candy Williams, "Isn't that just too bad."
Candy Williams, "I know nothing about men, but I know an awful lot about women." Dick Carson, "Candy, please..." Candy, "And they don't become jealous and possessive unless some, some worm of a man gives them every good reason to be."
Candy Williams, "There isn't going to be any show." Hap Schneider, "No show? Why?" Candy, "Miss Oil Wells won't have me, that's why."
So, as with many other musical revue types of films of the mid-20th century, the music and comedy are what make the film. Although the plot has a somewhat different and enjoyable twist of the entertainers having to work off a very expensive dinner in a ritzy hotel. That is the place of much of the comedy, and also where and how they run across Dick Carson, the recent musical maestro of Broadway hits. All of the cast are very good in their roles.
Phil Silvers especially shines as Hap Schneider, mainly for how well he impersonates a couple of characters in putting them over. Nancy Walker has a somewhat unusual snappy role as Flo Neely, part of Hap's four-member song and dance troupe. Eddie Foy Jr. Is the fourth member of the troupe, as Duke McGee. Of course, Doris Day is the troupe's star, as Candy Williams. This foursome has a couple of numbers with routines that are very good. Candy Williams is an exceptionally peppy role, even for Doris Day, but that helps overcome the one flaw of the plot - her superstitions. After a while, that aspect becomes irksome in the plot. It could easily have been done away with after the opening scene and Day's clever song about superstitions.
Robert Cummings is Dick Carson, and part of the enjoyment here is hearing him sing. Carson was one of several Hollywood stars with musical talent, mostly singing, but who didn't play many musical roles. All of the supporting cast are good. One who should be mentioned is Marcel Dalio who played Anton, the owner and/or maître d'hôtel of the swanky hotel that is the setting for much of the film.
Here are some favorite lines from this comedy musical.
Candy Williams, "I thought you said we'd murder 'em." Hap Schneider, "They're dead ain't they?"
Hap Schneider, "I can't understand Max doing a thing like this. And after all the money I borrowed from him."
Dick Carson, "It, uh, must be a new service the hotel has. Instead of television sets, they're sending the act around to the rooms."
Dick Carson, "Her father is Otis Thayer." Tommy Arthur, "Not the Otis Thayer with the 42 oil wells?" Lorraine Thayer, "Forty-four. Two more came in this morning." Carson, "Welllll. I knew he was expecting, but we hardly hoped for twins."
Dick Carson, "I'm just the kind of a guy that likes to put his cards on the table." Lorraine Thayer, "Sure, darling. But that doesn't mean you have to play solitaire."
Candy Williams, "You're very kind." Dick Carson, "Oh, kind nothing. I just feel safer with you in the car."
Dick Carson, "I was wondering if you'd like to go out with me tonight. We could eat and dance, have some fun and go to The Quarter Deck." Candy Williams, "No, no, I don't think I could really. After all, I hardy know you. You're practically a stranger."
Candy Williams, remembering a fortune teller from the penny arcade, "You are a stranger. A mysterious stranger." Dick Carson, "I, I am?" Candy, "It's amazing." Dick, "Well, of course, I think everyone starts out that way, and they just sort of work their way up from there, don't you? You couldn't possibly consider tonight?" Candy, "Ah, ordinarily I wouldn't, no. But, but since you're a stranger, I'd love to." Dick, "Yeah. Yeah, well, the way you've got it worked out's better."
Dick Carson, "Well, she's a jealous, possessive woman" Candy Williams, "Isn't that just too bad."
Candy Williams, "I know nothing about men, but I know an awful lot about women." Dick Carson, "Candy, please..." Candy, "And they don't become jealous and possessive unless some, some worm of a man gives them every good reason to be."
Candy Williams, "There isn't going to be any show." Hap Schneider, "No show? Why?" Candy, "Miss Oil Wells won't have me, that's why."