"Lady Be Good" has a tremendous cast, although none were among the best singers for a musical. Still, Ann Sothern does quite well singing, and Virginia O'Brien and John Carroll add their voices for a couple numbers each. This was apparently MGM's film to launch Ann Sothern as a singer, and while she is quite good, and this film wasn't a flop, it's 72nd place for the year at the box office wasn't enough to convince the musical studio that it has another singing star.
In a way, that's too bad, and Sothern's voice really was quite good, especially for soft, slow tunes. But the plot and screenplay for this film are very close to terrible. The writers forgot that it was supposed to be a comedy musical. And, Robert Young's character is a real drip, cad and dummy. Or, taken for its portrayal, it might be considered a good acting job of a type of some men who become stars with big egos and are very self-centered. He does play that role to the hilt as Eddie Crane, a composer. Sothern's Dixie Donegan spends the first three-fourths of the film pining after him while he hardly gives her a thought, even though they are married somewhere around halfway. Both of these actors were known for their comedies, comedy romances, and even drama. But there's no chemistry here.
Even with Young's role, if there had been a much better screenplay it would have helped. And, of course, for that first three-fourths, most in the audience must have been wondering when the top-billed Eleanor Powell would show her stuff. This is one of those Hollywood instances when a studio gives top-billing to a star who actually plays a supporting role. It was done once in a while on purpose as a lure to get more people to watch a movie. That says something about MGM's hopes for Sothern making it as a singer, in itself.
While the singing and supporting cast were all quite good, the dreariness of the first three-quarters of this film, with very little humor, just about tanked it for me. But then, the fantastic finish with a marvelous Eleanor Powell dance routine (Busby Berkely choreographed, naturally), and a nice overall musical crescendo saves the film. Buttons is a very talented dog that Powell training to dance. Considering the fantastic cast of support, this film really should have been much better. Lionel Barrymore, Red Skelton, Reginald Owen, Phil Silvers, Dan Dailey, and more. All it needed was a screenplay that would use all of the talents with song, dance and comedy. But the writers sure missed on this one.
Here are the only three lines of at least a little humor, in the film.
Joe "Red" Willet, "You know, you're going to ruin your appetite if you don't stop eating between bites."
Dixie Donegan, "What a spot to be in. A woman who doesn't dare marry her own husband."
Marilyn Marsh, "Help me get into my things. I don't wanna get shot looking like this."
In a way, that's too bad, and Sothern's voice really was quite good, especially for soft, slow tunes. But the plot and screenplay for this film are very close to terrible. The writers forgot that it was supposed to be a comedy musical. And, Robert Young's character is a real drip, cad and dummy. Or, taken for its portrayal, it might be considered a good acting job of a type of some men who become stars with big egos and are very self-centered. He does play that role to the hilt as Eddie Crane, a composer. Sothern's Dixie Donegan spends the first three-fourths of the film pining after him while he hardly gives her a thought, even though they are married somewhere around halfway. Both of these actors were known for their comedies, comedy romances, and even drama. But there's no chemistry here.
Even with Young's role, if there had been a much better screenplay it would have helped. And, of course, for that first three-fourths, most in the audience must have been wondering when the top-billed Eleanor Powell would show her stuff. This is one of those Hollywood instances when a studio gives top-billing to a star who actually plays a supporting role. It was done once in a while on purpose as a lure to get more people to watch a movie. That says something about MGM's hopes for Sothern making it as a singer, in itself.
While the singing and supporting cast were all quite good, the dreariness of the first three-quarters of this film, with very little humor, just about tanked it for me. But then, the fantastic finish with a marvelous Eleanor Powell dance routine (Busby Berkely choreographed, naturally), and a nice overall musical crescendo saves the film. Buttons is a very talented dog that Powell training to dance. Considering the fantastic cast of support, this film really should have been much better. Lionel Barrymore, Red Skelton, Reginald Owen, Phil Silvers, Dan Dailey, and more. All it needed was a screenplay that would use all of the talents with song, dance and comedy. But the writers sure missed on this one.
Here are the only three lines of at least a little humor, in the film.
Joe "Red" Willet, "You know, you're going to ruin your appetite if you don't stop eating between bites."
Dixie Donegan, "What a spot to be in. A woman who doesn't dare marry her own husband."
Marilyn Marsh, "Help me get into my things. I don't wanna get shot looking like this."