The very talented Jane Powell was a delightful and enjoyable actress, especially in her string of musicals from the mid-1940s to late 1950s. But, this was just her second film, and a loan-out from MGM with much lesser quality material than MGM would provide for her. She doesn't have the wonderful musicians, top actors, writers and material here that were just around the corner for her at MGM. Those would make her star shine brightly in some wonder musical comedies and romance films.
There isn't even much music or comedy here. The best is the school's annual production in which a number of skits - song and dance routines are performed in a carnival setting. The performers appear as mannequins who come to life to sing and dance when a carnival patron shoots the bulls-eye for their skit. It's an original sort of arrangement that is quite good. But the rest of the film has very little music and just a couple brief scenes with slight comedy Arthur Treacher and Louse Beavers provide most of the comedy as Jeffers and Hannah.
There is one little aside for Ralph Bellamy fans. This is one film in which Bellamy gets a girl. In most films with Cary Grant and a host of leading men in which he plays second fiddle, Bellamy always loses out to the more handsome hero.
Of all of the musical comedies and romance films that Jane Powell made, only one was a real dud - "Athena" in 1954. This film is the only other one that isn't at least very good. And she made some great ones.
There isn't even much music or comedy here. The best is the school's annual production in which a number of skits - song and dance routines are performed in a carnival setting. The performers appear as mannequins who come to life to sing and dance when a carnival patron shoots the bulls-eye for their skit. It's an original sort of arrangement that is quite good. But the rest of the film has very little music and just a couple brief scenes with slight comedy Arthur Treacher and Louse Beavers provide most of the comedy as Jeffers and Hannah.
There is one little aside for Ralph Bellamy fans. This is one film in which Bellamy gets a girl. In most films with Cary Grant and a host of leading men in which he plays second fiddle, Bellamy always loses out to the more handsome hero.
Of all of the musical comedies and romance films that Jane Powell made, only one was a real dud - "Athena" in 1954. This film is the only other one that isn't at least very good. And she made some great ones.