calvinnme This one has a totally predictable plot with a very Irritating Dean Stockwell and a shrill Kathryn Grayson. The musical numbers save the movie: "The Worry Song" with Jerry and Gene Kelly; "I Fall In Love Too Easily" by Frank Sinatra; the dance number with the little Spanish girl (Sharon McManus), too many others to list. More good than bad; but musical numbers are spare in the first hour, plentiful afterwards. But that first hour is trying when the cast isn't singing. You can begin to see the beginning of the cracks in the foundation of MGM's formula here. This came out the year that WWII ended, and yet they are sticking to this pre-warrish happy sappy musical formula with clean cut kids. They would get away with this for a couple of more years before the problems began to be projected at the box office.

gkeith_1 Sailors in Hollywood, not NYC as in On the Town. They meet singer Kathryn Grayson and her small nephew Dean Stockwell. Grayson talks about Jose Iturbi. Gene dances with King Jerry Mouse. Gene's Pomeranian Navy (it was/is a real navy; I looked it up) uniform pants are tight and white, and his striped blue and white tee shirt are quite form fitting, also. Grayson acts all prissy, and the sailor(s) just want to make the moves on her. Gene acts all crude and obnoxious. Stockwell, as a small child, just wants to join the US Navy. This film was made during the ending of World War Two, and there was much patriotism going on. The Brooklyn accents were grating but fun to listen to. Frank is always entertaining.

dougdoepke What surprises me here is how good Sinatra is. He's certainly playing against his later cock-sure image. No king of the walk here. Instead his Clarence (note the name) is likable but chock-full of self-doubt. And he's very good at being shy, retiring, and charming in a boyish way. It's a Sinatra as I've never seen him. On the other hand, there's the boldly self-assured Joe (Kelly) who dominates, as the two sailors try to get a big-time audition for the winsome Susan (Grayson). Somehow, however, they can't reach big-time impresario Jose Iturbi. But they and we have a good time trying.Along the way, Kelly gets his legendary dance with cartoon mouse Jerry of Tom & Jerry, looking like it came right out of the Land of Oz. Then too, I like his really charming number with the little Mexican girl (McManus). Overall, however, it's the elaborate sets, glossy Technicolor, and sparkling personalities that shine. Frankly, I thought the musical selections were entertaining but nothing memorable. Also the storyline meanders a bit too much, particularly near the end. Note too how classical numbers are worked into the selections, quite typical for that time. I guess producers wanted to broaden the musical appeal, and lend a touch of 'class'.All in all, the movie's MGM at it's glossy best. And though a bit overlong, the results still fit the classic bill, along with the perfect pairing of the two male leads.

ninabruzdzinski Surprisingly, I loved this movie. I'm not huge on musicals, but this movie was done incredibly well. Clarence and Joe were so lovable and such a great duo together. Donald was adorable and really pulled at my heartstrings. The kindness and silliness of Joe and Clarence as a pair was refreshing and I had a smile on my face the ought the entire movie. The songs were fun and light, and I think that's such a great thing to add to movies filmed during this time period. War was so embedded in the every day lives of people, it must've been a nice relief to enjoy leisure time and see a different side of the war- and how soldiers were real people too, and wanted the war to be over more than anyone. I also especially loved the high angles and panning of all of the pianists playing their piano on the stage towards the end of the film, it was a beautiful touch.