mark.waltz
For an old much recycled plot, this ain't too bad. Both a retread of the sailors on leave in the big apple plot and the George S. Kaufman play "Butter and Egg Man", this is a slightly above average musical with a talented cast and a few good songs. Three sailors on leave are conned into investing their money (and their pals) in a Broadway show. Producer Sam Levene is your typical New York shyster who has no idea of what he's doing so the sailors take over. Handsome Gordon MacRae falls for leading lady Jane Powell, while rotund Jack Leonard clowns and Gene Nelson dances. The show they do could be called "This is the Navy" but ends up becoming too technical so some well known Broadway personalities come in to doctor the show.The silliness of the plot is topped by some of the musical numbers (by Sammy Fain and Sammy Cahn), most outrageously one ("I Got Butterflies") sung and danced in an auto shop utilizing much of the equipment. Powell has an amusing comedy number, "Kiss Me, Kiss Me, Kiss Me (Or I'll Scream!"). Leonard comes off as a combination of Lou Costello and Jackie Gleason and tries too hard to be cute. Powell and Leonard do get to perform the amusing "Show Me a Happy Woman (and I'll Show You a Miserable Man)". That favorite tough girl Veda Ann Borg has some amusing lines. A fan favorite of the time has a cameo at the end with a hilarious reference. Overall, this is better than some of Warner Brothers' non-Doris Day musical numbers, thanks to the actress loaned to MGM for the occasion.
edwagreen
You might as well have brought out Mickey Rooney and Judy Garland for this one. Sailors on leave get involved with Jane Powell in staging a Broadway show. There is even an over extending of the percentage owned by the show. This was certainly to the 1968 smash "The Producers."Jack E. Leonard is in fine form as Porky, a portly sailor who can really dance and do some singing. Gordon McRae is Choir Boy and he is equally matched with Gene Nelson.The song and dance routines are solid by the plot is so predictable and worn out already in movies.Thirty days of shore leave for the navy guys. They should have extended the leave for the entire picture.
wes-connors
An American submarine docks for shore leave in New York City. The sailors decide to invest their money in a Broadway musical, instead of spending it on women. The presence of Jack Larson and Merv Griffin among the sailors somehow makes this seem more plausible. The "Three Sailors
" of the title are singer Gordon MacRae (as "Choirboy" Jones), dancer Gene Nelson (as "Twitch"), and rotund comedian Jack E. Leonard (as "Porky"). They meet promising musical comedy star Jane Powell (as Penny Weston), "
and a Girl" completes the title. She wears some sexy costumes, to show off her hourglass figure. Also watch for the service station dance solo from Mr. Nelson.**** Three Sailors and a Girl (11/23/53) Roy Del Ruth ~ Jane Powell, Gordon MacRae, Gene Nelson, Jack E. Leonard
w22nuschler
This is a movie I had never seen until tonight and I loved it. Jane Powell is on loan from MGM in this Warner Brother comedy musical. This was the first time we get a great look at Jane Powell's beautiful figure. Gordon Macrae, Gene Nelson & Jack E. Leonard play the sailors on leave that try to help her out. The story starts out with Jane and her lame manager trying to get her a job. She does a song and dance that does not impress. Her manager removes the bottom of her dress and we get to see her beautiful legs in a short red dress. He throws them out. The sailors see her as she leaves and they like what they see. The sailors have fifty thousand to invest and her manager wants them to invest in her career. Gordon falls for Jane when she sings a song on the way to an audition. She sings a wonderful song with Gordon Macrae. I think it's called "When It's Love". The next day Jane rehearses wearing a very sexy and short blue dress. Later she gets really sexy during a scene on stage. She does a scene with Jack E. Leonard. Jane has on a white fur coat and quickly removes it to reveal a sexy black sequined swimsuit. She looks so sexy in that outfit and she has a perfect pair of legs! Soon they all find out the show they are backing is not good at all. Gordon buys the show and Jane's contract. She does a sexy number in another sequined bathing suit. He gets his buddies and the army guys to chip in. They go around looking for producers and tell them to help them because the services are backing the show. Next she performs for the producers in a white bathing suit outfit. Gordon gets a little big headed because he is running the show, but Jane sets him straight. They end up in trouble and sell the show to her manager who started all the trouble. I found this film on the WB shop site. It was a really nice surprise and a really good film. Jane Powell really show sex appeal here and I'm bit sure why she was not used in these kind of roles more often.