Between "Golden Boy" and "Sunset Boulevard," William Holden was stuck at Paramount playing light leading man parts. Here he's teamed with exotic Dorothy Lamour in a WW II musical, "The Fleet's In." Holden plays a sailor who is mistakenly believed to be a real Lothario - in fact, he's anything but. The rest of the sailors bet that he can't score with "The Countess," a club singer (Dorothy Lamour). If the plot sounds familiar, it was recycled for Elvis in "G.I. Blues." This plot is merely an excuse for some great music and performances. It's the film debut of vivacious Betty Hutton, who plays Bessie, the Countess' roommate.
Pretty Helen O'Connell, whom I remember from an early interview show in the '50s, "Here's Hollywood," was a marvelous singer who worked with Jimmy Dorsey. Dorsey's band performs here, as does his other singer, Bob Eberly. O'Connell introduces the song "Tangerine" to audiences. Lamour sings the lovely "I Remember You." Hutton has the comic "Arthur Murray Taught Me Dancing in a Hurry." All three songs have Johnny Mercer lyrics, as do the numbers "Not Mine" and "If You Build a Better Housetrap" performed by several of the singers.
Wonderfully entertaining, though not as well remembered as many other musicals.
Pretty Helen O'Connell, whom I remember from an early interview show in the '50s, "Here's Hollywood," was a marvelous singer who worked with Jimmy Dorsey. Dorsey's band performs here, as does his other singer, Bob Eberly. O'Connell introduces the song "Tangerine" to audiences. Lamour sings the lovely "I Remember You." Hutton has the comic "Arthur Murray Taught Me Dancing in a Hurry." All three songs have Johnny Mercer lyrics, as do the numbers "Not Mine" and "If You Build a Better Housetrap" performed by several of the singers.
Wonderfully entertaining, though not as well remembered as many other musicals.