I Love Melvin is a bright, but dated musical starring Debbie Reynolds and Donald O'Connor fresh from Singing In The Rain. It's hardly as groundbreaking a film as Singing In The Rain, but it does show off its stars to best advantage with their dancing talent.
It's dated because that era of photo journalism as personified by the magazines Life and Look is long gone now. But Look Magazine certainly got a very big plug in this film. Donald O'Connor is a photographer's assistant in the film and he meets and falls for dancer Debbie Reynolds from a Broadway show. Both are looking for the big break in their respective professions and when they fall for each other it's only right that O'Connor should try to help Reynolds.
Of course getting on the cover of Look Magazine is no easy proposition, you've got to be somewhat famous for that. Still O'Connor is a persistent fellow and since he's in love he becomes a man with a mission.
Dancing, lots of dancing is what I Love Melvin has the most of. You'll be out of breath watching the stars perform a lot of dance routines in the 76 minute running time of the movie. No great song hits from the score of Josef Myrow and Mack Gordon, but lot's of dancing routines built around it.
The supporting cast fits comfortably in their roles. Best in the supporting cast in my opinion is Jim Backus who is O'Connor's boss and mentor. If being slightly demented qualifies you to be a magazine photographer, Backus certainly fills the bill. Also Robert Taylor makes a brief appearance as Reynolds dreams of going to Hollywood.
I Love Melvin is dated because of the passing of Look Magazine. I'm wiling to bet that the younger folks watching this film will think that Look Magazine was something made up for the film. Believe me, it wasn't and I Love Melvin might just be it's tribute film.
It's dated because that era of photo journalism as personified by the magazines Life and Look is long gone now. But Look Magazine certainly got a very big plug in this film. Donald O'Connor is a photographer's assistant in the film and he meets and falls for dancer Debbie Reynolds from a Broadway show. Both are looking for the big break in their respective professions and when they fall for each other it's only right that O'Connor should try to help Reynolds.
Of course getting on the cover of Look Magazine is no easy proposition, you've got to be somewhat famous for that. Still O'Connor is a persistent fellow and since he's in love he becomes a man with a mission.
Dancing, lots of dancing is what I Love Melvin has the most of. You'll be out of breath watching the stars perform a lot of dance routines in the 76 minute running time of the movie. No great song hits from the score of Josef Myrow and Mack Gordon, but lot's of dancing routines built around it.
The supporting cast fits comfortably in their roles. Best in the supporting cast in my opinion is Jim Backus who is O'Connor's boss and mentor. If being slightly demented qualifies you to be a magazine photographer, Backus certainly fills the bill. Also Robert Taylor makes a brief appearance as Reynolds dreams of going to Hollywood.
I Love Melvin is dated because of the passing of Look Magazine. I'm wiling to bet that the younger folks watching this film will think that Look Magazine was something made up for the film. Believe me, it wasn't and I Love Melvin might just be it's tribute film.