I really, really hated "Higher and Higher" and it's a shame, as I really wanted to like it. After all, there are few reviewers on IMDb who love classic Hollywood films like me and a huge number of my reviews are for such films. But the lousy writing of this film made it very difficult to watch and its only saving grace was a chance to hear Frank Sinatra sing some lovely tunes.
The plot of "Higher and Higher" seems almost like it comes from some sitcom. In other words, it's very goofy and enough to keep the audience interested for about 30 minutes. However, the dumb plot idea wears very thin because it doesn't make sense and Michele Morgan was rather pretty but incredibly awful in this film. I could understand why she eventually returned to France to make movies considering the tripe they had her doing in films like this! The story begins at a mansion. The man of the house (Leon Errol) has just learned that he's penniless. Instead of panicking, his butler (Jack Haley) has a crazy idea--to give one of the maids a makeover and pass him off as his European-raised daughter. Then, supposedly, rich guys will come out of the woodwork to marry her and save the estate. There are two major problems with this--Morgan's character is an idiot and she is in love, secretly, with Haley (though you have no idea why). The problem is that the plan is rather nasty, Morgan's character is dumber than Gracie Allen and the romance that is tacked on at the end makes no sense at all. Mostly I blame the writers for this one, as it really could have used a massive re-write. Another director also might have helped. All I know is that silly plot could have worked but here you just keep holding on until the next time Sinatra appears to sing a tune.
The plot of "Higher and Higher" seems almost like it comes from some sitcom. In other words, it's very goofy and enough to keep the audience interested for about 30 minutes. However, the dumb plot idea wears very thin because it doesn't make sense and Michele Morgan was rather pretty but incredibly awful in this film. I could understand why she eventually returned to France to make movies considering the tripe they had her doing in films like this! The story begins at a mansion. The man of the house (Leon Errol) has just learned that he's penniless. Instead of panicking, his butler (Jack Haley) has a crazy idea--to give one of the maids a makeover and pass him off as his European-raised daughter. Then, supposedly, rich guys will come out of the woodwork to marry her and save the estate. There are two major problems with this--Morgan's character is an idiot and she is in love, secretly, with Haley (though you have no idea why). The problem is that the plan is rather nasty, Morgan's character is dumber than Gracie Allen and the romance that is tacked on at the end makes no sense at all. Mostly I blame the writers for this one, as it really could have used a massive re-write. Another director also might have helped. All I know is that silly plot could have worked but here you just keep holding on until the next time Sinatra appears to sing a tune.