Years before Elvis Presley was inducted to the army at the height of his fame comes this tale of a famous opera singer (Mario Lanza) who is drafted at the height of his fame. Service comedy hijinks ensue... presumably this was an attempt to expand Lanza's appeal, make him a more regular guy.
Most of the "plot" that follows involves Lanza pretending to romance the sister of his opera crazy sergeant (James Whitmore) so he can get more leave to go into town and make recordings to keep his career going. Which isn't a bad concept for a comedy - the only thing is, this film muffs it by having Whitmore suggest Lanza hang out with his sister to further his sister's singing career, and he's the one who tells Lanza to go on leave, so when the "deception" is uncovered (via stock character - Lanza's slutty ex) it's not much of a deception.
Still there are plenty of songs if you're into opera and its amusing to see Lanza's weight vary so wildly from shot to shot. Lanza has a mother who he adores, so the fingerprints of Louis B Mayer are all over this... yet it also has a touch of the Dore Schary's: the presence in the cast of Schary favourite, James Whitmore (a poor man's Spencer Tracy - he's a good actor but this would have worked with an actual pure comic in the role), and a much lower budget (fewer opera re-enactments, lots of cheap service comedy). There's a little bit of singing and dancing from other soldiers which feels thrown in as an afterthought. Not bad; fairly average stuff really but Lanza fans will find much to enjoy.
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