MGM star power at it's most second rate: for men you've got Russ Tambyn, Tony Martin and Vic Damone, for women you've got Jane Powell, Ann Miller and okay yes Debbie Reynolds, the one genuine A rank star. They throw in Walter Pidgeon and Gene Raymond and a story that feels ripped off On the Town - three sailors having adventures on shore leave.
Russ Tamblyn falls for dancer Debbie Reynolds and worries about his sister Jane Powell, who is pursued by lecherous actor Gene Raymond (their dad is admiral Walter Pidgeon); Tony Martin pursues old flame Ann Miller.
No one is really up to their roles - the camraderie between the three friends feels forced. Martin and Damone can sing well. Martin is a bit too old. Tamblyn is okay - he's such a good dancer with an interesting look I want to like him more than I do but he's not a very good actor.
There's an uncomfortable plot where the sailors rescue Powell from being seduced by Raymond - she wants to sleep with him, so they beat him up and Damone literally drags her away; then when she tries to run away she grabs him, a cop comes along and he kisses her. He holds onto her arm and won't let a go - it's rapey.
The rest of it is derivative - Miller nags Martin about the fact he never married her; Damone and Powell fall in love; Tamblyn and Reynolds fall in love (I'm not sure what their conflict it); the sailors are pursued by some unfunny shore patrol.
There are some excellent dance numbers - Miller does a top tap dance at the end. Reynolds and Powell both get song a dance numbers. The just-singing bits are less impressive. Roy Rowland wasn't much of a director. This is one of Joe Pasternak's weaker musicals - the cast feels weak, the book is weak, the characters aren't delineated, it harks back to earlier better films (like many "commercial" entertainments in Schary's MGM.) It does have professional gloss - dancers, production values, photography, etc.
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