A lot of MGM musicals started losing money around this time - people still went to see them, but they cost a lot - a trend that only accelerated as the 50s went on. This one bucked the trend despite not being basedon a Broadway musical and having stars that never, to be honest, quite became the top - Howard Keel and Jane Powell (fine actors, and decent careers, they just were never Gene Kelly or Judy Garland).
It had colour, some location work, plenty of energy. Howard Keel has a ridculous red beard. The red hair of all the boys is silly. Jane Powell is very cute and winning. The only other brother who'll register is Russ Tamblyn. Jeff Richards became a star for five seconds as another one but I got confused. You'll spot Julie Newmar.
Rousing dancing. Bold primary colours. Abduction as humour. Nice tunes. I didn't quite get the magic of this though.
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