Universal kept on Donald O'Connor after the war, ageing him up slightly in a series of musicals and comedies. This is a musical comedy although the first dance number doesn't happen until 18 minutes in. O'Connor is an insurance boffin who is persuaded to join carnies by Lew Parker.
O'Connor is great but his character is all over the shop - a nerd who can tap dance automatically. Olga San Juan is also delightful O'Connor's girlfriend even though her character too is all over the place..
The treatment is surprisingly sluggish - it lacks a light touch. The book is also at fault - it feels contrived how O'Connor ends up at a carnival (why not just have him on the run from gangsters or something) and it's weird he can dance (I get he does it via maths but it doesn't ring true... why not have him study and pick it up). He needed to fall in love with someone while in the carnival.
It's a shame because when this is good - during the musical numbers - it's very good. Just not that well directed and the story is a mess. The two stars deserved better.
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