Betsy Drake - Amazingly unappealing
Just so abysmal and unsympathetic. Her dance sequences - dreadful. She moved like 5 snakes. Whines all through the film. The film is weak enough, but sher pretty much sinks it.
shareI am always amazed when I see this film that she got this role. 20th Century-Fox had a number of musical stars under contract at the time who could have done an at least competent job of it. Even some of the non musical stars could have done better with the added help that was afforded Ms. Drake (dubbed singing voice and dancing stand-in).
Why was she cast in this role?
On Christmas Day 1949 Drake and Cary Grant married. That's my only guess. She was Mrs. Grant.
shareBut why a musical? She couldn't sing or dance, and wasn't especially charming in the part. Jeanne Crain (who was also always dubbed) could have done a much better job.
shareI don't know why she was chosen.
The film should have been a success. Bill Powell in Technicolor and still looking good. Great songs. Interesting story. Downside - 2 weak romantic leads and uninspired staging of the musical numbers. They reduce the film to a curio...and it is a curio that most people don't even know exists.
What a shame! That said, I still pull out the film now and then. My old VHS copy, (which I bought used!) was on the something or other (SFN?) "Holiday Network" and is 'hosted by Orville Reddenbacher and his grand-son (they say).
Ahhhm what we film lovers endure!