Fred was right; he should never have done this film.
I've never seen "Yolanda and the Thief" so I can't compare it but this has got to be one of his worst musicals. Fred and the rest of the cast is pretty much wasted though the "I Wanna be a Dancin' Man" number is indeed a classic and handily escapes the mediocrity of the rest. But you can see it without having to endure this turkey, most notably in "That's Entertainment III".
The cast has all appeared to better advantage elsewhere: Marjorie Main plays, surprise, surprise, a battle-ax and when she calls Fred "young man", you have to wonder what she's been drinking. (He was around 50 and looked it! In "Royal Wedding" which preceded it, at least he plays Jane Powell's brother, not love interest.) Alice Pearce plays the homely comedienne part to little avail even if she has a song ("Let a Little Love Come in") or two.
Vera Ellen, an accomplished dancer, has near-zero chemistry with Fred and his "falling in love" with her or, even worse, she with him, has only to do with the script. His floating and dancing on air therefore looks doubly ridiculous and doesn't come off at all.
Watch only if you must!
I've never seen "Yolanda and the Thief" so I can't compare it but this has got to be one of his worst musicals. Fred and the rest of the cast is pretty much wasted though the "I Wanna be a Dancin' Man" number is indeed a classic and handily escapes the mediocrity of the rest. But you can see it without having to endure this turkey, most notably in "That's Entertainment III".
The cast has all appeared to better advantage elsewhere: Marjorie Main plays, surprise, surprise, a battle-ax and when she calls Fred "young man", you have to wonder what she's been drinking. (He was around 50 and looked it! In "Royal Wedding" which preceded it, at least he plays Jane Powell's brother, not love interest.) Alice Pearce plays the homely comedienne part to little avail even if she has a song ("Let a Little Love Come in") or two.
Vera Ellen, an accomplished dancer, has near-zero chemistry with Fred and his "falling in love" with her or, even worse, she with him, has only to do with the script. His floating and dancing on air therefore looks doubly ridiculous and doesn't come off at all.
Watch only if you must!