John Payne stars as an overly ambitious vaudeville performer/promoter whose little troupe includes singing star Alice Faye and comic relief duo Jack Oakie and June Havoc. Their corny act is going nowhere, until Payne joins forces with a Salvation Army street group, and suddenly the crowds are leaving the clubs to stand on the street and listen to them. He starts his own club, and it..and his 3 sidekicks..are a hit, but he wants more. Payne is driven to be Nob Hill acceptable, and is (of course) the only one oblivious to the fact that Faye has always been in love with him.
He falls for society girl Lynn Bari, and considering neither is terribly likeable, that seems like a good match..but in gaining social standing, he loses his club, his friends, and Faye. Faye heads to Europe, where she becomes a big star while Payne spends on Bari, until she finally admits she only wanted his money (he didn't know this??). His funds depleted, Payne is reduced to being a sidewalk barker for dumpy clubs . How will this all work out? Watch and find out. It may not be the most original plotline in a musical, but it has some good things going for it..first, the Oscar winning song You'll Never Know, which became a 'signature tune' for Faye, and just the way it looks.
I can't stress enough how fantastic this film looks! Fox was known for it's color over-saturation, but it works to perfection here. Also exceptional are Helen Rose's costumes..from the gawdy vaudeville garb to gorgeous gowns with intricate touches, and the most incredible beading. Oakie and Havoc have great back-and-forth moments; Payne does fine as usual in these 40s Fox musicals, and twenty-something Faye just shines. Although the film is a remake - I won't tell you of what so I don't spoil it for you - this has to be one of the best Fox musicals of the era. The music doesn't interrupt the flow, and everything just seems to 'fit'.
He falls for society girl Lynn Bari, and considering neither is terribly likeable, that seems like a good match..but in gaining social standing, he loses his club, his friends, and Faye. Faye heads to Europe, where she becomes a big star while Payne spends on Bari, until she finally admits she only wanted his money (he didn't know this??). His funds depleted, Payne is reduced to being a sidewalk barker for dumpy clubs . How will this all work out? Watch and find out. It may not be the most original plotline in a musical, but it has some good things going for it..first, the Oscar winning song You'll Never Know, which became a 'signature tune' for Faye, and just the way it looks.
I can't stress enough how fantastic this film looks! Fox was known for it's color over-saturation, but it works to perfection here. Also exceptional are Helen Rose's costumes..from the gawdy vaudeville garb to gorgeous gowns with intricate touches, and the most incredible beading. Oakie and Havoc have great back-and-forth moments; Payne does fine as usual in these 40s Fox musicals, and twenty-something Faye just shines. Although the film is a remake - I won't tell you of what so I don't spoil it for you - this has to be one of the best Fox musicals of the era. The music doesn't interrupt the flow, and everything just seems to 'fit'.