Ankles Aweigh! If Kelly and Sinatra could get two turns to play sailors, why not swimming star Esther Williams? It makes sense for Williams to be in the navy, but when she is sadly lacking is a story. What she does get is a fine co-star in Vivian Blaine who plays a naval version of "Guys and Dolls'" Miss Adelaide, utilizing that voice she hadn't supplied in earlier films. Third female co-star Joan Evans plays an extremely whiny character (surprising because Blaine's voice carries more of a whining pitch, yet she never seems like she is...), a jilted bride who joins the navy to escape her troubles yet at first can't cope. The basic story (what there is) has the three girls on the town getting into all sorts of trouble. They get one really good musical number ("What Good is a Gal Without a Guy?") which deserves classic status even though the film is otherwise mediocre and poorly constructed.
When Ms. Williams does get into the water (with a couple of kids and a clown-faced plastic buoy taking over for Tom and Jerry from "Dangerous When Wet"), the result is mixed. Out of the blue comes a boring marching number that the producers should have nixed, remembering the similar dreadful one that Betty Grable lead in "Pin Up Girl". Top that with a cameo by Debbie Reynolds and Bobby Van in a pointless musical number, and you really begin to see this as "Naval Melody of 1952" rather than a patriotic salute to the Waves. (Williams should have seen the writing on the script, and given the producer a Wac for even suggesting this to her!)
The male romantic interests provide no interest, with poor Barry Sullivan suffering from several indignities, especially one where he's annoyed by Williams in a crowded movie theatre (showing an MGM movie, none the less). I never thought that something would surpass the same year's horrible "About Face" (Warner Brothers), but this pretty much ties it.
When Ms. Williams does get into the water (with a couple of kids and a clown-faced plastic buoy taking over for Tom and Jerry from "Dangerous When Wet"), the result is mixed. Out of the blue comes a boring marching number that the producers should have nixed, remembering the similar dreadful one that Betty Grable lead in "Pin Up Girl". Top that with a cameo by Debbie Reynolds and Bobby Van in a pointless musical number, and you really begin to see this as "Naval Melody of 1952" rather than a patriotic salute to the Waves. (Williams should have seen the writing on the script, and given the producer a Wac for even suggesting this to her!)
The male romantic interests provide no interest, with poor Barry Sullivan suffering from several indignities, especially one where he's annoyed by Williams in a crowded movie theatre (showing an MGM movie, none the less). I never thought that something would surpass the same year's horrible "About Face" (Warner Brothers), but this pretty much ties it.