This Columbia Pictures musical is more of a revue than the book musical that most people think of when we say "musicals". It consists of random songs dropped at intervals into a story, instead of being integral to the plot. I prefer the integrated book musical, but this format had its commercial sense; in the era, when theaters in the South were segregated, some of the white theater owners and attendees would have objected to seeing the great Billy Daniels on screen singing; they would get the film with the segment showing Jerome Cowan saying "Here's a record we waxed today" and Mr. Daniels absent.
The story, or "book" has Jerome Courtland as the rich country bumpkin who wants to make it big as a singer; Cowan has a successful recording business and an unsuccessful career in picking horses. The rest of it consists of running into topnotch singers that could be picked up for bargain prices.
The gags and situations tire quickly, but the talent is excellent and there are some excellent songs. The result is a bumpy ride that has several fine moments.
The story, or "book" has Jerome Courtland as the rich country bumpkin who wants to make it big as a singer; Cowan has a successful recording business and an unsuccessful career in picking horses. The rest of it consists of running into topnotch singers that could be picked up for bargain prices.
The gags and situations tire quickly, but the talent is excellent and there are some excellent songs. The result is a bumpy ride that has several fine moments.