Frankie And A Lot Of Others Go To Hollywood

One of my favorite Hollywood genres is the musical. Even second-class musicals from the studio era have hidden delights. I was thinking that while watching Higher And Higher, a very minor 1943 RKO musical (the studio that made the Astaire-Rogers series) that no one would call a classic--actually, few would even call it good--yet has always fascinated me.

Why RKO even bought this property--a rare Rodgers and Hart flop--I'm not sure. Like many films of the time, they then proceeded to toss out almost all the original songs, including the classic "It Never Entered My Mind," and replace them with an undistinguished score. In those days, studios didn't want old hits that no one cared about, they wanted new hits with copyrights they owned. None of the new Jimmy McHugh songs became standards, though "I Saw You First" and "You're On Your Own" are kind of fun.

The film has a farcical plot that isn't worth having, but the cast is high-spirited and features plenty of interesting actors and singers.

Out of his tin can, repeating his Broadway lead, is Jack Haley. His performance shows there's a reason he's the least popular character in Wizard Of Oz. The female lead, Michele Morgan of France, perhaps struggling with English, isn't much better. But the supporting case is full of intriguing characters.

First--and he's the reason they made the film--there's the young Frank Sinatra in his first credited role, playing a friendly next-door neighbor named Frank Sinatra.

Then there's a young Victor Borge in a rare (rare?--unique) Hollywood film appearance, fresh from Denmark, and quite funny.

There's a young Mary Wickes, as goony and gawky as always.

There's a young Paul Hartman, singing and dancing, years before he was fix-it man Emmett Clark of Mayberry.

There's Leon Errol, breaking away from all those two-reelers he made in the 30s.

There's sparkplug Marcy McGuire, swooning over Frankie.

There's Dooley Wilson, not long after Casablanca, still singing and pretending to play piano.

And there's a very young Mel Torme in his film debut.

I'm not promising much, but it's worth taking a look at.