Once again we join Mr. Sinatra and Mr. Kelly as sailor on the ship (the USS Knoxville!) and about to get leave. However, we get a whole four days with them instead of just 24 hours. The reason for this wonderful time off is because of the heroics of Clarence (Sinatra) and Joseph (Kelly) in an attack that happened before the film began. Joseph saved Clarence from drowning and now they get four days in the great city of Los Angeles! Joseph has a girl waiting for him on shore, and Clarence begs Joe to let him come along. Clarence doesn't know how to get a girl of his own and he thinks that since Joe saved his life that Joe owes him something (not what you were expecting right). Joe agrees before they are both picked up by the police. They are very confused because they haven't been off the boat long enough to get into any sort of trouble. Once they are at the station they meet Donald, a little boy who has run away from home in hopes to join the Navy. Joe and Clarence end up getting him home in time to meet Aunt Susan, played by Katherine Grayson, an aspiring actress and singer. Thus, starting a crazy adventure of love, jealousy, and the search for a famous piano player named, Jose Iturbi.
The one thing about these movies that Mr. Sinatra does with Gene Kelly is the fact that all three of them make it seem like Mr. Sinatra isn't interested/ can't get a girl.... what in real life he could have had any girl he ever wanted, including me! However, this movie has some great songs, and wonderful moments. I think this is Mr. Kelly's funniest movie of the three. His voice cracks more, and he gets into more shenanigans then in the other two. However, Mr. Sinatra still sells every song presented to him. He also gets to do more laughable stuff. The best moments in the movie, for me, is when they are singing "I Begged Her" to the other sailors as they are setting in for the night.
You can't forget Katherine Grayson as well. There is not any movie stars today who sing opera when the rare musical comes out. However, it's still pretty rare back when musical were mass produced too. It's a crazy balance that you have to have to get opera sung in the same musical that Sinatra is crooning in. Also to do it in a way were they don't sing together in the movie at all. However, I always forget just how amazing Ms. Grayson is! I don't have very many movies with her in it but she is always a wonder to watch!
If you are a classic film lover but never have seen this film all the way through I am sure you have seen on very famous clip of it. This is the film where Gene Kelly dances with Jerry the Mouse in animated kingdom. It has to be on of the very first times that animation and live action cross over in a movie like this. I mean even if you are not a movie lover they actually did have a small part of that clip on a phone commercial not too many years ago. It's always fun to watch and makes me wonder who came up with the idea and how they made that happen!
This is still my least favorite of the three but I enjoyed it so much more than I thought I would. It's been so long since I have seen it that I really have forgotten about it. I am glad to have had the opportunity to watch it again.
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