Dick Haymes sings an assortment of standards and new songs, inherits a riverboat, courts Audrey Totter and feuds with her grandfather, Cecil Kellaway, in this very pleasant, low-key musical.
It's directed by Richard Quine and scripted by Blake Edwards and Quine; the two of them did very well out of their work and you can see why. Although Mr. Haymes is a very pleasant performer -- he even does a bit of soft-shoe a couple of times -- with a dazzling smile, Billy Daniels blows him away with his simple line readings and lively singing (although cameraman Charles Lawton Jr. favors Mr. Daniels with lively crab-dolly work and no cuts during his numbers). It's good to see Audrey Totter in a good-girl role.
In fact, that's the basics of this movie: every performer in his or her comfort zone and doing fine. Far more than good enough.
It's directed by Richard Quine and scripted by Blake Edwards and Quine; the two of them did very well out of their work and you can see why. Although Mr. Haymes is a very pleasant performer -- he even does a bit of soft-shoe a couple of times -- with a dazzling smile, Billy Daniels blows him away with his simple line readings and lively singing (although cameraman Charles Lawton Jr. favors Mr. Daniels with lively crab-dolly work and no cuts during his numbers). It's good to see Audrey Totter in a good-girl role.
In fact, that's the basics of this movie: every performer in his or her comfort zone and doing fine. Far more than good enough.
