As other reviewers have noted, this film is a remake, revised, or updated version of a 1940 film, "Tin Pan Alley." And, with some plot aspects that may have been borrowed (or copied) from at least one other earlier musical. It's lacking in the comedy that Jack Oakie provided, especially, in the 1940 film, and it doesn't have quite the talent of that film. But, "I'll Get By" has one new performer, other fine performers in the two female leads, a top band addition, and more songs than any musical that I know of - 15 in all.
These songs include some of the best known songs of the era, most of which are still played as background tunes in modern movies, or occasionally on radio. If for no other reason, this is a good film for all of those great tunes. Indeed, it's the music and performances by three of the leads that carry the film. June Haver and Gloria DeHaven are superb in their songs as the Martin Sisters. And, Dennis Day lends his wonderful tenor voice to some numbers. Those who listened to the Jack Benny show on radio and/or watched it on TV will be familiar with Dennis and his great voice. He also demonstrates his talents and knack for comedy with a couple of great voice imitations. Day made fewer than a dozen films, and spent most of his career on TV. So, this is one of the opportunities to see and hear his very fine tenor voice in songs.
Another plus for the movie is a couple of very good big band numbers played by Harry James on the trumpet with his orchestra Steve Allen appears, playing the drums. And some other familiar long-time Hollywood actors appear to add a little spice to the film. Thelma Ritter plays Miss Murphy and Reginald Gardiner plays himself. Jeanne Crane has a cameo as herself, and Dan Dailey, as himself in uniform at the Marine camp show, does a soft-shoe number.
While I seldom take issue with casting for films (one should realize that the movie-making experts know what they're doing - well, most of the time), this is one rare time when the male lead is very poorly cast. William Lundigan had a great voice for films and could play dramas, adventure and thriller films very well. But, he wasn't a song and dance man. And, he isn't convincing in his role here, even as a hard nut who seems only interested in getting ahead himself. Nor is there any chemistry between his Bill Spender and June Haver's Liza Martin. One couldn't help but imagine a more suitable actor in the role. For instance, the musically-talented Fred MacMurray, who could put on a sour face and still provide some comedy and enthusiasm in a role. Four years after this film, MacMurray and Haver would marry for life. MacMurray would have put some life and believability into the otherwise dull scenes with Lundigan's Bill Spencer trying to promote songs, his business and himself. Lundigan was okay as an actor otherwise, but clearly not meant for musicals.
This movie does have one blunder, however one wants to look at it. It's opening is set in 1939 and it ends in early May of 1945. The latter is apparent because toward the end, the Martin Sisters are entertaining Marines on a USO tour. The Marine general interrupts the show to announce that Germany has just surrendered That historic happening took play on May 7, 1945. The movie itself came out in late October of 1950, and by that time, the Korean War had been underway more than four months - since late June. While that may have made the film's release somewhat awkward, the blunder was in having one song in the film that wasn't even written until the year after the end of WW II. "You Make Me Feel So Young" was written by Josef Myrow and Mack Gordon and introduced in the musical, "Three Little Girls in Blue", that came out in October of 1946. And, three other tunes were written and first performed late during the time of WW II, one in 1945.
The comedy is very light, with the best line coming from Reginald Gardner. He says, "It's good for their morale to let a soldier see a civilian once a week."
Here's a list of the 15 tunes sung, played and danced to in this film - "I'll Get By", "Taking a Chance on Love", "There will Never Be Another You", "I've Got the World on a String", "You Make Me Feel So Young", "It's Been a Long, Long, Time"; "Once in a While", "Fifth Avenue", "I'm Making Believe", "No Love, No Nothin", "I've Got a Gal in Kalamazoo", "Down Argentine Way", "Deep in the Hart of Texas", "McNamara's Band", and "Yankee Doodle Blues."
