El príncipe se enamora

Plot-- A European prince travels to the US to learn about life in a democracy. There he meets a Brooklyn cab driver and gets a whirlwind intro to big city America, especially when he and the cabbie compete for the same girl.

Is democracy a better governing institution than monarchy. Boy, there's a tough one for the movie to answer. Forget the plot that has the prince (Morgan) discovering the joys of blue- collar Brooklyn. Instead, it's the cast and a number of comedic touches that lift this romantic comedy. Morgan and Carson may never have reached Hope and Crosby's level of team success, but they're just as likable.

Actually, many of the laughs come from the supporting cast plus good side-action touches. For instance, there's that sly old teddy bear, SZ (Cuddles) Sakall. His fractured English is always good for a chuckle and a hug. Then there's Franklyn Pangborn doing his flustered bit as the theatre manager. It's always fun to watch his officious manner get punctured. The girls, Leslie and Paige, are both fetching and energetic, lending real bounce.

I confess looking forward to these 40's features in order to marvel over the ladies hats. Back then, a woman wasn't really dressed without a dress hat, and invariably the head-gear resembled alien life forms, as the exaggerated plumes do here.

Anyway, Butler directs with verve and style, helping get us over Connie's (Leslie) rather tiresomely repetitive dilemma—will it be blue-collar Bud (Carson) or refined royalty (Morgan) that she ends up with. Too bad the rivalry drags out longer than it should. A trim job here would have given the comedy more punch.

Nonetheless, the likable cast generally keeps the chuckles coming, while Morgan-Carson make an entertaining team. I just hope Bud learns to park his cab before I get there.