Two Girls and a Sailor

Considering the talent involved, the movie should be better than it is. What's needed is a lot more bounce and about twenty minutes less of the romantic guessing game, which drags along too much of the time. Too bad we don't get more of the sparkle and zip of the Young Man with a Horn number. Allyson really comes alive during those moments. Durante is of course Durante lending his inimitable style of pizazz, while the baby-faced De Haven shines, along with Johnson who really deserves more screen time. The love-struck soldier is a novel touch for a movie of this type, though somewhat creepy at times. And what in the heck does the subplot of the two elderly gentlemen do other than meander a story-line that's already too drawn-out. Note how high-brow musicians Albert Coates and Jose Iturbi do musical spots. Having the classically trained making guest appearances was not unusual for popular musicals of the time. I suppose producers thought this would broaden audience appeal. Anyway it's a good chance to scope out Harry James at his peak and vintage Lena Horne. Fortunately, the kids themselves would go on to bigger and better things.