User reviews

Betty Grable, Carole Landis, and Charlotte Greenwood, two sisters and their aunt work as carhops in a drive-up Texas diner and they get a letter from a lawyer. Another relative has up and died and left the family fortune to them. But after the court and Uncle Sam have taken their share, it's only several thousand apiece.

Betty has her sights set on landing a millionaire husband as any bright girl in that era would. Landis and Greenwood don't need much convincing to pool their resources and go to Miami and hang out where the millionaires do. Betty pretends to be a millionaire heiress herself with Landis as a secretary and Greenwood her maid.

I shouldn't say too much more, but as this was a film of pure escapism with happy endings required, you should be able to figure out the rest. The men sure liked looking at Grable and Landis and the women dreamed of being in their place, courted by the likes of Don Ameche and Bob Cummings.

Songwriting team of Ralph Rainger and Leo Robin contributed a good score that showcases the considerable musical talents of Ameche, Grable, Greenwood and Jack Haley who plays a suspicious waiter at the resort the girls are staying at. What I don't understand is that the title of the film is the title of a very big hit song from the Thirties and it is only used under the title credits and as background. Of course it wasn't written by Robin and Rainger, and maybe that was the reason, they didn't want their music competing with an established tune.

Even with world war once again breaking out in Europe, Africa, and Asia, audiences still loved this escapist stuff. Films like this are what made Betty Grable the GIs number one pin-up girl. This is what the GIs loved as Robert Strauss from Stalag 17 would so testify. After all, Animal did say he saw all her films on multiple occasions.

If he did, he was well pleased with Moon Over Miami.

Of course these Fox musicals of the 40's were flimsy. They were meant to be. They were what they were and MOON OVER Miami is one of the better Betty Grable flicks. Great color, location work, acting and especially the singing and dancing. Grable has been criticized for her singing and dancing. WHY? She was brilliant. Nice acting style for movies of this sort, wonderful voice and her dancing is up there with the best of them, Ginger Rogers, Judy Garland, and the rest of them. Have the Grable collection and they are all enjoyable but Fox needs to put the rest of her movies on DVD, especially MOTHER WORE TIGHTS, WABASH AVENUE; CONEY ISLAND and SPRINGTIME IN THE ROCKIES as well as BILLY ROSE'S HORSESHOE REVIEW. The plot of MOON is similar to THREE LITTLE GIRLS IN BLUE and the wonderful HOW TO MARRY A MILLIONAIRE. Yes, they CERTAINLY don't make em' like this anymore.

I have to agree with one of the people who posted, that 20th Century Fox musicals are overlooked due to the expensive, soft-toned family musicals of MGM. It's a shame, because there was nothing more fun than a Fox musical and the Fox cover pallet.

In this film, Betty Grable and Carole Landis play sisters, who with their aunt, work at a Texas diner when they learn they've inherited money. It doesn't come out to a lot, but the gals take off for Florida so that Kay (Grable) can find a millionaire husband. Her sister Barbara (Landis) poses as her secretary.

Before long, pretty Kay has a couple of men on her dance card - Phil McNeil (Don Ameche) and Jeffrey Boulton II (Robert Cummings).

As others have mentioned, the costumes are exceptionally beautiful, and the movie was shot all over Florida, accounting for some beautiful scenery. The songs are tuneful, and the film is highly entertaining.

It's such a talented cast - Fox gets a bad rap for its lightweight film stars, but they were some of the most popular stars in films, particularly Betty Grable, who was probably THE most popular for a time. Landis is beautiful and delightful, and Charlotte Greenwood is very funny.

This was a good film for Cummings, who was always excellent in comedy, and the smooth Ameche, whose light tenor is put to good use here.

One thing about Fox musicals, they were always fun, feel-good movies. Perfect for times like these.

MGM is always the studio that film historians gush about for turning out great musicals. Unfairly snubbed is 20th Century Fox that used the richest, most brilliant color composition in the rainbow for its unforgettable string of Technicolor sundae delights starring Bette Grable. "Moon Over Miami" begins with the bouncy, adorable Texas Tommy Hamburger Drive-in sequence where Grable and Carole Landis show off their figures and talents. Quickly, the action shifts to a long gone Miami of l940 where people actually dressed up in stunning gowns and frocks by Travis Banton. Grable is unusually great looking in her gray ensemble trimmed in fur and she and Landis and Charlotte Greenwood prance around to "Oh, Me, Oh Mi-Ami!" Other fantastic numbers follow, showcasing Grable at her verviest--like her tap dance routine to "You Started Something," then onto "I've Got You All to Myself" and maybe the best, "Conga to a Nursery Rhyme." Banton's costumes, shimmering photography by Leroy Shamroy, electrifying charisma of Grable and the very hunky Don Ameche (who surprises with an outstanding singing vocie), all help make "Moon Over Miami" a sheer delight. Also, dig the decor of the fancy hotel suites, night clubs, the mansions.

Here I go again raving about Grable, but this time her main man is Don Ameche. Beautiful music and scenery, and the comedy of Jack Haley, Charlotte Greenwood, Carole Landis. They were all good actors, and how sad it is to tell about Carole Landis' suicide. And, also Robert Cummings plays as a comedian in this; something I didn't remember him ever doing because he was usually a good dramatic actor. I lived in Ft Lauderdale between 1943 and 1946 and went to U of M in Coral Gables. I spent much time on Flagler Ave and the beach at night under that big beautiful moon over Miami.

Having just been to Miami for the first time in my life, I finally decided to check out this Betty Grable musical from 20th Century-Fox that took place and was partly filmed there after having taped it from AMC 10 years ago. The flimsy plot about gold diggers is a bit longish but many entertaining musical numbers and some humor does put it over on me quite smoothly. Certainly the cast, which includes Robert Cummings, Don Ameche, Carole Landis, Charlotte Greenwood, Jack Haley, and especially Ms. Grable are very charming here with wonderful Technicolor photography and melodically tuneful songs by Ralph Ranger and Leo Robin. In short, Moon Over Miami was just an entertaining piece of fluff that went over well for audiences that survived the Depression and was just about to enter World War II...

This story starts out with Betty Grable,(Kathryn Latimer), Carole Landis, (Barbara Latimer),"I Wake Up Screaming" working in a Texas curb service hamburger joint with their aunt Sue Latimer,(Charlottle Greenwood) as the cook in the kitchen. They receive a letter telling them they have inherited $55,000. dollars, but after taxes they receive only $4,000. dollars and decide they had enough of their jobs in Texas and Kathryn wants to go to Miami, Florida and find some very rich men. When they all arrive in Miami, they meet up with Jeffrey Boulton,(Robert Cummings) who is a very wealthy man and takes a great liking for Kathryn. However, Kathryn also becomes very interested in Phil O'Neil, (Don Ameche) There is plenty of musical singing and great dancing and the photography in Silver Springs, Florida and other places in Florida are outstanding. Carole Landis looked very young and very charming in her role and Betty Grable proved she was the Pin UP Girl of the 1940's and the wife of Harry James, the trumpet player.

Remake of 1938's "Three Blind Mice", its hoary plot reworked several times since, has two waitressing sisters and their wiseacre aunt taking a $4000 inheritance all the way to Miami where they plan to land rich husbands. Jovial, breezy, tuneful film is a bit short-changed on male charisma (the original had Joel McCrea and David Niven--here we get Bob Cummings and Don Ameche, hardly a fair trade-off!). Still, Betty Grable is perky, Carole Landis is subdued and lovely, and Charlotte Greenwood is a stitch as Aunt Susan (she's like Ray Bolger in drag--and her pairing with bellhop Jack Haley is certainly the oddest in the film). The songs are good (as long as Ameche isn't singing them) and the photography and intermittent location shooting are colorful. Predictable but cozy, plus there's a wonderfully flamboyant xylophone player, and Grable has a sensational dancing sequence at her engagement party. Lots of fun! *** from ****

One of my favorite Betty Grable films! Beautiful scenery, beautiful songs and excellent choreography! Betty's costumes were really stunning and I wonder if the studio used a different designer for this film. It's all about losing out on an inheritance for the two Latimer sisters and their Aunt Susan because of taxes, so the three take off for Miami so Betty can find a millionaire husband. As usual, Betty doesn't have any trouble finding a man and that is when all the fun starts. They have a great time and so will you when you watch this film.

Moon Over Miami (MOM) was an early entry in the Betty Grable 20th Century Fox Technicolor canon--released right after her breakout role in Down Argentine Way. Grable was then made up in a somewhat soft and more natural way (as compared to her almost plastic-like appearance in some of the later films in this series), and her Kewpie doll wholesome loveliness did occasionally need some discreet lighting to help mitigate the distraction of her tiny double chin. But who is complaining? She was pert, charming and simply adorable!

Ignore the timeworn plot involving two broke sisters looking for rich husbands in a fabulous romantic setting. Look instead at the dazzling color, spectacular sets and costumes, great musical numbers and the unique opportunity to take in the visual glory of Miami Beach at that wonderful time just before WWII.

The tragic Carole Landis shines as the other sister. What a loss it is to us that she died so young. Charlotte Greenwood and Jack Haley were acquired tastes as performers. Let's just say that their appearances here did not detract from the joys of this entertaining film.

Don Ameche plays his amiable low key romantic role very nicely. And he gave us the rare opportunity to hear him sing--in a lovely tenor voice, it should be added. As for Robert Cummings, he has appeared in a few significant movies over the years--see e.g. Saboteur, King's Row and Dial M for Murder. However, it must be said that Cummings was not the reason that those films were significant. Here, he plays the second male lead and fits in just fine.

There are two other notable moments in MOM that are worthy of mention. One is the specialty dancing appearance of the highly talented yet little-known Condos Brothers. They were remarkable! And the other is the rare on-camera appearance of Fred Astaire's choreographer-collaborator Hermès Pan in a splendid dance number with Grable. The physical resemblance of Pan to Astaire is downright astonishing!

However, MOM belongs to Betty Grable. She seldom--if ever--looked better than she did here. Betty had a rare beauty that went beyond cute but didn't quite reach glamor and was never threatening or off-putting. If only every girl next door looked like Betty!

This is a most enjoyable piece of 1940s escapism!

While MGM is remembered as the `studio for musicals,' it should be remembered that most MGM musicals prior to `The Wizard of OZ' were pretty horrible. Even after `OZ' (a flop in its first release), MGM cranked out its musicals on the cheap, usually in Black and White, until about 1944, when upstart Samuel Goldwyn studios started cranking out the Technicolor Danny Kaye's that MGM relented and began producing good, sometimes great color musicals. While Columbia, Paramount, Warner Bros and (especially) RKO regularly made wonderful musicals, until 1944, only 20th Century-Fox almost always made them in Technicolor. `Moon Over Miami' is one of these, and its pluses and minuses pretty much parallel those of the other Fox musicals.

Let's start with the minuses, since there are far more of them. The plot, even for a musical, is pretty shopworn and threadbare (of course, this didn't stop Fox from using it again several times). Two sisters (Betty Grable, Carole Landis) and their aunt (Charlotte Greenwood) head to Miami with the goal of using their small inheritance to trap a millionaire husband for Grable. Landis poses as Grable's secretary and Greenwood as Grable's maid. Once settled into luxury resort, Grable maneuvers herself into courtships with not one, but two, millionaires (Robert Cummings and Don Ameche). Cummings is silly, as usual; Ameche struggles the best he can with a unbelievable role. For example, upon first meeting Grable, Ameche (apparently suffering from a hangover and lack of sleep), shows no interest in Grable, and is surly and insulting to boot. A nanosecond later, Ameche, wide awake and clear head, is dancing with Grable, singing a laughingly terrible love song. In fact, all the songs in `Moon Over Miami' are terrible. That this film is over 60 years old is no excuse. Even some musicals with no good songs at least had good dancing. The dancing on display in `Moon Over Miami' is stagey. While beautiful, Landis lacks the charm and animation to carry her pivotal role as Grable's sister.

Now the pluses. Even playing her stock character, Charlotte Greenwood is always fun. As a dancer, she had one trick: kicking her legs nearly to her shoulder, SIDEWAYS. That never ceases to amaze me. The costumes and location scenery are gorgeous as is the Technicolor. Nevertheless, the best thing about a Betty Grable musical has ALWAYS been Betty Grable. Grable was for the `big' boys what Shirley Temple was for the `little boys'. More than any other actress of her generation, Grable could be pretty, spunky, charming, sensuous, wholesome, sexy AND accessible (i.e., the `girl next door'). While lacking the singing or dancing talents of Betty Hutton, Judy Garland or Ginger Rogers, Grable also lacked Hutton's bombast, Garland's neurosis and Rogers' cynicism. I endured this movie, successfully fighting every urge to `fast forward' just to watch Betty Grable.

I recommend this movie to the following types of people, only:

o Older couples who stubbornly believe `They don't make ‘em like THAT anymore.' o Younger people who've never seen Technicolor except in "The Wizard of OZ." o Present or potential fans of Betty Grable; I hope there will be a growing number of the latter.

This wonderful movie is filled with great songs and dance numbers featuring Betty Grable at her absolute best. She dances and sings beautifully...and after watching this movie (I've seen it at least 50 times) I can never stop singing "You Started Something". Both Don Ameche and Robert Cummings are also perfectly cast in their light romantic and debonair roles. As stand-outs though you can't compete with Charlotte Greenwood (who could lift her legs higher than anyone from her generation) and Jack Haley who's comic mugging for the camera never fails to make me laugh. The movies colors and gowns are everything you could want and then some of a great Hollywood Musical. The sets, too, are the stuff Hollywood Dreams are made of...the height of chic. I love watching this movie with Spring Time in the Rockies and Down Argentine Way for a full on Betty Grable Musical Film Fest.

One of Betty Grable's best films, this romantic romp yanks two single sisters and their aunt out of Texas and plops them in Miami blissfully conspiring to get the girls married off to rich men. Along come sappy playboys Don Ameche and Robert Cummings, and the deceptions and misconceptions are set loose between production numbers around the hotel pool. The title song is unfortunately only heard as dance music without lyrics. It is lovelier than the other numbers, which support the dance sequences. "Solitary Seminole," embarrassing Native American stereotypes notwithstanding, features the talents not only of Grable but Frank and Harry Condos. This is escapist entertainment at its best, and foretells Betty Grable's role to come as the favorite "pin-up girl" of World War II. Sexy gowns and dance moves show off Grable's assets effectively, especially those million-dollar legs. It's easy to see why the GIs loved her. "Oh Me, Oh Mi Ami" and "You Started Something" are cute, and "Kindergarten Congo" provides plenty of laughs. Watching the incredible Charlotte Greenwood, as the aunt posing as the sisters' maid, throw her legs up to impossible heights is a scream, as she sings "Is That Good?" with Jack Haley (the Tin Man in "The Wizard of Oz"). --Musicals on the Silver Screen, 2013

If the plot of Moon Over Miami sounds very familiar, it was a remake of Loretta Young's 1938 film Three Blind Mice, which was also remade as Three Little Girls in Blue in 1947. Then, in 1953, elements of Three Blind Mice and the Joan Blondell 1932 comedy The Greeks Had a Word for Them were combined for the Betty Grable and Marilyn Monroe film How to Marry a Millionaire. The film is pleasantly packaged, but the script is too clichéd. If you are content to be dazzled by Betty Grable's and Carole Landis' beauty, then you might find the film a pleasant way to spend an evening. Moon Over Miami is a rather weak movie musical, and, in most instances, the songs are not particularly memorable or plot relevant. It is merely escapist entertainment.

This movie is fun because there's Betty Grable,And Robert Cummings, and Don Ameche. What's amazing is that this big party goes non-stop, with music in the background non-stop, reflecting how esteemed a place Miami was back in 1940, for the idle rich or the psuedo-rich!This is nostalgia at it's zenith. It makes you want to party non-stop around the pool, and not have to work for a living like the rest of these people(so it would seem), until Don Ameche announces that he'll sell refigerators!

Fairly frothy. Forgettable songs don't help much. And the Ameche/Cummings rivalry gets ancient very rapidly. Nice dance routines, though, courtesy of Hermes Pan, especially the ones he's in with Betty G who's a surprisingly good hoofer (guess those famous gams weren't just for eye candy). Give it a C plus.

"Moon Over Miami" is a reworking of "Three Blind Mice" and years later the plot was reworked significantly as "How To Marry a Millionaire" (also starring Betty Grable). The significant difference between "Three Blind Mice" and "Moon Over Miami" is that the latter film has singing and is shot in Technicolor (and is quite lovely because of this).

A family is expecting a large inheritance. When it turns out to be not so large, one of them (Betty Grable) convinces her aunt (Charlotte Greenwood) and sister (Carole Landis) to invest their small windfall in a trip to Miami to hook a rich husband. The plan is to check into a swank resort and have her sister and aunt pose as her secretary and maid respectively. Soon, two guys (Bob Cummings and Don Ameche) are VERY interested in her...VERY. But which to pick? She likes them both and both appear to be loaded.

Despite being very familiar, this film is still enjoyable--perhaps a bit more than the original. But be forewarned--it's pure escapist fun and you can't think too much about the plot or else you'll really dislike Grable and her family (after all, they are liars and fortune-hunters). Well acted and slickly made.

By the way, the Florida locations are a bit of Hollywood escapism. While the film is supposed to be in Miami (and a few exterior shots are of Miami), a lot of the film was filmed at Cypress Gardens (now Legoland--and 3 1/2 hours away) and around Ocala (4 hours away). Back in the day, such trips would have taken MUCH longer in the age before superhighways.

In the days before regular air travel, people didn't go to Disney World every year - or much of anywhere, unless they had a lot of money. Two weeks in the mountains or the nearby seashore was about it. That's one reason why movie "escapism" was once so popular, with the films of Betty Grable, Alice Faye, and Esther Williams often set in scenic or exotic locales. A picture like this was like a mini-vacation, with humor, music, and colorful locations, not to mention lovely fashions for the ladies in the audience to enjoy.

The costumes here are by the great Travis Banton, late of Paramount Pictures and the man who clothed Dietrich, Lombard, Mae West, Sylvia Sidney and Claudette Colbert in many of those shimmery flicks of the 30's. He only worked at Fox for two years, by the way.

If you listen to the music in this picture you may notice that it doesn't have a hot swing sound but more of the "sweet" swing flavor of such bands as Ozzie Nelson, or Guy Lombardo and his Royal Canadians. It seems to go with the millionaires-yachts-nightclubs atmosphere.

The songs are good and all the cast performs them, including Bob Cummings, who didn't usually sing in pictures. "You Started Something" is a catchy little number and is repeated a few times to great effect. The dance number set to this tune, performed by Grable and a brother dance team is a highlight.

Many of the Fox musicals were so light on plot that I find myself bored despite the musical numbers that interrupt the story often. What saves most of them is the humor. Down Argentine Way is a good comedy as well as a musical, for example. This one has some cute comedy but for my money there's a bit too much romance, of the sort that probably appealed most to the teenage girl fans. Anyhow it's well-produced, solid entertainment, with first class production values.

It is a stretch to give "Moon Over Miami" six stars. For such a simple plot, the screenplay is very weak. It's continuity, jumps and holes make it seem like a bunch of skits or scenes that were just tossed together. The movie was adapted from a play, and it unfortunately has the feel of a play. Those type of breaks are part of the world of live stage and are okay with audiences. But not when a story is in a continuously running film.

While the cast has very familiar faces and popular stars of the day, none of them are among those actors noted for their singing. They are just fair with the forgettable songs they have to sing. And, they are forgettable, with the exception of the theme song, "Moon Over Miami."

Betty Grable and Carole Landis are just okay in their roles as Kay and Barbara Latimer. Robert Cummings seems wooden as Jeffrey Bolton much of the time, and Don Ameche seems aloof to the point of being bored playing Phil O'Neil. Walter Lang must have been asleep in his director's chair when what passes as the scenes of Kay and Phil in love. They show about as much feeling about being in love as a couple of wet noodles. There's just no chemistry there. This is clearly a lesser product in the portfolios of all of these actors.

In spite of all of its many weaknesses and shortcomings', this film was a little fun to watch recently. It's colorful scenes in the Florida Cypress Gardens are very nice. But what gives this movie its badly needed boost are the roles of two supporting cast members - Charlotte Greenwood and Jack Haley. They provided the only real comedy - and all of it after the first five minutes of the film. So, without them this would not have been a musical comedy, or a comedy musical. Jack Haley was an all-around entertainer - actor, singer, dancer and comedian who performed on stage and in films. He never achieved stardom, but may be remembered long beyond all but the most prominent and long-lived actors. Just for his role as Tin Man in "the Wizard of Oz" of 1939.

If one happens to come across this film playing on TV, it might be fun to watch. But, this is one of those films that really can be labeled fluff and not worth paying more than a dollar or two to watch. But perhaps I'm a little too harsh, as someone who enjoys great musicals, talents, and performances.

This is one of my favorite movies, with the singing and dancing of one of my favorites, Charlotte Greenwood, and the Nicholas Brothers, also favorites of mine. The story is light and fluffy, and that's why I like watching movies; I want to be entertained, not so much to think!

It's a little zany with the bellman and the plot to snare a rich hubby, and the sister posing as the secretary really in love with the rich guy, and the sister who's supposed to marry the rich guy really loving the ne'er do well friend. This story has a happy ending, just the way I like it!

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Kay Latimer (Betty Grable), sister Barbara Latimer (Carole Landis), and aunt Susan Latimer (Charlotte Greenwood) are all working at a Texas roadside diner. Kay is tired of being poor and insists on marrying a millionaire who grow on trees in Miami. Aunt Susan pretends to be the maid and Barbara pretends to be Kay's secretary. Jeffrey Bolton (Robert Cummings) has been holding lavish parties at the hotel. Jack O'Hara (Jack Haley) is a hotel bartender. Phil O'Neil (Don Ameche) is a playboy.

It is gold-digging. It's 50's style. It's an old style escapist musical. It is fine for a rainy Sunday afternoon. Grable and Landis are beautiful ladies, but I'm not sold on these characters. Barbara is perfectly nice but Kay is another matter. I actually find the opening song at the diner rather fun. It is interesting to see an old time Florida white bread resort setup. This is fine.

Oof, those were some lackluster songs in this musical. It's like they decided, in 1941, to turn back the clock to pre-jazz age music hall shlock. The big dance numbers were stiffly staged and look chintzy, a sense which is only enhanced by the garish technicolor splash. Betty G is the highlight, and the sole reason for a 4th star in my rating. The stars Don Ameche and Robert Cummings have no business in a musical. I am embarrassed for both of them, seeing this today. Shoot, even Charlotte Greenwood barely kicks above her head even once. Oh yeah, this is embarrassing for Jack Haley too. It's not fair to say that MGM sucked up all the major talent for making musicals, but seeing this failed effort by 20th Century Fox, I have to wonder.

Moon Over Miami is one of the best Fox musicals of the 1940s! The plot is simple - two beautiful (but broke) sisters go to Miami in search of rich husbands. They pretend to be rich so the men don't suspect they are gold diggers. Betty Grable and Carole Landis play the sisters and they both give fabulous performances. Charlotte Greenwood, Jack Haley, Don Ameche, Robert Cummings, and Cobina Wright round out the talented cast. The songs in Moon Over Miami are fun and catchy - You Started Something, Kindergarten Conga, What Can I Do For You. The costumes are gorgeous and the cast looks amazing filmed in Technicolor. Carole Landis was without a doubt one of the most beautiful women of the 1940s!! Moon Over Miami is one of my favorite movies and everyone who loves musicals should enjoy it.

Betty Grable, sister Carole Landis and aunt Charlotte Greenwood inherit almost $80,000. After taxes and lawyers' fees, this works out to less than $5,000, so they go to Miami to pick a millionaire for Miss Grable, with Miss Landis as her secretary and Miss Greenwood as her maid. Soon they settle on either Don Ameche or Robert Cummings, but the choice turns out not to be that simple.

This musical remake of 1938's THREE BLIND MICE is distinguished by some nice dance numbers -- in Miss Grable's big dance, she's paired with Hermes Pan -- and of course the blinding Fox Technicolor; the location shots look like they were done at high noon. The story, of course, was a standard of the era, and despite a fairly undistinguished score, it's carried off with the usual bravura of Miss Grable's vehicles.

This movie is the pure essence of the idea 'movies the way they used to be made'. I honestly can't find any fault with this movie.......the plot, music, scenery, acting......all perfect! I'm so glad that it finally came out on DVD. Thank goodness we have great movies like this to watch instead of the incredible garbage that is out there today. This is Hollywood at its finest......and the vivid technicolor photography makes you feel like you're in 1940 Miami. Don Ameche gives a fabulous performance and Betty Grable's dance numbers are wonderful. This is a must-have DVD.....for anyone who enjoys class, style, great acting and wonderful music! This is absolutely among my favorite musicals along with Easter Parade and Holiday Inn.