lakebotany-32808

I really enjoy the Vitaphone Variety shorts and have been trying to find as many as I can to watch. Unfortunately this one isn't the best, it's the weakest entry I've seen thus far.

But it is still worth watching to see June Allyson before she was famous.

The songs and dancing revolve around a ridiculous storyline. June becomes mayor for a day and her goal is to make the city pretty. Her three advisors, suggest putting curls in their hair, getting better clothes, cleaning up the slums and hanging drapes over the city garbage cans.

June also decides that she wants to put a mirror in the mayors office to help 'pretty the city'.

Oddly as the ladies are leaving the office we can see that there already is a floor length mirror in the office.

They're on the way to the train station to meet an Opera singer who will be given the key to the city. And of course it's just a showcase to highlight the singing of Beverly Kirk.

All in all, it was interesting to watch this oddball historical short.

Not as bad as the other reviewers said. Pete's character is totally over the top, played strictly for laughs as is his fiancée's character Gina.

The film is absolutely beautiful to look at, the set decorators outdid themselves. Cindy Sampson's dresses are beautiful. One quibble is that she was 40 when this was filmed, trying to pass for someone in their 30s. They probably should've found someone younger to play the part. And although Addie (Sampson) gushes how attractive Robin Dunne (Sam) is, they don't have any real chemistry. Sam just looks too nerdy to play a heartthrob That said, the character of Pete limits the number of scenes that Addie has with Sam so their lack of chemistry isn't as noticeable.

Watch this movie for the gorgeous Christmas decorations and the zaniness between Addie & Pete. It's also nice to see Eve Crawford again (Mrs. Motley), I remember watching her in Street Legal, a favourite show back in the 90s.

As all Hallmark films, this one has a sweet message about the magic of Christmas.

The Malta setting is breathtaking, just too bad that the acting is so poor. Lacey Chabert who is usually good in Hallmark romances movies is miscast here. Her dancing & acting skills are laughable. Will Kemp is an actual dancer but paired with Lacey they aren't a good fit as dance partners or as pretend detectives. Their sleuthing skills (?!) will have you rolling your eyes, if not switching channels.. The writing & dialogue delivery is unbelievably bad. At the halfway point, I really couldn't care less about the mystery. The only reason I didn't quit watching was because of the beautiful scenery.