My Blue Heaven

I got this as part of a 'boxed set' of Grable films, all delightful in their own way. This one (1950) had a few surprises. As others noted, maybe the censors were tiring of policing every little phrase & hint of sensuality, such that it is clear that Betty & her husband are quite happy as intimate partners and are trying to make a baby. The costumes and dances later in the film are daring for the time period, but quite tame compared to post-2000 flicks (and even the Pre-code stuff before 1933).

The technicolor was a delight and the musical portions were terrific-Dailey was more than equal as a dance partner, but retained a 'goofy husband' look, so we never take Mimi Gaynor's crush on him very seriously. We also see the impact of early TV on the entertainment culture, so-called, as Producers struggled to find talent that could be showcased on the new medium.

The couple suffer setbacks as they try to start a family, and I worried the tale would descend into a teary melodrama. Not so. Just stick with the story. Things turn around quickly, and our beloved couple dance their way to a satisfying conclusion.

8/10.

Popular radio-program duo in New York City, a chummy married couple about to make that transition to television, have troubles adopting a baby. Colorful Betty Grable vehicle weighted down with musical chaos. Granted, "My Blue Heaven" is a 20th Century-Fox musical--and anyone going into it should rightfully expect lots of singing and hoofing--but here the story is far more substantial than the song numbers, which simply get in the way. Screenwriters Claude Binyon and Lamar Trotti, working from S.K. Lauren's story "Stork Don't Bring Babies", tentatively touch upon several topical issues (both satiric and dramatic) which are not explored with any depth. The sudden boom in television (and its impact on radio), the perils of a working mother who leaves her job to be with her child, and the reluctance of adoption agencies to assign babies with those "constantly divorcing" show-biz couples are all products for a satisfying comedy-drama. Grable and Dan Dailey are a lot of fun on the dance-floor, but this glossy product could actually use less pussyfooting around and more narrative heart. It's a feel-good movie, all right, but a picture for its time and not for the ages. **1/2 from ****

Mediocre musical. Kitty and Jack Moran (Betty Grable and Dan Dailey) try to adopt a baby. One complication after another pops up preventing them from doing that. These complications aren't funny--just pretty depressing (for a musical). These are all interspersed with bad music and dance numbers.

This is a pretty bad 1950 musical. The dialogue is terrible and all the songs are completely unmemorable. Also Dailey has a tendency to REALLY overact. But the movie is in bright Technicolor,there is a Halloween number that I enjoyed, the plot is pretty interesting and the dancing is incredible. Also David Wayne, Jane Wyatt and a very young Mitzi Gaynor are good in supporting roles. But Grable saves the picture. She's gorgeous, can sing and dance, has good chemistry with Dailey and holds her own in the dramatic scenes. She's basically the only good thing worth watching here. Aside from her this is a bad musical. I give it a 4.

My Blue Heaven which starred Dan Dailey and Betty Grable are a happy show business couple who started in vaudeville and now are going into that happy new medium television. This was one of the first films that dealt with the phenomenon of television. As Dailey says during the course of the film, right now only Milton Berle and Howdy Doody are in it, the field is wide open.

Dailey and Grable are a happy couple, but they'd even be happier with a child, in fact Betty loses a baby almost at the beginning of the film. Friends and sponsors, David Wayne and Jane Wyatt suggest adopting because three of their six are adopted. The rest of the film is a lighter treatment of the themes from A Penny Serenade. Things go a lot happier for Dailey and Grable than they did for Cary Grant and Irene Dunne.

Because they are a musical performing couple Grable and Dailey get a whole lot of numbers and there's even a few tossed in for Mitzi Gaynor who was doing her second film. What a pity she came along as late as she did, she would have been a Grade A star in the Thirties. Gaynor plays an eager young understudy who'd just as soon Grable stay out on maternity leave.

Other than the title song, there's nothing terribly memorable in the score that Harold Arlen and Ralph Blane wrote for My Blue Heaven. Of course very few songs are as memorable. Until Bing Crosby introduced White Christmas in Holiday Inn, My Blue Heaven was the largest selling song in history with Gene Austin's version topping the charts.

My Blue Heaven is a pleasant enough diversion. Grable and Dailey work well as a team together, you'll enjoy them.

Musicals wasn't my favorite genre but there are so many that offer an sexy appeal like this, Betty Grable was well-known for your fabulous legs and in this she show us in plenty shape, as a dramatic comedy wasn't enough funny, but the story is smart and fully interesting was musicals suggested, David Wayne had a good role and works well as supporting casting, Mitzi Gaynor in your first real debut is always unnoticed, the songs are outdated as well, so remains the great and sexy Betty Grable delivery all that can offer....what a pair of legs!!!

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First watch: 2010 / How many: 2 / Source: DVD / Rating: 7