Steineded
How sad is this?
Comwayon
A Disappointing Continuation
filippaberry84
I think this is a new genre that they're all sort of working their way through it and haven't got all the kinks worked out yet but it's a genre that works for me.
Edwin
The storyline feels a little thin and moth-eaten in parts but this sequel is plenty of fun.
atlasmb
Jane Powell and Gordon MacRae, supported by Gene Nelson and Jack E. Leonard, are the stars that carry this musical comedy. Powell displays real beauty (accented by some sharp fashions) while singing and dancing up a storm. MacRae's voice may be the best part of this film.Jack E. Leonard appears in his first film. A stand-up comic better known for his appearances on television variety shows like "The Mike Douglas Show" or "The Merv Griffin Show", Leonard displays great energy and a surprising lightness on his feet.The film is about the evolution of a stage musical that is backed by some sailors (and later, some marines). It starts off as a dog, but eventually becomes a hit. The film takes a similar path; it is only in the final act that "Three Sailors" feels like a solid piece of entertainment.Look for Merv Griffin himself as a sailor. Burt Lancaster contributes a comic cameo.As musical comedies go, this film is a lightweight, but it has moments that are entertaining.
wes-connors
An American submarine docks for shore leave in New York City. The sailors decide to invest their money in a Broadway musical, instead of spending it on women. The presence of Jack Larson and Merv Griffin among the sailors somehow makes this seem more plausible. The "Three Sailors…" of the title are singer Gordon MacRae (as "Choirboy" Jones), dancer Gene Nelson (as "Twitch"), and rotund comedian Jack E. Leonard (as "Porky"). They meet promising musical comedy star Jane Powell (as Penny Weston), "…and a Girl" completes the title. She wears some sexy costumes, to show off her hourglass figure. Also watch for the service station dance solo from Mr. Nelson.**** Three Sailors and a Girl (11/23/53) Roy Del Ruth ~ Jane Powell, Gordon MacRae, Gene Nelson, Jack E. Leonard
bkoganbing
Warner Brothers musical Three Sailors And A Girl is based, very loosely based I might add on the George S. Kaufman play The Butter And Egg Man that ran on Broadway during the Twenties. It was one of Kaufman's earliest successes and one he did without a collaborator, unusual for him. It was the Navy participation in this film that was original.Otherwise the plot has some down and out producer suckering a country yokel out of a lot of money to produce his show. In the film, the yokel is a sailor played by Gordon MacRae with a stern sense of morality, rather unusual for someone in the Navy. The crew has been on active duty for almost a year and their back pay which they've been unable to spend amounts to a considerable nest egg. While on Wall Street looking for an investment, MacRae, Gene Nelson, and Jack E. Leonard run into producer Sam Levene and he gets the boys to invest in his show. And the attraction is leading lady Jane Powell who falls for Gordon big time.No big hits come from the score written by Sammy Fain and Sammy Cahn, but the numbers are serviceable to the plot. MacRae and Powell make a good team musically, too bad they were at different studios and didn't do more films together, Powell was on loan from MGM. Gene Nelson was as always great in the dance numbers, I've said it before on other of his films I've reviewed, he came along ten years too late, what a really big dancing star he would have been.Jack E. Leonard was an early version of Don Rickles. I remember seeing him many times on the Ed Sullivan Show as a kid. His character was interesting, but too bad we didn't get one of his insult monologues for which he was so famous.Part of the plot involves MacRae taking over the show and making a holy hash of it and Jane Powell calling in George Abbott, Ira Gershwin, and Moss Hart to contribute their talents to save the show. The real people weren't in Three Sailors And A Girl, just actors playing them. But as the show originated with George S. Kaufman, had all these people put their talents into this film for real, we might have seen a real classic unfold.The mind boggles at the possibility.
w22nuschler
This is a movie I had never seen until tonight and I loved it. Jane Powell is on loan from MGM in this Warner Brother comedy musical. This was the first time we get a great look at Jane Powell's beautiful figure. Gordon Macrae, Gene Nelson & Jack E. Leonard play the sailors on leave that try to help her out. The story starts out with Jane and her lame manager trying to get her a job. She does a song and dance that does not impress. Her manager removes the bottom of her dress and we get to see her beautiful legs in a short red dress. He throws them out. The sailors see her as she leaves and they like what they see. The sailors have fifty thousand to invest and her manager wants them to invest in her career. Gordon falls for Jane when she sings a song on the way to an audition. She sings a wonderful song with Gordon Macrae. I think it's called "When It's Love". The next day Jane rehearses wearing a very sexy and short blue dress. Later she gets really sexy during a scene on stage. She does a scene with Jack E. Leonard. Jane has on a white fur coat and quickly removes it to reveal a sexy black sequined swimsuit. She looks so sexy in that outfit and she has a perfect pair of legs! Soon they all find out the show they are backing is not good at all. Gordon buys the show and Jane's contract. She does a sexy number in another sequined bathing suit. He gets his buddies and the army guys to chip in. They go around looking for producers and tell them to help them because the services are backing the show. Next she performs for the producers in a white bathing suit outfit. Gordon gets a little big headed because he is running the show, but Jane sets him straight. They end up in trouble and sell the show to her manager who started all the trouble. I found this film on the WB shop site. It was a really nice surprise and a really good film. Jane Powell really show sex appeal here and I'm bit sure why she was not used in these kind of roles more often.