“What a Woman,” “Girl Crazy,” “The Cross of Lorraine” (Movie Reviews-12/3/43)

Free Republic University, Department of History presents World War II Plus 70 Years: Seminar and Discussion Forum
First session: September 1, 2009. Last date to add: September 2, 2015.
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Netflix has “Girl Crazy” on DVD.

George, Ira, Judy and Mickey – What could possibly go wrong? “Girl Crazy,” that’s what. Sorry T.S., but I don’t share your good opinion of this feature. This is the standard Rooney-Garland plot wherein boy meets girl and they put on a show, only this time at a men’s college out west where the students dress like cowboys and the show is a rodeo. It looked to me like the stars are getting tired of doing this shtick and it shows in the acting. Even the Gershwin standards sound crass with Tommy Dorsey’s orchestration. Adding ‘40s pop stylings to those older songs doesn’t work and makes one yearn for Fred Astaire. Busby Berkeley staged the grand finale of “I’ve Got Rhythm" and that doesn’t work either. On a historical note there is a small part for Nancy Walker, her second movie role. My generation knew her better as Ida Morgenstern from the Mary Tyler Moore show, and the spin-off, Rhoda. June Allyson also has a bit part and reviewer T.S. conflates the two as June Walker.

“Girl Crazy” original trailer

“The Cross of Lorraine” original trailer

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