Customer Reviews

Best Foot Forward [VHS]

5 star:		(13)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

If you like college musicals, you'll love this fast paced MGM piece of fluff. The story is simple, a military college cadet wins a date with Hollywood actress Lucille Ball (In one of many performances where she plays herself) This ill conceived publicity stunt designed to re-start her faltering career, turns into a hilarious disaster when the cadet's girlfriend shows-up the night of the big date. You can imagine the fun that ensues with Lucy hiding out in the cadet's dorm room closet which continues to get more crowed by the minute. The musical numbers are all classic, like Harry James' swing version of "Flight of the Bumble Bee," and the rollicking "Barrelhouse, Boogie, and The Blues," beautifully performed by Nancy Walker, June Allison, and Gloria DeHaven. This was their MGM debut film and they all went on to stardom.

This is one of MGM's better musicals from the forties, it is full of great music, lively dancing and just plain fun and let's face it Lucille Ball is absolutely georgous.

I highly recommend this film!

Best Foot Forward was a successful 1941 Broadway musical and, like Too Many Girls, was bought and adapted to be a vehicle for Lucille Ball. Like Too Many Girls, it's a simple-minded school romp where the innocence of the students and administrators makes today's educational establishments look like Sodom and Gomorra. We're at Winsocki Military Academy and the big prom is almost here. Cadet Bud Hooper (Tommy Dix) had written a fan letter to Hollywood star Lucille Ball asking if she'd be his date. He wasn't expecting she'd agree, but then he didn't know her press agent, Jack O'Reilly (William Gaxton). Seems Lucille's last couple of pictures hadn't done too well so he convinces her it would be great publicity for her to go to the prom. Bud is floored. His two roommates, Dutch (Kenny Bowers) and "Hunk" (Jack Jordan), immediately start making plans to meet her. And then Bud remembers his girl friend, Helen. Well, he tells Helen he's got the grippe, but after Lucille (and all the other cadets' dates) shows up, so does Helen...to keep him company because he's sick. The dance is about to start, Lucille is waiting for Bud...and Bud finds out Helen is on campus looking for him. Now we're in a whirl of misunderstandings, miscues, schemes and subterfuges, all powered by Hugh Martin's and Ralph Blane's songs, by Harry James and His Music Makers swinging at the prom, by broad performances from the cadets and their dates and by relentless enthusiasm and good cheer.

Among the standouts in the movie is Lucille Ball playing herself. Not only is she gorgeous, she handles the comedy with aplomb, which includes making some gentle but sharp fun of herself as a movie star. William Gaxton as her agent is amusing, conniving and does no lasting damage to anyone. The two of them bring polished comic performances to the movie. June Allyson and Nancy Walker recreate their stage roles and do fine jobs. With Gloria DeHaven, they are a smash singing "The Three Bs," with Harry James backing them. That's the Three Bs as in barrelhouse, boogie and the blues. The script is amusing and corny. "Is it true," asks Bud, "that everyone in California sleeps under two blankets?" Answers O'Reilly, "No. How could all those people get under just two blankets?" The young men -- boys, actually -- playing the cadets bring a lot of unabashed enthusiasm to their parts. Somewhere in the crowd is an unbilled Stanley Donen. Kenny Bowers can be funny but the director should have had him tone down the mugging. Tommy Dix comes up to Lucille Ball's shoulders, has a baby face and a kind of eery young-Mickey-Rooney sincerity. He also has a big, polished baritone voice. Dix handles his part well and, at the conclusion, power-sings the big production number, "Buckle Down Winsocki," while all the cadets and their dates march around the field during graduation. You'll enjoy the movie best if you just sit back and not be too critical.

This was Hugh Martin's and Ralph Blane's first score. Except for "Winsocki," none of the songs became well-known. Still, they have style and spirit. "Three Men on a Date," "The Three Bs" and "Ev'ry Time" I thought held up well over more than 60 years. On the strength of this score, Martin and Blane were offered the assignment of writing the songs for Meet Me in St. Louis, and that put them on the map. I don't think they ever topped "The Boy Next Door," "The Trolley Song" and "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas."

If you like college musicals (although I suppose Best Foot Forward is really a prep-school musical), this one has enthusiasm and a fine performance by Lucille Ball. I'd also take a look at Too Many Girls (1940), also with Ball and with an outstanding Rodgers & Hart score, and Good News (1947), with a charming performance, this time as the lead, by June Allyson.

The DVD transfer is just fine. The movie was shot in Technicolor and looks lush and rich. There are a couple of extras. The best is one of the 20-minute shorts dancer Hal LeRoy cranked out during the Thirties. This one is titled The Knight Is Young (1938). It's the story of a tap-dancing sign painter (LeRoy) and the girl he falls for (June Allyson). I wish someone would gather together all of his short features, clean them up and then issue them on one DVD. Hal LeRoy was an immensely talented tapper. He was a gangly, kind of goofy-looking guy with long legs. He was fast with his feet and had a lot of style. At times LeRoy could convince you his knees and ankles were double-jointed.

Lucille Ball, Tommy Dix, Virginia Weidler, June Allyson, and Nancy Walker star in this hilarious and refreshing story of a military school student who invites a famous movie actress to the prom.

Bud Hooper didn't know that his letter would ever be answered...but when Lucille Ball writes back to say she'd be delighted to attend his school's senior prom, he's in shock. He frantically wires his girlfriend, Helen, not to come because he is sick. Guilty and depresed, Bud wishes he'd never thought up this crazy scheme. His two roommates are enthusiastic, however, and convince him that Helen will never know.

Meanwhile, Lucille Ball isn't any happier. Jack, her publicity agent, wants to get her on the front page and thinks this is the way to do it. Lucille is skeptical, especially when she hears that she must hide her identity and go to the prom as Helen, because that was the name Bud turned into the faculty two weeks before.

Trouble escalates when Helen shows up just before the prom, having intended to keep her poor bedridden boyfriend company. Then it's just one laugh after another as Lucille Ball's dress is torn off in a frenzy of "souvenir collecting" started by the fuming Helen. Lucy is then forced to hide in a stuffy closet, while Bud and his friends try to plan an escape.

This is a true gem of a movie, with great songs and hysterically funny lines. My favorite line was probably one spoken by the hopelessly ugly blind date (Nancy Walker): "You can't insult me and get away with it. In fact, you can't insult me."

For those of you who like to know the quality of the DVD transfer, this one is Superb. Picture is clear, not grainy, and is of the highest quality I've seen for a classic film transferred to DVD. This refers to the Amazon Exclusive DVD released in Dec 2006.

Best Foot Forward came to Hollywood on the success of the stage show. It brought much of the original cast to the MGM lot, many to make careers there. This film fits well in movie format even though some scenes belie it's origins.

The story happens in a small town at a military academy. Bud (Tommy Dix) is a senior and a fan of Lucille Ball. He invites her to his prom never imagining that she'd accept his invitation. When she does so for the publicity, he has to dump his girlfriend Helen (Virginia Weidler) in order to take Lucille. However, Helen gets wise to his antics and contemplates crashing the prom to get back her boyfriend.

As a musical based on a stage show, there are many other notable characters. Nancy Walker plays a frumpy blind date with plenty of personality but very few beaus. June Allyson makes her first film appearance as a singer who loves frantic dancing. Gloria deHaven is right alongside her as a singer who loves the blues.

The music is very good; none of the numbers are dull. None of the music is so catchy that you'll find yourself singing it later, but it certainly spices up the film.

I absolutely love this film! The title song Wynsocki always gets my foot to tapping. The Three B's sung by newcomers June Allyson, Gloria DeHaven and Nancy Walker is also a crowd pleaser. Lucille Ball shows her flavor for comedy almost a decade before her beloved television show. She also is quite beautiful and smartly decked out in MGM's gorgeous technicolor. The character actors are imo what makes the film. Look for Donald MacBride, Sara Haden, Nana Bryant, Henry O'Neil and Isabel Randolph. Harry James and his orchestra are in top form as usual. Child star and imo underrated actress Virginia Weidler appears in her last film at the age of 17. Beverly Tyler also has a small role. I don't know if this film can be or should be compared with 1947's Good News. Both are great on their own merit. This film can be enjoyed anytime and am so glad its on dvd. The picture and beautiful color are both flawless and they truly do not make films like this anymore. ENJOY!

I was overjoyed to learn this title was being released on DVD. I only had seen it once on an early VHS tape, and when this DVD was announced I ordered it immediately -- and am not disappointed. The transfer is gorgeous, and the addition of a classic short film and animated short make this title a must buy for any classic cinema buff.

'Best Foot Forward' was originally a Broadway play. MGM brought it and a majority of its cast to make a film version.
Lucille Ball plays herself, in the film. As enjoyable as Lucille Ball was on 'I Love Lucy,' I find, I rather prefer her film roles. 'Best Foot Forward' is no exception. I would have to say it is my favorite film in which Lucy plays herself.
In addition, this film provides us with June Allyson's second feature film (MGM brought her out for 'Best Foot Forward' but delays in filming made 'Girl Crazy' her first). On Broadway Allyson played Minerva but in the film she is credited as Ethel.
Nancy Walker is a hoot and Gloria DeHaven (who was not in the play) rounds out the Three Bs.

As much as I enjoy this film the main reason I'd buy this DVD is because of the Broadway Brevity 'The Knight is Young.' It was the first time I had ever seen June Allyson and I have adored her ever since.

Lucy looks absolutely fabulous in this movie, just like she does in every other movie. She is a brilliant actress, and it shows in this film. Her talent comes shining through. She's very funny at times, especially when her fans rip off her clothes and she slaps a man. She's left there in her underwear, and she constantly has to hide in closets(poor dear!). This is a very good movie, so if you haven't seen it, do yourself a favor and do watch it. If you love Lucy as much much as I do(which I doubt), or even remotely close to how much I do, then watch her shine in Best Foot Forward.

Though she was the Queen of Television in the 1950's, before that she was one of the first Queens of Technicolor. Lucy glows in this movie. Life Magazine even dubbed her Technicolor Tessie. Lucy in her early thirties, at MGM, in Technicolor, doesn't get much better than this. A great movie too, much better than DuBarry Was a Lady that she made right before this one.