Customer Reviews

Footlight Serenade [VHS]

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Very authentic backstage feel about this showbiz story of two young chorines, Grable and Jane Wyman, trying to reach the big time. Story concerns show-off boxing champ, Victor Mature who is about to star in his own show on Broadway.Grable gets work as a chorus girl. Mature takes a shine to her, but she is already in love with John Payne. Complicated? A little, but it all works out in the end. This b/w musical was just crying out for Technicolor. And studio head Zanuck vowed, on viewing the rushes, that Grable would only be featured in Technicolor in future, even though it added a third to the production costs. Thus she became the first-ever star to have a "colour clause" in her contract. Great musical numbers with Grable partnered by Hermes Pan. And her solo, 'I Heard the Birdies Sing' in which she boxes with her shadow is - if you'll pardon the expression - a knockout! Trivia note: In one scene, a despondent Grable asks Jane Wyman if she would ever become a star. Consulting the cards, Jane replies: "You have as much chance of that as I have of being first lady." ... which is what Miss Wyman would have become had she stayed married to Ronald Reagan! Phil Silvers is very good in an early comedy role.

Boxer Victor Mature lands a role in a Broadway play and quickly makes a move on dancer Betty Grable, who is secretly married to another of the actors. John Payne plays the elusive husband, and he isn't content with watching his wife be fawned over. As fate would have it, the play calls for both the lead male characters - as played by Payne and Mature - to get into a rousing brawl...The cinematography by Lee Garmes is striking, but the score is unfortunately a bit lacklustre. The supporting cast is terrific, though: Jane Wyman, James Gleason, Phil Silvers, June Lang and Irving Bacon. The 7 songs include such classics (just kidding!) as ARE YOU KIDDING? - no pun intended - LIVING HIGH & I'M STEPPING OUT WITH A MEMORY TONIGHT. The latter actually made a minor dent on the Hit Parade back in 1942.

This movie was not redone in technicolor. The Black and white takes some time to get used to.