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67 of 68 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
THE 'ABA DABA HONEYMOON' MUSICAL, December 11, 2000
Producer Jack Cummings gives us a nostalgic look at early America with its traditional mannerisms and unique dress in this turn of the century musical. While vacationing in a Catskills resort, Patti (Jane Powell) and her younger sister, Melba, (Debbie Reynolds) are determined to turn their two-week family get-a-way into two weeks with love. Patti sets her eye on a dashing older guest, Ricardo Montalban, while Melba stalks the hotel ownner's son, Carleton Carpenter. Patti believes that if she were only permitted to wear a corset, like the other young women, that her romantic woes would be over. She is reminded by Mama and Papa (delightfully played by Ann Harding and Louis Calhern) that she is only eighteen and that the answer is no. Phyllis Kirk, a fellow vacationer, doesn't help any by spreading word that Patti doesn't wear a corset. She, also, has her sights set on Mr. Montalban. Needless to say, misadventure and comedy abound. Busby Berkeley, renowned for his spectacular choreography and 'people moving', staged all the numbers for this bright period musical set in the early 1900's.The musical sequences are dazzling. They begin with a lilting waltz, the movie's untitled theme, which I call the LOVE WALTZ, conducted by Louis Calhern for his Sunday concert in the park. Jane Powell adds her talent to the concert with a vibrant A HEART THAT'S FREE. At the resort, Debbie Raynolds and Carleton Carpenter entertain the guests with a lively THAT'S HOW I NEED YOU. Jane follows with a robust OCEANA ROLL. Debbie and Carleton next give us the rousing ABA DABA HONEYMOON which gave them a smash-hit record. While rowing on the lake, Mama and Papa, Ricardo and Phyllis, and Jane (alone in her own little boat) sing the romantic BY THE LIGHT OF THE SILVERY MOON. Jane ends up IN the lake. At a resort dance, we hear a beautiful refrain of the LOVE WALTZ. Jane then gets her wish for a corset in an elaborate dream sequence in which she appears in the hotel courtyard with all guests assembled in their finest attire. Jane enters wearing a dazzling corset and a wide brimmed hat accessorized by a shade umbrella over her shoulder. All eyes are on Jane and her beautiful corset, not to mention her beautiful legs, as the crowd sings BEAUTIFUL LADY. She rewards their admiration with the revered Oscar Straus favorite MY HERO as her own hero, Ricardo, waltzes her around the garden. The dream ending and the film drawing to a close, Debbie and Carleton encore with ROW, ROW, ROW in a resort entertainment and Jane and Ricardo follow with a lively Latin dance, FLAMENCO. The music and movie conclude with the haunting LOVE WALTZ. Of all of her movies, this is Jane Powell's favorite. It's one of my favorites, also. The entire cast seems to be having a rousing, good time. I think you will, too.
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