Smile Right Back at the Sun In 1947, Bing Crosby starred in the musical comedy Elliott Nugent, with whom he had previously worked.
Difficult on the character of Dr. McRory (Barry Fitzgerald) to collect after 30 years of work in a local hospital to go on vacation and during his absence at work, he finds a replacement in the person of Jim Pearson (Bing Crosby), however, without having previously studied his candidacy.
He will regret it, and the two doctors will not find a common language. Jim is determined to leave the city after McRory returns, but then meets teacher Trudy Mason and begins to hesitate about his future plans. . .
To say that the plot of the film gives the viewer something new would be a great exaggeration. Essentially, this comedy is a hybrid of two previous Crosby films ("Going Your Way" (1944) and "Blue Heavens" (1946).
Judge for yourself: the hero Binga Crosby comes to a new destination, where the hero Barry Fitzgerald has long established his order - with the only difference that in "Go your way" the conflict seemed religious soil, and here - medical. Both actors play similar roles in both films.
As in the musical Blue Skies (1946), the character of Bing Crosby is a man who is used to not being bound by anything and nowhere to linger for long. He falls in love with a girl who, of course, is difficult to accept this order of life. And, interestingly, in both films, these roles were performed by Joan Caulfield (by the way, during this period (1946-1947) the actress had an affair with Crosby).
But, despite the use of seemingly proven moves, the final result does not seem so convincing. And although the film has enough touching and comic scenes that allow the viewer not to get bored, still some secondary in relation to Crosby's earlier works is felt and does not allow it to be positively treated.
Actor performance, despite not the most inventive script, deserves praise. Bing Crosby, being in his best acting form, skillfully pulls even the flattest plot twists. He fits and Barry Fitzgerald as the antagonist of the main character. Brighter than in his first picture with Crosby, Joan Caulfield plays, creating a quite acceptable image of a provincial teacher.
What the film, however, is not lucky is with, frankly, mediocre musical component, which here devoid some especially memorable songs. About interesting and bright dances, unfortunately, too, can not talk.
So, before us is no more than another passable film with the participation of Bing Crosby, which for obvious reasons became one of the hits of Paramount Pictures studios in 1947, but Few people will be interested today and inferior to his best works in cinema. By viewing this picture can be recommended only to Crosby fans. Thank you very much.
6 out of 10