In the Cool, Cool, Cool of the Evening I came across this film quite by accident. I couldn’t believe what I was seeing: Bing Crosby and Jane Wyman in Frank Capra’s musical (the only film in the genre, if I’m not mistaken)! Of course, I could not pass by such a miracle.
Peter Harvey, a correspondent for the Boston Morning Express, now works in Paris as a volunteer at an orphanage. The editor-in-chief is demanding that he travel to the "far east" to report from the "hot spot." But the journalist is not interested.
Close to two children of the orphanage - Bobby and Susie, he decides to adopt them. After months of bureaucratic adventures, he finally seeks permission to adopt them, but then there is a problem - he must marry before the end of the week - then the adoption deadline expires. But his fiancée, Emmy, sent him a letter on the record, where she openly states that she is tired of waiting and will accept the first offer that will be made to her. When Pete arrives in the United States, it is revealed that Emmy is about to marry millionaire Wilbur Stanley. . .
The plot of the film is interesting, although quite banal. The actors do their job well.
Bing Crosby plays the leading role of a journalist. With both vocal and actor side of the role coped perfectly!
Jane Wyman is a great actress and singer, despite the fact that Bing Crosby is paid more attention in the film, she managed not to get lost and soloed with him in the film on equal terms. She sings and dances beautifully.
Alexis Smith - in this film, in terms of the importance of roles, she switched places with Jane Wyman, playing no longer the main role, as in the 1946 musical Night and Day. She plays well, but even despite the presence of some bright moments (a fight with the heroine Wyman, for example), her role is some grayish and uninteresting.
By the way, there is a moment in the film where she makes an attempt to transform from a gray mouse into an elegant lady, but the role of Eliza Doolittle is not for her - yet she is far from Audrey Hepburn. Smith also sings in an episode of the film, but it doesn't matter either.
Francho Thawne - I quite often meet this actor in the roles of millionaires, courting the main characters of the film, but in the end, as a rule, are refused. Among his film partners were Jean Harlow, Joan Crawford, Dinah Durbin, and others. Here he plays a similar role, so there are no complaints against him.
In general, the film is very bright and funny, there are few songs, but they are very memorable, I especially want to highlight the compositions of "Misto Cristofo Columbo" and the song after which the review is named. Frank Capra once again confirmed his reputation as a comedy master of classical Hollywood. The only thing that disappointed a little in the film is the end - too banal and rather strained, but these last 3-4 minutes do not spoil the impressions of the film. To cheer up, the movie is what it takes!
9 out of 10