On the Town (1949)

Wonderful town gets a wonderful movie.

As would be tradition, the story at the core of On the Town isn't anything to sing from the roof tops, but it plays out as one of MGM's most memorable slices of froth. Propelled by talented stars and singers, it's a musical of comedic delights.

Adapted from the successful stage production, charges of being dated and that not all the songs are great, is correct. The dated thing is not always a viable debating tool, but certain stereotype and sexist elements here will ring a little hollow with some folk.

Yet if you can just run with it and accept the era of film making it comes from, then this is mostly a joyous and uplifting picture. So roll with the boys and girls, with the wonderful dances and the wonderful singing, for New York New York, A Wonderful Town. 8/10

That old expression about things not being broken not needing fixing springs to mind with this. Messrs. Sinatra, Kelly (who co-directed) and Munshin don their naval uniforms for a 24 hour pass in the Big Apple. Once there, they fall for a pretty diverse trio of dames - Betty Garrett, Ann Miller and Vera-Allen and with the fabulous musical talents of Green/Comden and Bernstein at the helm, we have the perfect ingredients for a day no-one will ever forget. The plot is pretty straightforward, but the musical numbers notably "New York, New York", "On the Town" and "I Can Cook Too" alongside some perfectly choreographed dance sequences give this adaptation of the 1944 Broadway musical more than a splash of style and class. The whole thing is well paced, the characters (though hardly what you might call "developed") are fun and engaging - especially the really almost "cute" Frank Sinatra - as they (and we) enjoy their whirlwind romantic tour. On the downside, the story could do with being just a smidge more substantial and there are maybe just a little too many sound stage performances that do sterilise the charm just a little, but I'm splitting hairs - it's well worth a watch if you like the broadway musical at it's best.