On the Town

Movie Review: On the Town

Year of Release: 1949
Country of Origin: USA
Directors: Stanley Donen, Gene Kelly
Cast: Gene Kelly, Frank Sinatra, Betty Garrett, Ann Miller

Plot outline: Three sailors have 24 hours to meet girls and see sights of New York City (IMDb).

Instead of getting bogged down in a tired plot, stars Gene Kelly and Frank Sinatra more or less roam free, chasing girls and having a ball. It’s a fun, airy movie strung together by more than a few memorable song and dance numbers. Betty Garrett, Ann Miller and Vera-Ellen all work well as the sailors’ love interests, with Vera-Ellen the weakest of the three and Betty Garrett the best, turning in a fine comedy performance in addition to her singing and dancing. All the girls bring a good amount of charm and match the movie’s easygoing tone. Aside from MGM’s ever-present typecasting of Sinatra as a naive boy next door type that handicaps his natural charm, On the Town doesn’t have many faults. Sure, as a song-and-dance musical comedy, the genre itself doesn’t allow for much depth, and while you may remember a routine or two, the movie’s story really doesn’t stick with you. But really, is it meant to? Before there were summer blockbusters, this was the popcorn staple; a breezy 98 minutes to sit back and enjoy, no thought required. While, sadly, this was Kelly and Sinatra’s final team up, they certainly went out on a high note. (FML)

My judgement: **1/2 out of 4 stars