Review of Anchors Aweigh (1945) by Bill T — 05 Apr 2010

Gene Kelly was sure one interesting fellow. I say that because all his musicals seem to follow different nationalities. EG, Brigadoon follows the Scottish, An American in Paris, and Anchors Aweigh is awash in a somewhat needless Spanish side story. (The lead actress works in a Spanish restaurant til she gets that audition with that Spanish entertainer that could Make Her Big. Was he the only one in Hollywood? Anyways, I'm getting sidetracked, what this film is mainly about, is Gene Autry and Frank Sinatra as lovestruck sailors bay-BEE! Frank Sinatra laughably plays someone who doesn't know how to get a girl. I mean, if you're wandering around looking like a 1950's Frank Sinatra, how hard can it be? Sinatra follows closely after Kelly, who knows how to pick up girls.. And soon are fighting over one, Kathryn Grayson, who plays, get this, a woman who works as an extra in movies! In one scene, we get to see her as an extra in a crowd scene. All the other extras then, are playing extras! Rather interesting combo there:Extra playing extra in a scene in a movie about a scene in a movie! Oh. As well. She's the aunt to, yes, Dean Stockwell, who was just about the cutest kid actor you ever did see.

The plot is somewhat preposterous, Sinatra's acting is sometimes off, but that's OBVIOUSLY why you're not here! The singing (Especially Sinatra's) is magical, and the dancing (Especially Kelly, though, Surprise! Sinatra is not half bad either).

The only problem I have with this movie actually, is it's gargantuan length. Running at 2 hours, 21 minutes, this movie could have easily have shaved a half hour off. Maybe one or two of the musical numbers (Like, oh, the shame! The needless Gene Kelly / Jerry dancing number or one of the three piano solos happening).