For MGM, this was a sadly deficient movie "biography" (Bwahahahaha) of the Richard Rogers/Lorenz Hart writing team. I don't mind so much that it was totally dishonest - that's the way things were done back then and had to be done. And usually the stories don't matter in these things - but this one was totally distracting.
The script was poor, the acting not much better, and there was little continuity. Just words (most of which never happened) which meant little between scenes from Broadway shows.
The Rogers and Hart Music selected for inclusion was fine, and the Slaughter on Tenth Avenue jazz ballet scene choreographed by, and featuring Gene Kelly was movie making at its best. But while he has his moments on the screen in some movies, Mickey Rooney playing Hart was not one of them. The rest of the featured cast was mostly the MGM "B" team - Tom Drake, Perry Como, Cyd Charisse and Ann Southern.
Even the superstars added to make this look good, were pretty much limited to the aforementioned Kelly, Judy Garland who sang 2 songs, June Allyson (who sang one song) and the amazing Lena Horne. The rest of the "playing themselves" group were has beens or never to bees.
6 for the songs. And 3 more for Slaughter on Tenth Avenue. Take away 2 for the "story" and 1 for the totally miscast Mickey Rooney.
6/10 Norm
The script was poor, the acting not much better, and there was little continuity. Just words (most of which never happened) which meant little between scenes from Broadway shows.
The Rogers and Hart Music selected for inclusion was fine, and the Slaughter on Tenth Avenue jazz ballet scene choreographed by, and featuring Gene Kelly was movie making at its best. But while he has his moments on the screen in some movies, Mickey Rooney playing Hart was not one of them. The rest of the featured cast was mostly the MGM "B" team - Tom Drake, Perry Como, Cyd Charisse and Ann Southern.
Even the superstars added to make this look good, were pretty much limited to the aforementioned Kelly, Judy Garland who sang 2 songs, June Allyson (who sang one song) and the amazing Lena Horne. The rest of the "playing themselves" group were has beens or never to bees.
6 for the songs. And 3 more for Slaughter on Tenth Avenue. Take away 2 for the "story" and 1 for the totally miscast Mickey Rooney.
6/10 Norm