Are You with It? (1948) User Reviews

Broadway semi-transfer is a little charmer

[eschetic-2 · 7/10 · 12 November 2010]

At only 93 black and white minutes, ARE YOU WITH IT? (released by Universal International - not famous for its musicals - on 20 March 1948) is undoubtedly a minor effort but, considering its provenance, it's a delightful entry well worth a look on a number of levels.

The property started out on Broadway at the New Century Theatre up on Columbus Circle the season after Sigmund Romberg's UP IN CENTRAL PARK (another Universal International film in 1948 with its choreographer recreating the stage dances on film) appropriately opened there and ARE YOU... was a moderate 264 performance hit, playing out the season (11/10/1945 - 4/27/1946) before moving to the more centrally located Shubert Theatre for the final two spring/summer months (4/30/1946 - 6/29/1946) of its run.

The show, centered on the interaction of an insurance executive with circus performers, very nearly didn't happen at all with memories still fresh of the tragic and nationally publicized July 6, 1944 fire (around 168 of the 6,800 people seated under the paraffin coated - for waterproofing - "big top" died) at a performance of the Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus in the insurance capitol, Hartford, Connecticut, but rewrites to remove ARE YOU WITH IT? from the big top to a smaller "carnival" and the presence of such stars as Joan Roberts, Lew Parker and Dolores Gray overcame the untoward connections and allowed the simple fun if the incongruous associations to shine through.

When Universal-International picked the show up, it did the (then) usual Hollywood hack job of "improving" it by replacing most if not all of the original score with pleasant but unmemorable numbers - mostly for the dancing Donald O'Connor in one of his best but most unheralded performances - but retaining the plot and the lead comedian, Lew Parker (who would go on to a major television career as a "second banana" - probably most famously as "Lou Marie," Ann's father on THAT GIRL), as the fast talking shill who ropes the disgraced insurance numbers man (Donald O'Connor, who had misplaced a decimal point in the latest rate calculations) into carnie work and skills he in turn winds up taking back to his insurance company to everyone's benefit.

While the rest of the Broadway cast didn't transfer, the film boasts two excellent leading ladies in Broadway stalwart (PAINT YOUR WAGON) and wife of Edmund O'Brien, Olga San Juan (she would follow up ARE YOU WITH IT the same year with the second female lead in another Broadway transfer, ONE TOUCH OF VENUS - if she'd been at a better studio, she might have had a major musical film career) and Martha Stewart (no, not *that* Martha Stewart, an earlier one) who also needed a better studio to truly shine.

Even with the ersatz score, the legitimate pleasures of ARE YOU WITH IT? in O'Connor's dancing and the clever plot make it a real shame that the movie hasn't followed Universal-International's UP IN CENTRAL PARK and ONE TOUCH OF VENUS into video release. All three deserve good DVD releases to please a new generation of Broadway and film musical fans.

Surpises along the midway.....

[mark.waltz · 5/10 · 13 May 2013]

One of the most obscure Broadway musicals of the 1940's, this is also an extremely rare movie and certainly a rare choice for a transition from stage to screen. It is also, according to the references I've checked out comparing the stage and screen versions, a fairly respectable adaption, with all of its songs (six in the film) actually transfered and nothing new written by different composers. As a film, it is a piece of fluff, albeit enjoyable fluff. The highlights of the film is the camaraderie between Donald O'Connor as the insurance agent who quits his job after an error makes him fear he's on the verge of being fired anyway, and Lew Parker ("That Girl's" daddy) as the carnival barker who befriends him when he really needs a friend.

There are some great production numbers, most notably "Down at Baba's Alley", sung and danced by the limber-footed O'Connor, and the fantasy finale, "I'm Looking for a Prince of a Fella", sung by Olga San Juan with more dancing by O'Connor. In terms of numbers of musical films, O'Connor sang and danced in more than the more legendary Fred Astaire and Gene Kelly although his were on a much smaller scale and budget. As a result, they are less known than Kelly and Astaire's, particularly since MGM was responsible for the most famous of their films and O'Connors were made at the less distinguished Universal and are rarely seen today.

Very pleasant B musical comedy with surprisingly witty dialog

[pacificgroove-315-494931 · 6/10 · 14 April 2017]

As far as I can tell, today in 2017, the only way to watch this very pleasant musical comedy is on YouTube. The image quality of the version there is horrible, obviously sourced from an old worn out videotape. Usually I wouldn't put up with the washed out, ultra-low resolution picture, but found myself watching the whole thing and enjoying it.

The big surprise was the very witty dialog, delivered skillfully by O'Connor and the obscure Lew Parker. Of course Donald shines in several comparatively modest dance numbers (this wasn't MGM after all). But Parker, who looks to be in his late 50's, but according to his IMDb bio was about 41, is a surprisingly agile in vaudeville style dancing. And Parker really scores as a fast talking flim-flam man, delivering comic patter with aplomb.

The songs are well crafted but forgettable. For some reason Olga San Juan, a good vocalist, is given almost no singing to do, and her comic skills are underutilized. The production with it's carnival setting would have benefited from color, but it's in B&W.

A treat for those old enough to have grown up with the 1950's TV show, The Adventures of Superman, Lois Lane aka Noel Nell, is a supporting player in this film. She proves herself to be a capable dancer, charming, charismatic, and very pretty too. Too bad she didn't have more of a film career.

Alone! And In Pittsburgh Yet!

[boblipton · 6/10 · 15 March 2024]

Actuary Donald O'Connor misplaces a decimal point and doesn't get the promotion at the insurance firm. He wanders the parks of Hartford. Lew Parker waylays him and impressed by his ability to predict when slot machines will pay off and how to dance -- all done by mathematics, of course -- he takes him back to Walter Catlett's carnival, where he becomes a hit.

Parker was in the Broadway show, but nothing else. They even used all-new musical numbers, despite some sprightly Harry Revel tunes. The loose and simple plot is an opportunity stage dance numbers choreographed by Louis Da Pron (who plays a dancing bartender in the first number). The movie version's songs aren't much to write home about, but O'Connor's confident hoofing, Parker's fast-talking patter, and the charms of Olga San Juan, Martha Stewart -- not that one! -- and Patricia Dane help to make this a very pleasant musical.

Are You with It? was a pleasant Donald O'Connor musical

[tavm · 6/10 · 27 July 2015]

This is one of the few of Donald O'Connor's Universal movies I managed to watch on YouTube. Never mind the plot of this one since it's mainly his dances that I was most interested in seeing. He dances well with Lew Parker and Louis Da Pron in a bar sequence. Olga San Juan and Martha Stewart (no, not THAT one) also do well in their singing and dancing numbers. Many lines were pretty amusing but there wasn't anything I'd consider hilarious. The carnival atmosphere was nice to look at though I half-wondered why this wasn't shot in Technicolor especially when Donald also danced with a couple of fine-looking ladies in a number that may have been inspired by Arabian Nights. So on that note, Are You with It? is worth a look for any fan of Donald O'Connor.

I'm with it, but this movie's without it

[F Gwynplaine MacIntyre · 3/10 · 14 December 2002]

In the days when travelling carnivals and circuses were common in America, these shows would often pick up temporary employees along their tour routes. The temporaries might be performers, or might be day labourers (roustabouts), or might be entrepreneurs (not always honest ones) selling candy or cheap toys, or running some sort of game (usually a con, such as three-card monte) and hoping to make some money for their own pitches from the rake-off of customers who came to see the circus or carnival. Because people who travelled with the circus or carnival were constantly encountering new people, and couldn't always be certain if the newcomers were carny folk or 'civilians', they developed the habit of asking 'Are you with it?' ... meaning, 'are you part of this travelling show?'. Veteran circus people and carny folk knew what this question meant, but civilians were more likely to reply: 'Am I with WHAT?'. This is why someone who is knowledgeable or avant-garde is described as being 'with it'.

'Are You with It?' is a pleasant low-budget musical with a carnival background and no impressive songs. Donald O'Connor plays a rather stiff young nerd named Milton who has a high I.Q. and is very good at maths (he uses a slide rule while he talks), but who is out of touch with his emotions. He loses his job and falls in with some troupers from a passing carnival, including flashy Vivian (Olga San Juan, cheap and vulgar) and fast-talking carny pitchman Goldie (Lew Parker, giving a deft performance of such skill that I'm amazed he didn't go on to a greater career as a character comedian).

The script forces O'Connor to play a character that's a very poor choice for the protagonist in a musical comedy. About twenty minutes into the movie, some music starts playing and Milton taps one foot idly. Then he breaks into a spirited tap dance, casually explaining that tap dancing is merely a physical application of elementary scientific principles. I didn't like this, me. Donald O'Connor is a brilliant dancer, one of the best who ever performed in films ... so it's utterly implausible that a wonk like Milton (who shows no interest in having a good time) could attain such a level of dancing skill simply by applying his intellect.

'Are You with It?' is enjoyable but hardly memorable. O'Connor's dancing is excellent (as always), and he's in better singing voice here than he was in several of his other (better) musicals. But the songs which he's singing and dancing aren't especially good. George Balzer, who worked on the script, wrote some of Jack Benny's funniest radio and tv material ... but you'd never know it from what's on offer here. Veteran comedian Walter Catlett has almost nothing to do in this movie, and he's easily upstaged by Lew Parker. I'll rate 'Are You with It?' 3 points out of 10: that's one point for Lew Parker's performance, and one point for each of Donald O'Connor's tap-dancing feet.

Bright, fun, musical!!!

[cheshirecat325 · 9/10 · 28 October 2003]

I am a huge Donald O'Connor fan, and own about 33 of the 54 films he made. People tend to critize this film, however, in reality, this movie lived up to all it was supposed to be. This is one of the many 1940s B-musicals Donald did in his career, and I think that these films showcase some of Donald's best work. The story isn't much, and there are few song and dance numbers, but Donald O'Connor's talent and charm can make you forget all about that. Even in a character as different as this one is for him, he manages to still shine on screen. My favorite sequence, is the bar scene where Donald explains dancing using mathematics. It shows his incredible versitility as a dancer as he leaps and taps on every object imaginable. It shows the loveable hoofer doing what he did best. If you are looking for a big splashy MGM size musical this is not for you. However, if you love old musicals that are charming and fun, without big extravagent numbers, this is a great movie to see.

Please check out this forgotten musical comedy gem!

[weezeralfalfa · 9/10 · 19 January 2013]

I've only seen a few musicals including Donald O'Connor, mostly made by studios other than his home studio of Universal. But, I have to say this B&W film is just as entertaining as those glossier films with big name costars, directors and composers. Don and Lew Parker made a fantastic vaudevillian-like team. In the next few years, Don would be teamed with several other multitalented veteran male costars, such as Jimmy Durante and Gene Kelly, with equally entertaining results. Incredibly, this was Lew's only appearance in a Hollywood film! Initially, I thought he must be Ray Bolger, as they look and act much alike. Ray didn't appear in all that many films either, despite his 'scarecrow' fame. Even Louis Da Pron, who served as chief choreographer for probably all of Don's many films at Universal, gets to participate in the tap dancing show-off scene in the bar, with Don and Lew. Don does some pretty impressive dancing on table tops, including one leg on each of two separated tables! His face still had some remnants of his Mickey Rooney-like teenage look. In his '49 film "Yes Sir, That's My Baby", he already had his more distinctive mature look that most people are familiar with....Puerto Rico-derived Ogla San Juan replaces Don's standard song and dance partner and girlfriend, Peggy Ryan, of the years '42-45, who had retired for marriage. In the interim, Don had been cast in only one film, starring veteran songstress Deanna Durban.

Don(as Milton Haskins), a nerdy Harvard business school graduate and numbers-crunching whiz of the Nutmeg Insurance Company, and Lew(as Goldie McGoldrick), a marginal pan-handling employee with the local circus, meet at a city park bench, as both are feeling down and out.Lew suggests that Don invite him for a drink at the local bar. Lew is impressed when Don correctly predicts that the bar slot machine is due to spill the johnpot(er, jackpot) with the next nickel. After an informal tap-dancing show, Lew invites Don to try out for a job at the circus. Well, you can imagine what all Don could do in a circus. True, he was a 'failure' as Lew's planted assistant at the wheel of fortune, winning all the prizes trying to show the customers how easy it was. But, he stars in a number of well-received exotic song and dance numbers with some of the ladies, and later substitutes for some of the jailed specialty performers.Comes across as very Danny Kaye-like, in talent as well as looks. Meanwhile, his former? secretary and fiancé Vivian( a blond Olga) has come looking for him and, having failed to convince him that Nutmeg is willing to overlook his major calculating error, decides to try out the circus as Don's song and dance partner. Martha Sewart, as Bunny, also gets a couple of song and dance numbers, solo or with Don. In the last one, Vivian replaces Bunny half way through and the audience riots when Don pulls her off stage.In their final skit, Vivian sings the excellent catchy "I'm Looking for a Prince of a Fellow". Eventually, 'Super-Knight' Don, a spoof of superman, shows up. After a diversionary dancing fling with an evil enchantress, he slays The Black Knight after a mock sword fight, to win the lady's hand, as they sing and dance some more.

Eventually, Mr. Bixby, Don's boss at Nutmeg, arrives to find out what's going on with his 2 employees. Don says he doesn't want to leave the circus because he's having so much fun. Well, he finds a way to have his cake and eat it too. Seems the circus,in financial difficulty, has just been sold to a Mrs. Henkle. But suspicious Don has discovered that she used the money that Nutmeg paid out for her husband's phony assumed lethal disappearance to buy the circus. Thus, Nutmeg is awarded ownership of the circus, and Don and Vivian can continue their circus fun, as well as resuming their jobs for Nutmeg.At the insurance board meeting, the brass are astounded at Don's changed personality. This formerly quite nerdy fellow now comes at them like a circus barker!

The film title comes from a jive idiom the circus people used. If you worked for the circus you were 'with it'... The songs were all composed by Sidney Miller and Inez James, who did a commendable job, as did the choreographer Louis Da Pron, and the screenwriters, who had a prior novel and play to give them a flying start. Too bad Universal didn't splurge with Technicolor, as they did with Don's film of the next year "Yes Sir, That's My Bsby" , which was probably his first color film, and less deserving of this extra expense.

At present, you can see this film in its entirely at You Tube. Please check it out!

Never saw "Are You With It"...but

[shock4952 · 10/10 · 13 November 2007]

I wasn't born yet, but in November of 1947, my mother won "Queen for a Day". One of many prizes she won was an all expense paid trip to Hollywood, CA for her and my father. While in California, they got to spend some time on the set where Donald O'Connor was filming "Are You With It". (released in 1948). My father passed away in 1987, I had to fly from Sacramento, CA back to Philadelphia, PA. for the funeral. On the plane, sitting next to his lovely wife was unmistakeably Donald O'Connor! They were in first Class, I wasn't. We exchanged pleasantries for a brief moment, but before I could tell him about my mother, i.e., the "Queen for a Day" thing...the flight attendant jabbed and pushed me into the back of the plane as though I had some kind of communicable disease. Now, I have no doubt that Donald O'Connor had personally met millions of his fans, but even an actor on that level would have to had remembered a visit to his sound stage from the winner of "Queen for a Day". I never did get to see the movie, but one day I will. I rated it a 10 because while watching it, I'll be totally aware that while some of those scenes were being shot, just out of frame was my mother and father, like a couple of wide-eyed kids in their absolute glory, watching all of the magic of Hollywood.

Lots of talent shines in a kooky but clever plot

[SimonJack · 8/10 · 24 June 2017]

This little known film from 1948 is loaded with entertainment. "Are You With It" is derived from a 1945 Broadway musical by the same title. That was based on a 1941 comedy novel, "Slightly Perfect" by George Malcolm-Smith.

Donald O'Connor gets in some dance numbers, including a very good one in a bar scene with Lew Parker and Louis Da Pron, the bartender. In another one, he and Parker team with Martha Stewart. He, Olga San Juan and Stewart have a number of songs. The movie is loaded with one- liners and funny dialog, and O'Connor and company perform half a dozen quick-change skits that are very good.

The plot is a little kooky but clever. It starts out in Hartford, Connecticut, the insurance capital of the world. O'Connor is Milton Haskins, a Harvard grad and whiz kid actuary with Nutmeg Insurance Co. But, a misplaced decimal point has him leave the place in disgrace. Sitting distraught in a city park, Haskins meets Goldie McGoldrick (Lew Parker). One thing leads to another and before long Goldie has Milton in the carnival. That's when the fun starts. Milton's fiancé, Vivian Reilly (San Juan) follows him to the carny where Bunny La Fleur (Stewart) has eyes only for Goldie. This foursome, along with the carny owner, Jason "Pop" Carter (Walter Catlett), and a very good supporting cast keep things rocking and moving.

The film has some very clever longer scenes of performances within the movie. In one of the last, cast members ask, "Is it a bird? Is it a man?" And they answer themselves, "It's super knight." This is a very good movie, packed with entertainment.

A curious thing about this Universal film is the number of good actors and performers who didn't have long careers on the silver screen. Olga San Juan had just 17 film credits in 18 years and retired from acting in 1960 at age 33. She had a good singing voice but, except for a couple of small parts, she quit acting to raise a family after she married Edmond O'Brien.

Martha Stewart plays Bunny La Fleur. She could sing and dance well. But, she made only a dozen films in 20 years, then went to TV where she was in a number of series in the 1960s.

Lew Parker was a talented hoofer, comedian and actor from a theatrical family. He got his start as a child in vaudeville. But Parker made only a dozen films. He toured and entertained the troops during World War II. After that he did some films but also worked in the theater and on TV.

Donald O'Connor was just 23 years old when "Are You With It?" came out. But he had more than two dozen films behind him and was a star. For all of his talent, O'Connor seemed to get many B movies in which to act. He was most known for his roles in half a dozen comedies with Francis the Talking Mule. I think this may be one of his best films to showcase his diverse talents.

There are some very funny scenes in this film, and many lines of witty, if not very funny dialog. Here are some of my favorites. For more of the humor in this film, see the Quotes section here on the IMDb Web page for the movie.

Barker at Goldie's booth, "About time you came back. Where've you been?" Goldie, "Up at Hartford taking the cure." Barker, "From drinkin'?" Goldie, "No, from layin' off. How's business?" Barker, "Murder. It's enough to drive a guy to drink." Goldie, "You're telling me."

Milton, "I'll just have to start at the bottom in something else." Goldie, "Well, you came to the right guy, neighbor. You can't start any lower than you can with me."

Bunny, "OK, bird brain. Take your head out of the sand now." Goldie, "Oh, hello, baby doll, I didn't see ya." Bunny, "Nice to see ya standin' up." Goldie, "Well, it's early yet." Bunny, "Where have you been? And I don't believe that either." Goldie, "That takes care of that argument." Bunny, "Look at you. I've seen a better head on a glass of beer."

Goldie, "Hey, wait a minute, junior. You ain't ruined yet. Everybody makes mistakes in this racket. We'll just have to find you a job where education ain't no handicap."

Bunny, "Say, dreamboat, don't you have to go rinse out a few things, huh?" Goldie, "No, I'm wearing 'em."

Vivian: There it is again, the eternal triangle. You, me and company time.

Bunny, "You stay out of this, balloon head. "

Goldie, "Neighbor, this wheel's gonna revolutionize larceny. Everybody wins. And it only costs 'em twice as much to win what they wouldn't pay half as much to buy. That clear to ya?" Milton, "Yes." Goldie, "I wish you'd explain it to me."

Bunny, "You leave her alone you two-timing little timetable, you."

Colonel Murgatroyd (Goldie), "Thank you, Dr. Livingston. Ladies and gentlemen, when I first found Bongo in the jungles of darkest Africa, he was just a little monkey. I raised him and taught him everything I know. Today, eminent psychologists credit him with the intelligence of a six-year-old child."

One of the best movies I've ever seen!

[kb-56174 · 10/10 · 25 February 2023]

I had never seen it before, until only a few days ago- and during that weeks' time, I have watched it I believe once on each day of the week. The story is simply delightful, the music the best. Donald O'Connor is always heaven to see, to hear, and he can act wonderfully.

The music is heavenly! Down at Baba's Alley, and What Do I Have To Do, and I'm Looking For a Prince of a Fella'- all delight to hear! I can never get enough of it- it's all the good words in all the good languages! Carefree and joyful, and a very wonderfully funny plot, to the very instant you hear Milton's matter-of-fact speech.

The characters all very bright and cheerful- I have nothing bad to say about it, only good sentiments!

Funny and great dancing

[artqua · 9/10 · 7 March 2021]

The dancing is impressive, and it is quite witty and funny. I had never heard of this film, but if you are a fan of Donald O, you will love it!