If I'm Lucky (1946) User Reviews

An interesting hybrid

[dkelsey · 7/10 · 26 October 2012]

If a film was described as "made by 20th Century Fox, featuring Vivian Blaine, Carmen Miranda, Phil Silvers, Harry James, and Perry Como," you might reasonably expect the sort of bright, brash, and breezy Technicolor musical of which TCF were the masters during the 1940s.

If a film was described as "a black and white political satire about an upright young man duped into standing for office only to find that he was intended to front for a gang of corrupt politicos," you might reasonably expect the sort of film of which Frank Capra was master, perhaps starring James Stewart and Jean Arthur.

It is unlikely that you would envisage one film to fit both descriptions, but "If I'm Lucky" does just that. Perhaps we shall never know what prompted TCF to produce this unlikely hybrid, but surprisingly it works quite well. The musical numbers are neatly integrated into the plot, Phil Silvers' usual over-exuberance is kept in check, one misses Technicolor only during Carmen Miranda's numbers, and the political shenanigans are carried mainly by Edgar Buchanan, Reed Hadley, and other supporting players, thankfully making little demand on Perry Como's acting abilities.

This is not a particularly good movie, but nor is it a bad one, and it is sufficiently unusual to warrant attention.

A Good Film For Vivian Blaine Fans

[timothymcclenaghan · 7/10 · 4 March 2007]

Vivian Blaine, looking lovely at age 25, has the lead role in this musical, which also stars Perry Como, and both of them perform their musical numbers pleasantly and competently.

Phil Silvers is, of course, Phil Silvers, playing exactly the same character he played in many other films.

It should have been a crime not to film Carmen Miranda in Technicolor. Her production number cries out for color.

Harry James has a speaking part, portraying the band leader (what a stretch). He also performs vocally in some of the songs.

Edgar Buchanan (better known to us as Uncle Joe in the TV series "Petticoat Junction") is the quintessential politician blowhard.

The musical score is done by veteran songsmiths Josef Myrow (You Make Me Feel So Young) and Edgar "Eddie" De Lange (Darn That Dream, Moon Glow). While none of the tunes seems to have survived to present day, nor made the status of "standard", the songs are pleasant and typical fare for that time.

Forget that this film is a remake of another. So what else wasn't new in Hollywood. It's a bit of fluff in the same vein as all of the other 20th Century Fox musicals of the 1940s. So if you like those musicals, you'll enjoy this one too. The only big flaw is lack of Technicolor.

entertaining remake of "Thanks a Million"

[malcolmgsw · 6/10 · 26 September 2006]

This is an entertaining remake of "Thanks A Million".I do not know much about American politics in the thirties but i would guess that the original was probably a swift punch to the midriff of the American body politic whereas this is more a nudge in the ribs.If you stand this on its own you would say that this is a reasonably entertaining Fox musical from the 1940s with all the usual ingredients,the best of which is Carmen Miranda who really steals the show.As for Perry Como well we all know he can sing but unfortunately he cant act and that is one of the main problems of this film,particularly if you compare him to Dick Powell in the original.Also i have to say that not one of the songs stays in the mind for one second after the music has faded away.I would be bound to say that if you had to see one version it would have to be the original.Any film with Fred Allen,Patsy Kelly and Raymond Walburn has to be unmissable

Musical remake of...

[AlsExGal · 6/10 · 20 December 2022]

..."Thanks A Million". When a big band, including singer Linda (Vivian Blaine), bandleader Earl (Harry James), and harpist Michelle O'Toole (Carmen Miranda), fail to get the gig that their manager Wally (Phil Silvers) promised, they seem to have hit rock bottom. Their salvation comes in an unexpected way: playing music to attract crowds to the rallies of gubernatorial candidate Darius J. Magonnagle (Edgar Buchanan). The band gets even better when small-town fellow Allen Clark (Perry Como) joins as a male vocalist, but backroom deals and corruption may undermine it all. Also featuring Frank Fenton, Reed Hadley, and Harry Hayden.

The mixing of politics and typical 40's Fox musical romance and production numbers is unusual, but it largely works. Como had been appearing in Fox movies for a couple of years, but this was the biggest role that I've seen him in. He fits the part, but he's no less bland. His voice is good in his few songs, as is Blaine's, but Harry James really didn't need to try and sing. Miranda seems wasted for much of the proceedings, but she finally gets a bizarre spotlight number, "Botocudo", with lots of weird costumes and bad choreography. Needless to say, it's the highlight of the film.

Minor musical but Carmen Miranda make it worthwhile

[jjnxn-1 · 6/10 · 15 May 2013]

Silly but pleasant little Fox B trifle. A Carmen Miranda musical in B&W is an oddity but in B&W or color she is always Technicolor and is as full as sass as ever and her headgear is as truly astounding. Perry Como sings well and is certainly attractive but he is missing that big screen charisma needed for major stardom. It is easy to see why he was a big hit on TV, he possessed a very warm and friendly presence that makes you feel right at home. Vivian Blaine is lovely and Edgar Buchanan is always a welcome addition to any movie but Phil Silvers is an acquired taste, there's no in between either you like him or not. For me he's hard to take but if you're a fan than he can be amusing. One big plus this has is that Harry James and his band provide the music and that's always a good thing.

If I'm Lucky was a pretty good musical from the '40s

[tavm · 7/10 · 6 February 2014]

The stars of Something for the Boys-Phil Silvers, Carmen Miranda, Vivian Blaine, and Perry Como-reunite for this musical about a traveling band involved in a political campaign. They're joined by Edgar Buchanan and bandleader Harry James. Como is the leading man and he's not too bad in the acting department though the role isn't too challenging except when he has to expose some people and he does so adequately. No wonder he didn't do too many films. Ms. Miranda is her usual colorful self so it's a puzzlement why 20th Century-Fox didn't film this in Technicolor like her previous output. She and Silvers are still pretty funny as they were in the last one I mentioned. Ms. Blaine is also wonderful in her singing and has such an alluring presence when in close-up. Buchanan is his rascally charming self which didn't surprise me since I remember enjoying his role of Uncle Joe in reruns of "Petticoat Junction". And Harry James, well, he's a fine musician. So on that note, I recommend If I'm Lucky.

Pleasant and enjoyable.

[planktonrules · 6/10 · 25 October 2012]

This is a lightweight but enjoyable remake of "Thanks a Million" (1935). While it's far from a must-see, it has modest aspirations and makes for a decent time-passer. The star of this one is Perry Como--and his singing is typically smooth and enjoyable even though none of the songs are particularly memorable. He is supported by Vivian Blaine, Harry James, Phil Silvers and Carmen Miranda. As far as Silvers and Miranda go, they are pretty low-key in this film and lack the loud and brash qualities that made "Something for the Boys" a rather poor musical. In fact, this prior film ALSO starred Vivian Blaine and Perry Como--making "If I'm Lucky" sort of a reunion picture. Of the two films, "If I'm Lucky" is the vastly superior film.

The five stars all are out of work and need a musical gig. By luck, they are discovered by a political machine--who puts the band to work during their gubernatorial campaign providing a warm-up act before their candidate gives a speech. However, during one of their stops, the candidate (Edgar Buchanan) gets stinking drunk and Como instead entertains the audience and makes a small speech. It ends up going over so well that the political machine offers to run Como for governor instead of Buchanan! Como knows he cannot win but realizes it would be great publicity for him and his friends and their band. The problem is that he DOES have a chance and his squeaky clean political machine is not so squeaky clean after all! And, these new 'friends' threaten to ruin his friends' careers if he doesn't play along. What is this honest guy going to do?

Overall, this is a very pleasant little film. I already commented about the music by Como, but this film features a few insane musical numbers (such as Miranda's "Botocudo") as well. While these folks are SUPPOSED to be performing a few songs during an election run or in night clubs, the production numbers become ridiculously big as the film progresses. This isn't a complaint--just an observation about the sort of song and dance numbers that were popular during this era. Not a must-see but a decent little time-passer.

Could have been much better, but a pleasant way to pass the time

[TheLittleSongbird · 6/10 · 21 January 2017]

'If I'm Lucky' is a decent and pleasant musical, and passes the time more than adequately. However, it also could have been better considering the talent.

The weak link is the story, which is tepid fairly often with some of the goings on verging on the tedious. The script is charming and amusing enough, but needed a sharper edge and more bite, feeling a little blander than it should have been considering it's meant to be satirical.

Perry Como is handsome and sings exquisitely but is not a natural actor and it shows in a performance that other than the singing is pretty wooden. While 'If I'm Lucky' is a very good-looking film (more than that actually) there were a couple of scenes crying out for Technicolor, especially the still hugely entertaining "Botocuda".

However the black and white production values are a marvel, being remarkably crisp and opulent. The songs are not timeless and they don't stick in the head unforgettably, but they still are very pleasant and lovely to listen to with a good deal of energy, "Botocuda" and the title song standing out in particular.

Much of the direction is very much competent and the pacing, though with the odd tedium in between, tends to be bright and breezy. Como aside, the cast don't disappoint. Carmen Miranda steals the film with her colourfully wild costumes and her hilariously nutty presence from her butchered English to her deliciously exaggerated facial expressions. Vivian Blaine is charmingly polished and passionately energetic, while Harry James (playing an integral part to the story) is in his prime. Phil Silvers did have material that played to his strengths a little more in 'Something for the Boys' but actually a more subdued performance from him here and in comparison to a lot of his other films was appreciated and worked well (will also be a delight for non-fans).

On the whole, a pleasant way to pass the time but could have been much better. 6/10 Bethany Cox

Same material, without the bite

[bkoganbing · 5/10 · 18 May 2014]

Probably the most demands on Perry Como as an actor in his brief sojourn in Hollywood was this watered down remake of Dick Powell's classic Thanks A Million. Sad to say that has not been made available and it is a pity. Thanks A Million was a sharp and witty satire on the American political system how a crooner gets himself good and used by a corrupt political machine when they dump their candidate and nominate him for governor. The same material is used, but without the bite.

Instead of the radio crooners of the Thirties the music is now the swing music of the Forties supplied by Harry James. He's got a pair of attractions with his band played by Vivian Blaine and Carmen Miranda and a press agent played by Phil Silvers. He hires Perry Como as a male singer and the group accepts a touring gig with a political candidate who has a drinking problem and is played by Edgar Buchanan. One night when he's in his cups, Como goes on and wows the crowd. At that point the political bosses switch to use him as their stooge.

The musical score is nothing to write home about. Perhaps if Perry had a big hit from this he might have stayed a little longer in Hollywood. Not much more though. That relaxed attitude that made him welcome in so many homes in the 50s was not hiding any great acting talent like his contemporary graduate from the big bands Frank Sinatra.

Even Carmen Miranda was somewhat subdued in If I'm Lucky.

Hope that some day you get to see Thanks A Million so you can compare.

Perry Como Shines in This Carmen Miranda Film!

[JLRMovieReviews · 9/10 · 26 May 2010]

Another film found on the Carmen Miranda DVD Collection, this revolves a group of musicians (including Phil Silvers, Vivian Blaine, Harry James, and Carmen) who need a job...and some food. They see a sign for free food, come one ,come all, at a political rally. When other people start eating and leaving, they start playing to keep the crowd and then they're hired by the politicians for just that purpose.

Enter Perry Como who has aspirations of making it big as a crooner and who's plugging a song he wrote, If I'm Lucky, which is a very beautiful song. Of course he and Vivian hit it off. Then Perry gets put into a position to run for governor himself.

As musical comedies go, this is very good, despite the political plot, which may turn off some people. But, it makes it even more fulfilling in the long run. (This was a remake of a previous Dick Powell movie, Thanks a Million.) The musical numbers are very upbeat and memorable, especially Perry's daydream sequence.

As a Miranda movie goes though, you'll be disappointed with her one song and her not being the center of attention. Her song, while good, doesn't quite measure to others being more opulent and fantastic-looking. On the other hand, Perry Como has a very affable disposition and makes the viewer enjoy this simple film for what it is, a musical that can and will leave you smiling.

Hubba, hubba! The high voltage samba goddess's Fox finale.

[weezeralfalfa · 8/10 · 6 December 2013]

The "Something for the Boys" gang is back for one last fling!. This would be the last of 9 memorable Fox musicals featuring Carmen Miranda's inimical musical productions and off-stage frequent bombastic comedic personality. Actually, she's rather tame off-stage in her last 3 films, and was present only in several cameo appearances in her first film. This was also the last of 3 Fox films for singer Perry Como. Here, he has graduated to leading man role: his only such in a Hollywood film. Recognizing his limitations as an actor, Fox wisely included a couple of well established supporting men with obvious natural charisma in Phil Silvers and Edgar Buchanan, who play their typical selves. Such actors were missing in his previous film: "Doll Face", which greatly reduced it's appeal, despite reasonably good musical numbers. The screenplay lacks the hilarious comedic interactions between Carmen and Silvers, as well as on their own, that so much contributed to the enjoyment of "Something For the Boys". However, this film has other comedic elements.

Vivian Blaine is also back as the leading lady, in her next to last Fox film. Her hair color was changed from the striking red of her 2 previous Technicolor films, to the more striking blond, for a B&W film. I wouldn't know she was the same woman! She gets to sing some solos, with Como, and with the whole gang. She's OK, if unremarkable , in her dramatic role as the straight-laced bug-eyed girlfriend of Como's character.

Finally, there is the new addition of Harry James and his orchestra. He was then the husband of Fox's superstar Betty Grable, and had been more prominently featured with her and Carmen in the previous "Springtime in the Rockies". Like Como at this stage, aside from his trumpet playing, he lacked charisma and acting talent, hence needed to be included with actors having such to make for a pleasant film experience.

Like the previous "Doll Face", this is a B&W film, rather than the expected Technicolor of Carmen's previous films: an indication that Fox was getting ready to dump her. Also, she only gets one major production number, rather than the usual 2 or 3. But don't let that dissuade you from viewing this film! What her production number lacks in color is made up for by the sheer exuberance of a large team of dancers, as well as center stage Carmen. Adapting to the B&W photography, Carmen wears an all white outfit, with fancy headpiece. The dance team are mostly dressed in outfits emphasizing black and white(presumably) stripes, and several types of outrageous headgear.

Like "Something for the Boys", the screenplay is pretty daffy, although somewhat more interesting. At least, they were quite different from the well trodden screenplays of the struggles of young musical performers and their managers to achieve stardom on Broadway. It involves Edgar Buchanan playing a drunkard political blowhard(Yep, fits this former dentist's type casting very well), running for governor for the 'Common Wealth Party', which sounds like it has a reform socialist platform. (There was, around this time, a UK Common Wealth Party with a socialist agenda). The unemployed 'gang' are hired to perform musical numbers promoting his election. He knows he as no chance to win unless he promises more than the current governor to a group of wealthy influential machine politicians who control the media, and demand various forms of monetary or job-favoritism rewards for backing him. When Buchanan baulks at some demands, they publish some scandal(easy to verify), discrediting him as a candidate. The corrupt clique decide to replace him with a very reluctant Como, who knows and cares nothing about politics, just wanting to get a radio show featuring singing. Hence, he hopes he will lose, especially after he learns he will just be a puppet for this corrupt clique. Despite threats that they will ruin his life if he doesn't 'play ball', he decides to expose them in an important campaign speech just before the polls open, where they are all in attendance. This is the funniest segment of the film, along with the very last portion. His friends then hustle him onto a bus to exit the state, and think a police squad chasing them want to put him in jail. Instead, they are chasing the bus for speeding, and later become a welcoming motorcade for the new governor, for a happy ending!(I thought he didn't want to be governor!?)

The plot somewhat reminds me of the actual plot by some far right powerful financial elite to stage a military overthrow of FDR and his 'New Deal' programs, with a fascist regime, headed by popular General Butler as their puppet dictator. Butler pretended to go along with it, then exposed the plot to a congressional committee, which failed to convict anyone of wrongdoing, for fear of the publicity repercussions on the American economy.

The music? The title romantic ballad is the only memorable song. Hence, it's repeated adnauseam, serving as the theme song for the budding Como-Vivian romance. "Follow the Band" and a few other songs provide reasonable musical support for some aspects of the screenplay, but were not intended to be keepers.

***

[edwagreen · 8/10 · 22 December 2016]

With a cast of Perry Como, Carmen Miranda, Edgar Buchanan, Harry James and Vivian Blaine along with Phil Silvers, what could go possibly wrong?

Imagine the premise that crooner Como runs for governor? That's what we have here in this highly entertaining films. Carmen Miranda belts out her songs in her usual Brazilian style. Silvers, as the leader of the troupe, is conniving and lovable as usual. Vivian Blaine, as Como's love interest looks old here but is entertaining nonetheless.

Even back then, we see the corruption of politics and greedy government officials taking full advantage of a corrupt system.

Big Band era with Harry James, Perry Como and more

[SimonJack · 8/10 · 29 January 2018]

The music and cast make this movie. "If I'm Lucky," is one of the lighter musicals of the 1940s with thin or silly plots. It's in the field of musical review, with a plot just to tie together the songs, music and dance numbers. And this film has some very enjoyable entertainment.

Harry James and his orchestra make it a collector's film for those who like the big bands of the swing era. Perry Como has a minor speaking role that provides his stage for some good songs. And, Vivian Blaine is good with her numbers. Some of the best stuff comes from Carmen Miranda with the entertaining choreographed dance numbers built around her songs.

Phil Silvers provides some light comedy as Wally Jones. The best lines are spoken by Michelle O'Toole (Miranda) and Wally. O'Toole, "Baby, don't forget my harp, Wally." Wally, "Oh, yes. Why didn't you play a piccolo?"