JohnHowardReid Songs by Arthur Schwartz (music) and Leo Robin (lyrics): "I Happened To Walk Down First Street" (Carson, Morgan, Paige and Greene), "A Solid Citizen of the Solid South" (Carson and Paige), "Through a Thousand Dreams" (Morgan and Vickers, accompanied by Cavallaro), "A Gal in Calico" (Morgan, Carson, Paige, Vickers), "A Rainy Night in Rio" (Morgan, Carson, Paige, Vickers), "Oh, But I Do" (Morgan). Miss Vickers' singing voice dubbed by Sally Sweetland. Dances directed and staged by LeRoy Prinz. Music adapted by Frederick Hollander, arranged by Dudley Chambers, orchestrated and conducted by Ray Heindorf. Music director: Leo F. Forbstein. Copyright 28 December 1946 by Warner Brothers Pictures, Inc. A Warner Brothers-First National picture. New York opening at the Strand: 26 December 1946. U.S. release: 28 December 1946. U.K. release: 26 May 1947. Australian release: 22 January 1948 (sic). 9,483 feet. 105 minutes.SYNOPSIS: A musical highbrow (well played by Donald Woods) tries to stop the next-door nightclub from putting on a show.NOTES: "A Gal in Calico" was nominated for the year's Best Song award, but lost out to "Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah" from Song of the South.COMMENT: Engagingly acted by all concerned (especially by the lovely Martha Vickers and gold-digging Angela Greene), this is a bright, colorful musical comedy with two standout songs: "A Gal in Calico" and "A Rainy Night in Rio". The plot provides some amusing variations on the standard putting- on-a-show ploy and does tend to become a bit overloaded with material, presumably to ensure that all six of the principals (Morgan, Carson, Vickers, Paige, Sakall and Greene) enjoy a fair share of the action. Intending viewers are warned, however, that S.Z. Sakall manages to figure in rather more than a strictly equitable shake. For instance, he's not just a spectator of the musical numbers, but also tries to conduct the orchestra (whilst getting dressed, yet). I thought he was entertaining, but if you're not particularly partial to S.Z.'s visual and aural shenanigans, better give this Place a miss. On the other hand, everyone's favorite pianist (and mine), Carmen Cavallaro (later to win fame for his superlative dubbing for Tyrone Power in "The Eddy Duchin Story") is present both in person and on the sound track — and that is a major treat that surely no fan in his right senses would want to miss.

edwagreen The most delightful musical with a very funny story-line despite the fact that S.Z. Sakall doesn't fracture the English language that much other than mispronouncing Philadelphia and saying from finish to start. Jack Carson, enjoyable here as always, is less subdued when it comes to comical farce.A maestro with a heart, Sakall, wants to close down the night club next door to his home. His prim and proper daughter, Martha Vickers, wants more of life and invariably she meets up with Dennis Morgan. Morgan and Carson again prove that they were absolutely terrific together.There are some wonderful dancing numbers along with the songs, particularly the opening of various loves on letter-named streets.Donald Woods as Vickers' manager and Florence Bates, wife to Sakall, add to the fun with their stuffiness, though Bates yields at the end. Enjoyable fanfare.

marcslope A boilerplate Warners mid-'40s musical, but a triumph for the Great American Songbook, this backstager has some gorgeous Arthur Schwartz melodies married to Leo Robin lyrics wittier than anything in the script. The Oscar-nominated "Oh, But I Do" is one of Schwartz' loveliest melodies ever, and the little-known "A Thousand Dreams" isn't far behind. There's "A Gal in Calico," which once it gets in your head simply won't leave (it's been in mine for days) and "A Rainy Night in Rio," part of the South American craze then hitting the Hit Parade. There's "A Solid Citizen of the Solid South," done in grimace-inspiring blackface, but actually a pretty good number if you can get past that. All are "diegetic" numbers, meaning they're part of the stage entertainment in the film rather than related to plot or character, and they're backed by luscious Warners orchestrations, which were brassier and jazzier than what the arrangers turned out at Paramount or 20th or MGM. To get to these goodies you have to sit through a lot of inconsequential backstage plot, not to mention the tiresome jowl-shaking of S.Z. Sakall and the badly dated comedy of Jack Carson. But there's Martha Vickers, pretty and appealing, and Janis Paige, always reliable for sex appeal and a tart way with a good line. And Dennis Morgan, a Warners staple in the '40s, who had more presence and testosterone than most of the singing-capon tenors movie musicals of the day typically turned out. Carson and Morgan were sort of Warners' Hope and Crosby and were teamed many times. This is one of their more tolerable efforts, thanks almost exclusively to the efforts of Messrs. Schwartz and Robin.

Neil Doyle While THE TIME, THE PLACE AND THE GIRL never rises above being a pleasant little "let's put on a show" musical, it does feature a few sprightly song numbers that are easy on the eyes and ears--and all of the performances are genial and appealing.Dennis Morgan and Jack Carson are ideal as show biz guys willing to put something over on Martha Vickers in order to get backing for their enterprise. Vickers comes across as even more appealing than she was in THE BIG SLEEP as the nymphomaniacal daughter. And for good measure, there's the always vivacious Janis Paige doing her standard musical comedy thing with finesse. Donald Woods does a standout job as the stuffy tutor of musical pupil Vickers.Comic relief from Florence Bates and S.Z. Sakall is a big help--especially since the script itself is none too witty. But what really makes the film a special delight are the handsome production values which went into this formula musical and two outstanding songs that are given first-rate treatment: A GIRL FROM CALICO and A RAINY NIGHT IN RIO.If you like backstage musicals, you'll enjoy this minor delight.