True to the Navy (1930)

Snappy comedy that re-teams Clara Bow and Fredric March after the previous year's THE WILD PARTY.

Bow plays a San Diego drug store waitress who dates a dozen sailors because their ships are never in port at the same time. But when the entire Pacific fleet docks, she's in trouble when they all discover her games.

That's when she meets March and falls for him. Even though she's nuts about him, when he discovers her reputation he dumps her. He also thinks she's involved in the illegal betting on the naval artillery games that are coming up.

Bow looks great here with her wild red hair (called "hot hair" here) and expressive eyes. March comes off less well because he seems to be "acting" all the time with his tough accent and all.

Good supporting cast includes Harry Green as the Yiddish boss, Adele Windsor as no-nonsense Maisie, Ray Cooke (not a bell boy as he usually is) as March's pal, Eddie Dunn is excellent as Albert, Jed Prouty as the dance hall manager, and Louise Beavers as the maid. Rex Bell, Bow's future husband, plays Eddie.

The highlight of the film is quite unexpected as Bow sings to a song on the radio and she's really good. The song is titled something like "There's Only One Somebody for Me." Who knew Clara Bow could sing? I can't think of any other film in which she sings.