San Antonio Rose (1941)

I saw the website rating for "San Antonio Rose" and thought it would be a good one to buy. I really enjoy musicals, especially if the music is good, and I thought the cast was intriguing and with some interesting possibilities. So it was a big letdown to watch and wait for something better.

I didn't mind that the story was half-baked, because most often with musicals you wait for the songs anyway - and this one was half-baked. But with a musical comedy the comedy is often funny, but not here. It's too late now, but Lon Chaney cannot do comedy. He and Shemp Howard are a slapstick team of bumbling crooks and it was painful to watch Chaney slap Howard around - not like in the 3 Stooges shorts. And Eve Arden, one of my favorites, tried her best but was given some wisecracks which were unfunny and lacked the acerbic bite she was famous for.

The music, however, was a mixed bag. Saving grace here was The Merry Macs, who were a treat to watch and hear. Having said that, they can't carry a movie by themselves but were just about the best part of the picture. They sang "The Hut-Sut Song", which I thought was the best number in the picture. Most of the rest of the score was forgettable, but as I said, this was a 'B' musical. If it comes on TV it is worth watching as it is a mercifully short 63 minutes.