topper829

This isn't a great movie, though Priscilla Lane is (as usual) better than her material.

But, that said, I was struck with the vocal precision of Nan Wynn in "Who Is in Your Dreams Tonight". Her control was exquisite.

It is amazing to me how very, very good even minor singers were in the 1940's. No, she is not a truly great singer, and I am not a huge fan of 1940's singing. Many later singers and many of her contemporaries were more compelling with weaker vocal skills. (I lean toward Peggy Lee, Chris Connor and Susannah McCorkle on the jazz side.)

But, damn! Who among popular singers exhibits this level of technical skills today. It's a bit like the absence of workmanship in modern manufactured goods.

There is a deep existential element to this film that has, as yet, not been discussed. I own a Rhino MST3K version which also includes the uncut original. I watched the uncut version once with the sound off. The experience was decidedly different from either the original or the MST3K version. It strikes me that the biggest issue with this flick is the English soundtrack. It is indeed unfortunate that the native language of the actors is English (or, more precisely, California American).

Were this flick to have been filmed in another country, it is likely that its reputation would be much enhanced. Italian, I think, would be best. This would be very cool, especially if the dialog had originally been recorded in English. The actors mouths would move, but the Italian would not jibe with their lips. The subtitles, however, would. How sublime!

I wonder how the following line from the film would sound in Italian.

"One guy's gonna grab the other guy's legs and ride him down piggyback!"

Probably a mite fey, like most Italian flicks.