This is a romance, a musical, and a war/propaganda film. In other words, it has a lot of boxes to check off.
Beautifully shot in technicolor, I kind of understand why some people write, "Who cares if there's a plot? It's beautiful."
Kind of understand, but sorry... a film still needs to be good.
One of the first problems with the plot, I guess, is that Rosalind (Rita Hayworth) can do better. Or to put it another way, she can have any man she wants. Paul (Lee Bowman) tries to make a quick move on her, and she sees it happening and calls him on it. Which isn't to say that she shouldn't give him a second chance, but what exactly do they have in common? And, the second problem with films like this: They've known each other for a minute, and she's going to marry him and give up her dancing career just like that? Huh?
Tommy (Marc Platt) is in love with Rosalind, too. But not only does he not say anything to her, but he essentially never shows it in any way that would make the audience see it. What Tommy does have going for him is that he's a natural dancer. I just wonder why Rosalind would fall in love with Paul instead? Is it because he's a heroic military type, while Tommy is a glasses wearing oddball? I'm really not sure what we're supposed to think, but fortunately for Tommy, if he's willing to give up Rosalind, Judy (Janet Blair) is right there to love him.
Now why would Judy agree to be Tommy's second choice? She knows that Tommy loves Rosalind... but whatever. The Blitz is still on, and it won't matter, as Tommy and Judy are conveniently across the street from the theater in the pub when the pub is bombed to hell by the Germans.
It felt like a really odd scene to include, although I guess it shows how heroic the theater was to stay open during Blitz (and how heroic the audience were to go to the theater...). It also gives Rosalind the reason, I guess, not to marry Paul and leave with him to Canada. She might be a civilian, but her place is to entertain and show the Germans that London will keep on carrying on, tonight and every night.
Paul respects that. But since that's where the film ends, and he has to go on his mission to Canada, what are we to assume? That Paul and Rosalind call it off permanently? Or do they simply suspend their feelings until after the war? Paul has gone of missions before, but this time feels different, as if they can't have a future because they decided not to marry in the present...
Oh yeah. Rita Hayworth was pregnant during the filming of this movie. I read that they shot most of her dance numbers early before her pregnancy started to show. Later scenes were shot with her in coats and holding newspapers and such to hide her growing belly. It wasn't super noticeable, but I did find myself trying to notice. Her husband at the time was Orsen Welles, and their marriage would only last about 4 years. Why? Because Welles didn't like to be tied down, not even to Rita freakin' Hayworth. Well, whatever, Welles. The man was a genius, but he didn't always make the best life choices.
Rating: 3/5 stars
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