Riding High (1943)
No relation to the 1950 Frank Capra film of the same name, the 1943 Technicolor musical Riding High is a by-the-numbers vehicle for Dorothy Lamour and Dick Powell. Lamour stars as Ann Castle, a former burlesque queen who heads westward to claim her father's silver mine. Powell plays mining engineer Steve Baird, who like Ann has a vested interest in the worked-out mine. With the help of genial counterfeiter Mortimer J. Slocum (Victor Moore), Steve and Ann are able to peddle mining stock, thus saving her from bankruptcy. The stockholders are in a lynching mood when it appears that they've been flim-flammed, but a last minute "miracle" saves the day. Featured in the cast are Paramount stalwarts Cass Daley and Gil Lamb, the former doing her quasi-Martha Raye act and the latter swallowing his harmonica for the millionth time. Production values are excellent and the songs are exuberantly performed; it's only in its hackneyed plot that Riding High slows to a clip-clop.
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This western musical about a burlesque queen (Dorothy Lamour) coming back home to help out on her family ranch is overloaded with dated comedy and unremarkable songs. The silly plot concerns a seemingly milquetoast forger (the adorable Victor Moore) passing out fake thousand dollar bills (and getting real money as change back) while Dick Powell, as the gold prospector, falls in love with Lamour. The film really seems like a "Road" movie tat didn't sell. Big-toothed Cass Daley is equally big voiced, but her material defeats her. A second rate Martha Raye, she was about to be replaced in these type of roles by Betty Hutton. Moore is lovable as always, getting the best material, especially when he fleeces a bunch of card-sharks with one of his counterfeit K-notes. Lamour manages to survive some mediocre production numbers and her burlesque outfits resemble sarongs in some of them. The film also lacks a cast of familiar character performers which takes away much of the amusement found in other 1940's musicals.
A train arrives in the west and deposits a showgirl (Dorothy Lamour), an eligible bachelor (Dick Powell), and a swindler (Victor Moore). The bachelor is in search of investors for his mine but can't seem to get anyone interested enough. The swindler makes his own thousand dollar bills and convinces the bachelor to flash them around; money attracts money. The scheme works, but the swindler's reputation catches up to him and soon the law is after those fake thousands.There is a reason why this title is so hard to find. It isn't that great. Although the story is fun enough and it boasts a decent cast, Riding High is utterly forgettable. It is one of those wartime movies that is packed with music to entertain the troops "over there," but none of the tunes are memorable and the music takes over the story. Lamour handles her songs well enough, after all, she was a radio star, but Powell has too few songs himself.
Attention Spike Jones fans: this film is essential viewing if you are fortunate enough to have the opportunity! Quite unlike the previous reviewer, I was nearly giddy upon seeing the lowbrow slapstick sequence of Gil Lamb playing clarinet in Milt Britton's band. Milt and Frank Britton, along with other comedy/novelty/"corn" outfits (The Kidoodlers; Freddie Fisher and his Schnickelfritz Band), have been cited as major "musical" influences on the young maestro Jones. According to Spike Jones biographer Jordan R. Young, "By all accounts the Brittons had far and away the zaniest act of its day - they were the only "jazz band" whose members routinely fell into the orchestra pit, squirted water at one another, fired pistols in the air or broke violins over each other's heads." Unfortunately, apart from a Soundie musical short of "The Poet and Peasant Overture" not much Milt Britton footage is readily available. So when I came across a black and white print of this Technicolor flick on eBay, well, I had to have it. I was not disappointed: here we are able to see what helped inspire Jones's "Musical Depreciation Revue". Any Three Stooges fan will love this completely over-the-top, violent routine that climaxes with the entire orchestra reducing the stage, along with a breakaway grand piano, to smithereens. (Remember the protracted destruction of Jonathan Winters leveling a gas station in Stanley Kramer's "It's a Mad Mad Mad Mad World"?) Sure, most moviegoers will find this film's plot threadbare, but what do you expect from a low budget musical? In fact, fans of "B" movies and "turkeys" shouldn't miss a couple of its outlandish "production" numbers, including one with a painfully politically incorrect American Indian theme. Now if only I can find a Technicolor print!
Not one of the great musicals.Good lyrics by Johnny Mercer but forgettable melodies. Whether you enjoy it or not depends on your taste.Victor Moore does his Victor Moore act and Cass Daley gives a Cass Daley performance. Some will be amused by her grimaces as she belts out "He loved me till the all clear came"(the film was made during WW2) and "Willie the wolf of the west".Others will think that she is like a female Jim Carrey. The dresses by Edith Head for Dorothy Lamour and the chorus are excellent but the dance routines are weak apart from a solo eccentric dance by Cy Landry.There are two band routines.The first involves Cass Daley and two others as non-playing fiddlers.The second is longer. It features Gil Lamb and the band in expertly timed knock-about comedy. Warning - - The average shot length in these routines is high, there are very few close-ups, there are no audience reaction shots, a static camera is used and a clear view of the perfomers is given at all times. Watch it and decide for yourself - Some like oysters - some don't.