Self-important, over-dramatic, uninspired.

Let's be realistic.

There are moments that feel comical, some horrific, and some downright inspiring but the tonal shifts hardly matter as the end results come to a film that's perfect for this time.

There's no way I can possibly love it entirely but I just think its ridiculously bad, but enjoyable at the same time.

Robert Walker does his best. Ava Gardner proves she can do comedy.

Here's a screenplay by Harry Kurnitz and Frank Tashlin, based on a Broadway musical which was itself based on a novel. Ava Gardner, borrowed from MGM for the title role, walked out on the movie due to friction with her co-star, Robert Walker, before it was completed, so it's a little hard to judge whether some of the movie's problems were inherent or accidental. In any case, director William A. Seiter is not exactly first league. In fact, in my original review, I wrote that he was a hack and that I couldn't imagine why a savvy producer like Lester Cowan had hired him in the first place. Now that was unjust. A director can only direct what's placed in front of him. He's not a mind reader, nor is he usually a man who can improvise like say Rene Clair or George Marshall. Fortunately, Eve Arden needs no coercing. She has some very funny lines here and delivers them most expertly. The dances were staged by Billy Daniels, and he also is always no top of his game. So what we have here is a pretty good movie. I'd give it 7.5! But it could -- and should -- have been better!

"Eddie Hatch" (Robert Walker) is a well-meaning young man who just happens to be a low paid window dresser working at a large department store. One day he is given the job of fixing the drapes that surround a recently acquired--but very expensive--statue of Venus and after drinking some champagne he innocently kisses it prior to getting back to his work. Sure enough, the statue becomes the actual "Goddess of Love" (played by Ava Gardner) who takes an instant liking to the bumbling employee. Unfortunately, when Venus comes to life the priceless statue disappears and the rich owner "Whitfield Savory" (Tom Conway) automatically suspects Eddie of stealing it and has him immediately apprehended. But things get even worse for Eddie when Whitfield encounters Venus and falls madly in love with her. Now rather than reveal any more of the movie and risk spoiling it for those who haven't seen it I will just say that this was a cute musical-comedy which was tailor-made for such a gorgeous actress like Ava Gardner. Also worth mentioning are the performances of both Eve Arden (as "Molly Stewart") and Robert Walker who played their parts quite nicely as well. That said, while it is certainly dated it still remains a fun little movie and I rate it as slightly above average.

This is, arguably, the worst of the major Ava Gardner films. Yes, she is gorgeous. But that can wear thin over time, especially after the corny and predictable movie ending.In this turkey, Robert Walker has to pretend that he's Eddie Bracken (which surely embarrassed him). Olga San Juan plays the Jane Powell (golly, gee) part. Dick Haymes plays a sort of dim sidekick (!), and Eve Arden plays Helen Broderick (and a host of other wise-cracking female semi-comedians). Yes, the film contains a major popular song, "Speak Low." But check out the other, entirely forgettable, pieces. Dick Haymes sings very well, of course, and so does the uncredited vocalist dubbing for Ava.The sets are cheap, the script is filled with clichés and failed humor, and Tom Conway looks as though he has been battling with liquor (as indeed he was). In short, if you want to see Ava in her prime, buy a photo and stay well clear of this movie.