Not even bad in a good way

Excellent and certainly provocative... If nothing else, the film is a real conversation starter.

There is, somehow, an interesting story here, as well as some good acting. There are also some good scenes

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.

George Marshall made many fine comedies during his long career, but this is not one of them. I have seen over 15,000 films and this is one of the worst major studio US films I have ever seen. The music and "comedy" is unendurable and nothing works - truly a disaster on every level (OK, the technicolor is adequate). Dick Powell and Victor Moore seem to be doing it for the paycheck, and Dorothy Lamour seems to be waiting for Hope or Crosby to show up. Cass Dailey is screechingly bad. I got this rare title from UK TV (Channel 5), and it makes bad UK comedies like the Old Mother Riley series seem like Lubitsch comedies. Truly, this is only for masochists.

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.

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.