It's funny watching the elements come together in this complicated scam. On one hand, the set-up isn't quite as complex as it seems, but there's an easy sense of fun in every exchange.
View MoreThis is a coming of age storyline that you've seen in one form or another for decades. It takes a truly unique voice to make yet another one worth watching.
View MoreWhile it doesn't offer any answers, it both thrills and makes you think.
View MoreThis is one of the best movies I’ve seen in a very long time. You have to go and see this on the big screen.
View MoreA Hal B. Wallis Production. Copyright 4 July 1945 by Hal Wallis Productions, Inc. Released through Paramount Pictures. New York opening at the Paramount: 4 July 1945. U.S. release: 14 September 1945. U.K. release: 22 October 1945. Australian release: 18 April 1946. 11 reels. 9,390 feet. 104 minutes.SYNOPSIS: Second-billed as Ivy Hotchkiss, Lizabeth was pitched in the advertisements as "Here's to Lizabeth Scott. Beautiful... blonde... aloof... alluring." And she had three acceptable leading men to bounce off her range of dramatic expression in this prefabricated bit of love, bravery, and patriotism. She was the treasury department official assigned to take three GIs (Bob Cummings, Don DeFore, and Charles Drake) on a war bond tour. Naturally, she and Cummings fall in love and marry. However...NOTES: Film debut of Lizabeth Scott.COMMENT: A ridiculous wartime escapist romantic melodrama, with boy scout pilots on a bond-selling tour falling for their chic blonde guide. Noble fellows these, whose strongest language is "Hubba-hubba!", true descendants of the Three Musketeers. Hard to believe that this tripe was boiled up by none other than Ayn The Fountainhead Rand. Even more difficult to credit that John Farrow had a hand in its direction. True, there are a few of his customary long takes, but mostly Farrow's handling comes across as boringly routine. His biggest black mark though is that he's been able to do nothing with that ebullient ham, Robert Cummings, who alas gives a truly lousy performance in what is the key role. Aside from a valiant attempt by newcomer Lizabeth Scott to dispense a bit of genuine charm to counterbalance Cummings' outlandish artificiality, the rest of the players seem cowed and overawed. Despite the sterling efforts of the photographer, the composer (who has contributed a witty and melodious score), and the art directors, all making the most of an undeniably handsome budget, the general atmosphere of this picture can be expressed in one word: Cloying.
View MoreAlthough this film introduces cinema audiences to Lizabeth Scott, it doesn't have anything going for it. You see Robert Cummings as a married man getting involved in domestic life washing up dishes, but this in and of itself is not advancing the plot. Cummings' acting is fine, but the individual performances do not lift the film. Scott is not easy on the eye even when she smiles. There is an arch at the side of her lip as if she has a bad taste in the mouth. It looks as though she is going to snarl at any minute, and you get the feeling that any happiness that she has will soon die in her face. Maybe if they had cast a better leading lady then her performance would have lifted the film.
View MoreLizabeth Scott makes her film debut in this 1945 light comedy / romance / melodrama story set in World War II. Scott plays Ivy Hotchkiss, a stunning blonde from the treasury department who has been assigned to accompany three rambunctious, fun-loving war pilots on a Savings Bond tour across the US. She soon has her work cut out for her, trying to keep Major Bob Collins ( Robert Cummings ), Captain W. Anders ( Don DeFore ), Lt. R. Janoschek ( Charles Drake ) out of trouble. With all the mischievous merrymaking the three men come up with, Ivy finally gives in trying to keep them in line and comes to really enjoy and care for them. As the tour progresses, Ivy and Bob fall in love, but Collins is really dying of Leukemia and his secret is revealed accidentally by a medical officer to Ivy. The brave pilot has known all along that this Bond tour is his last hurrah. Ivy chooses to stay at his side, without revealing she knows of his condition, thus becoming a tragic heroine. The story sounds sappy on paper and a little dated, but actually the film is well scripted, and the fun-loving foursome are very engaging, and for the most part the film is enjoyable to watch. Lizabeth Scott is very impressive in a role far different from the characters she would play through-out the rest of her career. If you are lucky to have the chance to see this hard to find film, I suggest having a look, I wish I could see it again.
View MoreIt is amazing how this film starts and how it ends. The very first scenes shows us one silly comedy about three Air Force pilots and one beautiful blonde PR (Scott). But the script makes an U turn and what we see is a very adult and realistic romance. The leading couple - Robert Cummings and Lizabeth Scott - are superb in their roles. And there is little trace of war propaganda, very subtle and always working to move the story. This is a film that could be so vain but manage to explore some deep meanings in romance and life itself. A nice piece of work from screenwriters Ayn Rand and Robert Smith, and director John Farrow. The ending is really touching.
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