STEP LIVELY

US, 1944, 88 minutes, Black and white.
Frank Sinatra,George Murphy, Adolphe Menjou, Gloria de Haven, Anne Jeffreys, Walter Slezak, Eugene Pallette.
Directed by Tim Whelan.

Step Lively is a colourful wartime musical. It was based on a play and a previous film version with the Marx Brothers and Lucille Ball, Room Service. Tim Whelan, a director in England, e.g. The Divorce of Lady X., The Thief of Baghdad and the United States, Higher and Higher, directs with verve. It is an opportunity to see George Murphy as a brash song and dance man. It is also Frank Sinatra's second major film. It was obviously geared for him and his popularity at that time - the shy young hero who was to emerge as a popular singer. Anchors Aweigh came the next year. Gloria de Haven is an attractive leading lady. It is the routine, 'the show must go on' plot handled in a '40s kind of way. For the students of the movie musical.

1. The entertainment value of the American musical comedy? Basic appeal of plot, American brashness.. show business, music, songs, dances, style?

2. The basic conventions used? Of plot, visuals, musical routines? Better than average?

3. Black and white photography, the New York locations, hotels and theatres? The quality of the score? The special songs especially for Frank Sinatra? The dance routines? The choreographed effects - especially in the opening sequences and the introduction of the characters?

4. The plausibility and implausibility of the plot? The American presentation of show business, musical shows, Broadway, producers and their difficulties, businessmen? Confidence tricksters? The hero and his skills in eluding his pursuers? Frank Sinatra as hero and singer? The ins and outs of the plot and the final success - with a frantic pace? The speed of delivery, the continual motion of the characters and the actions? Literally. the show must go on?

5. Miller as producer - the build-up to him at the beginning,, his presence in the hotel,, his relying on Gribble and exploiting him? The double talk? His assistants? The encounter with Jenkins and the mistaken identity, his being swindled of his money? Miss Abbott and her being in the show? Christine and his ignoring her, using her for testing Russell, her loyalty towards him? Russell and the double talk? Wagner and his examination of the books? Miller and his skating continually on thin ice and coming up with success? The American producer type? The portrayal of his assistants - with humour?

6. Russell and Frank Sinatra's introduction to films? His popularity. singing and his potential as a star? As a playwright, the naive young man coming to town? The attraction towards Christine? His seeing through Miller? His participating in the various tricks - e.g. pretending to be sick, the final pretending to be dead? His love for Christine?

7. Christine as heroine - loyalty to Miller, attraction towards Russell? Her songs - e.g. in the hotel and leading Frank Sinatra into song? The routines for the show? Rehearsals?

8. Gribble and the comedy of the frantic hotel manager, the confrontation with Wagner? The relentlessness of Wagner and his finally being tricked, his relenting?

9. The American world of police, doctors, show business? The various impersonations? The routines of illness, death. the doctor on the ledge etc.?

10. The contribution of the songs, dances? The appeal of the musical?