Movielogr
Hit the Deck (1955)
Directed by Roy Rowland
Twitter Facebook Google+Overview
Sailors on leave in San Francisco get mixed up in love and show business.
Length 112 minutes
Actors
Jane Powell | Tony Martin | Debbie Reynolds | Walter Pidgeon | Vic Damone | Gene Raymond | Ann Miller | Russ Tamblyn | J. Carrol Naish | Kay Armen | Richard Anderson | Jane Darwell | Alan King | Henry Slate | Orville Brooks | Ted Brooks | Caleb Ginyard | George McFadden | Dickie Humphreys
Viewing History (seen 1 time)
| Date Viewed | Device | Format | Source | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 08/14/2019 | TV | Blu-ray | Library | 7 stars |
| (Average) 7 stars |
Viewing Notes
Checked this out from the library after Stephanie tweeted those clips of Debbie Reynolds and Russ Tamblyn dancing in the haunted attraction. Turns out that was easily the best sequence in this rom-com musical. So good I had to watch it twice. One of the really great things about filmmaking back in the 1950s for musical dance routines (and they probably didn’t realize it then nor knew of a better way) is that they have longer takes on these wide shots. Guessing it was more of a fiscal decision (less cameras less editing, etc) but the result is something you rarely see in modern film; the beauty of viewing a wonderful sequence untainted from close-ups and multiple edits. It’s glorious to see and really showcases the entertainers doing the work. Reynolds and Tamblyn are fantastic hitting their cues in a long string of timing moves. Makes me wonder how many takes it took to get these perfect scenes.
The story of the film is fine and elevated by Ann Miller (she of the excellent Mulholland Drive, heh) who is marvelous in all her routines. A lot of it is the typical rom-com blather but more acceptable since it’s broken up w/some nice dance routines and songs. But absolutely worth the viewing for that haunted attraction sequence and every scene w/Ann Miller.
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