Coney Island (1943)

User Rating:

7.1/10   

Director:

Walter Lang

Writer:

George Seaton (writer)

Release Date:

18 June 1943 (USA)

Genre:

Musical | Comedy

Plot:

Set at the turn of the century, smooth talking con man Eddie Johnson weasels his way into a job at friend...

Plot Keywords:

Rival | Singer | Beautiful Woman | Music Hall | Sideshow

Awards:

Nominated for Oscar.

Cast

Betty Grable	...	Kate Farley
George Montgomery	...	Eddie Johnson
Cesar Romero	...	Joe Rocco
Charles Winninger	...	Finnigan
Phil Silvers	...	Frankie
Matt Briggs	...	William 'Willie' Hammerstein
Paul Hurst	...	Louie
Leo Diamond	...	Himself - Solidaires Leader (as Leo Diamond and His Solidaires)

Runtime:

96 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Recording)

Certification:

Finland:S | Sweden:Btl | USA:Approved (PCA #8899)

Company:

Twentieth Century-Fox Film Corporation

Trivia:

Betty Grable starred in this as well as its 1950 remake, Wabash Avenue (1950).

Movie Connections:

Featured in "Biography: Betty Grable: Behind the Pin-up" (1995)

Soundtrack:

The Darktown Strutters' Ball

Slick, colorful musical trifle with Grable and rest of cast in top form

This is a colorful musical bit of fluff, set in NY's beach community around the turn of the century. George Montgomery gives one of his best Gable-like performances as the con man who has his eye on Grable and wants to see her leave her hootch act to become a top Broadway headliner. They squabble, there are misunderstandings, double-crosses, but all comes right in the end. Although the Scoring was justly nominated for an Oscar, there should have been nods for the beautifully composed Technicolor cinematography and the lavish costume design as well (alack, the latter category didn't exist in 1943). Caesar Romero is the rival and Charles Winniger and Phil Silvers provide the comedy relief. There are only four songs but they are well done. This is a very enjoyable piece of fluff. One is surprised Montgomery didn't become a major star - he had the looks and the personality.