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6 out of 6 people found the following review useful: This is THE Betty Grable movie to see..., 15 September 1998 Author: anonymous from Palo Alto, California
...this movie has everything that everyone expects of Betty Grable every time. It is bright and colorful and silly and funny and loads of fun. Betty, (ever the independent and employed woman) is working as an entertainer in an odd little dive. Well, a friend of the owners does what we would now call a corporate take-over--and then he does a make-over on Betty and she becomes a big musical comedy star--but wait--it is more complicated than that! See this and you will understand why Betty Grable was loved at the box office for so long. She is wonderful.
4 out of 4 people found the following review useful: Slick, colorful musical trifle with Grable and rest of cast in top form, 29 January 2001 Author: Arne Andersen (aandersen@landmarkcollege.org) from Putney, VT
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.
3 out of 3 people found the following review useful: Betty Shines in Another Lively, Tuneful Fox Musical, 25 September 2004 Author: Kalaman from Ottawa
Despite a slow start and trifling plot, "Coney Island" turns out to be One of Betty Grable's most sheerly exuberant musicals and another shimmering, glossily produced, exquisitely Technicolored Fox tuner set in the Gay 90s, directed with chic elegance by Walter Lang. Betty is wonderful all the way and gave what she had as Kate Farley, the stage show entertainer/singer who is transformed by George Montgomery into a classy Broadway star with musical and vocal talents, despite the protests from Kate's manager, played by Cesar Romero. Charles Winninger, Phil Silvers and Hurst are the capably eccentric supporting players.The songs and numbers are joyously, spectacularly staged, including the unforgettable "Cuddle Up a Little Closer", "Pretty Baby", "There's Danger in a Dance", "Beautiful Coney Island", "Put Your Arms Around Me", and "Lulu from Louisville."
2 out of 2 people found the following review useful: One of my favorite Betty Grable musicals..., 24 February 2007 Author: Neil Doyle from U.S.A.
CONEY ISLAND was such a successful Fox musical that seven years later it was turned into another starring vehicle for Grable called WABASH AVENUE. It's a breezy turn-of-the-century show biz tale about two Coney Island hucksters and the tricks they play on each other to win patrons at their establishments.Betty is the brassy singer with the garish costumes and exaggerated singing/dancing style that Montgomery has to tone down by tying her to a prop so she can't move but has to deliver her ballad ("Cuddle Up A Little Closer") without gyrating all over the stage. Naturally, the love/hate relationship blooms into romance with Grable and Montgomery making a pleasing match as a team.Lost of comedy relief from PHIL SILVERS and CHARLES WINNINGER, some nice song and dance numbers for Grable, and the whole backstage story is easy to take, the usual misunderstandings and schemes backfiring before the fadeout to a happy ending.For BETTY GRABLE's fans, this one has to be rated one of her best.
2 out of 2 people found the following review useful: This movie I had seen when I was young and I thought that it was a good wholesome movie.I would like to purchase it if it ever comes to DVD., 23 January 2004 Author: jo7paso from alberta, canada
I remember a fun energetic guy who tricks and plays jokes on an old buddy. There is a woman that works for his buddy. He ends up falling in love with a her and at the same time he changes her reputation as an actor to be a real star.It turns out that his buddy plays a joke right back and well.... you should watch it.
1 out of 1 people found the following review useful: Its OK, 10 July 2009 Author: Alex da Silva from United Kingdom
Eddie (George Montgomery) arrives at a nightclub owned by old friend Joe (Cesar Romero) and asks to become a partner in his business. Joe's girlfriend/protégé, Kate (Betty Grable) is a singer at the club and the story follows how these 2 men fight over her and her transformation from a trashy performer into a classy performer.The film is only interesting when Betty Grable is performing. Thankfully, she sings and dances in quite a few numbers, so saving this film from being bad. George Montgomery is terrible as the lead - very cheesy - and the supporting characters - Finnigan (Charles Winninger) as a drunken Irishman and Frankie (Phil Silvers as his usual self) - are annoying. The only characters with any credibility are Cesar Romero and Betty Grable and they save this film from being a complete turkey.The colour is good, the songs are good and Betty Grable single-handedly brings the film into the overall "ok" category.
0 out of 1 people found the following review useful: Hokey and a tad offensive, 9 December 2006 Author: moonkoil from Houston
Was very shocked 15 seconds into the film to see a character in blackface. Later there is an entire musical number in blackface. Lastly, the grand finale has a number in blackface as well. Is it just a sign of the times the film was made in? I guess. Do I have to celebrate it, or recommend it? No, I don't and no, I can't.I would allow that it works as a historical document, of sorts. Of a kind of entertainment that was wiped out by rock'n'roll. Cesar Romero delivers his usual classy, excellent performance. The leading lady was unfortunately portrayed as dumb enough to be manipulated at every turn, a mere chit in the 2 guys' competitive rivalry.
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