Anchors Aweigh (1945)

User Rating:

7.0/10   

Director:

George Sidney

Writers:

Natalie Marcin (story)
Isobel Lennart (screenplay)

Release Date:

13 August 1945 (Brazil)

Genre:

Comedy | Musical | Romance

Tagline:

On waves of song . . . laughter and romance ! Two love-lost sailors on a four-day leave of fun and frivolity !

Plot:

Two sailors, one naive, the other experienced in the ways of the world, on liberty in Los Angeles, is the setting for this movie musical.

Plot Keywords:

Sailor | Hollywood | Storytelling | Pacific Ocean | Piano

Awards:

Won Oscar. Another 4 nominations

Cast

Frank Sinatra	...	Clarence Doolittle
Kathryn Grayson	...	Susan Abbott
Gene Kelly	...	Joseph Brady
José Iturbi	...	Himself
Dean Stockwell	...	Donald Martin - Child runaway
Pamela Britton	...	Waitress from Brooklyn
Rags Ragland	...	Cop in charge of runaway Donald (as 'Rags' Ragland)
Billy Gilbert	...	Cafe Manager
Henry O'Neill	...	Adm. Hammond - pinning on medals
Carlos Ramírez	...	Carlos
Edgar Kennedy	...	Chief of police station
Grady Sutton	...	Bertram Kraler - Susan's beau
Leon Ames	...	Admiral's aide reads citation for medals
Sharon McManus	...	Little Mexican Girl
James Flavin	...	Radio Cop

Runtime:

143 min | USA:140 min (DVD version)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Sound System)

Certification:

USA:Approved | USA:Passed (National Board of Review) | Australia:G | Finland:S | Sweden:Btl

Filming Locations:

Hollywood Bowl - 2301 N. Highland Avenue, Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)

Trivia:

This was the first film project for Pamela Britton.

Goofs:

Errors in geography: When Joe and Clarence arrive in Los Angeles for shore leave, they walk within view of a red neon sign that says "Hollywood". The actual Hollywood sign is set in the Hollywood Hills, with 45-foot-tall white letters and no neon.

Quotes:

[at Donald's school]
Donald Martin: [to Joe] Tell us how you got your medal.
Joseph Brady: Alright, I'll tell you how I got my medal. Now close your eyes... and try to think of the most beautiful place you've ever with greenest grass and the singingest birds and the shiningest sun.
[Cut to Donald's thoughts]
Joseph Brady: Can you see it?
Kids: Yeah!
Joseph Brady: Good! Now imagine me walking along, happy as a lark. Can you see me?
Kids: Yeah!
Joseph Brady: Good! Of course, back then in the navy we wore white suits with blue stripes and little white hat with a little red ball on top. Oh, I was so happy I ran and leaped and played, just for the fun of it! My, it felt good! Oh, it was such a wonderful, wonderful day! When all of a sudden I stepped into a big hole and fell, right to the bottom of it! I seemed to be in a long tunnel. 'Way ahead I could see light, so I started towards. At the end I found myself in a strange land! It looked...

Movie Connections:

Featured in "Family Guy: Road to Rupert (#5.9)" (2007)

Soundtrack:

Anchors Aweigh (Reprise #2)

One of the best examples of dance ever...

The only reason I give this movie 8/10 stars, and not 10, is because 1) Sinatra is awful and 2) the love interest of Kelly's character leaves much to be desired, (IMHO). Do love that Dean Stockwell, Quantum Leap - Al, is the little boy. The dance sequence with Jerry Mouse is one of the most entertaining and amazing dance sequences I have ever seen. Tom and Jerry is still a personal favorite of mine and my daughter's. I'm 28 and she's 4, so while the character is less iconic than Mickey, he is still a favorite of many children and adults today. Kelly is as always captivating, his eyes full of fun and excitement. In every movie I have ever seen him in, he always steals the show. One of the best dancers of the 20th century. It is no wonder Paula Abdul "sampled" Kelly's moves. I would also list Gene Kelly as one of the most beautiful people of the 20th century. If you were to watch only one part, don't miss Kelly's dance with Jerry Mouse. You will NOT be disappointed.