The Girl Most Likely (1958)

User Rating:

6.0/10   

Director:

Mitchell Leisen

Writer (WGA):

Devery Freeman (screenplay)

Release Date:

February 1958 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Musical

Plot:

Dotie dreams of marrying a millionaire so that she can live 'the life'. Buzz, her boyfriend, however...

Plot Keywords:

Mexico | Yacht | Remake | Mistaken Identity

Awards:

1 nomination

Cast

Jane Powell	...	Dodie
Cliff Robertson	...	Pete
Keith Andes	...	Neil Patterson, Jr.
Kaye Ballard	...	Marge
Tommy Noonan	...	Buzz
Una Merkel	...	Mother
Kelly Brown	...	Sam Kelsey
Judy Nugent	...	Pauline
Frank Cady	...	Pop

Runtime:

98 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound Recording)

Certification:

Iceland:L | Australia:PG | Finland:S | Sweden:Btl

Filming Locations:

Balboa Island Ferry, Balboa Island, Newport Beach, California, USA

Company:

Stanley Rubin Productions

Trivia:

According to director Mitchell Leisen, since this was the last film made by RKO, a wrecking crew followed him around during shooting and, every time he wrapped a scene, the foreman of the wrecking crew asked him if he was absolutely finished with that set and wouldn't be needing it again. If Leisen said yes, the foreman called his crew in and they demolished the set as soon as Leisen was done with it.

Movie Connections:

Remake of Tom Dick and Harry (1941)

Soundtrack:

Balboa

End of an era

This is one of the last 50s style musical comedies and the final film to present Jane Powell as a singing star. She is supported by Keith Andes, who can truly sing, and comedy by Tommy Noonan and Kaye Ballard. Cliff Robertson's singing sounds dubbed. The songs are only serviceable, even though they are written by Hugh Martin and Ralph Blane, who gave us "Meet Me in St. Louis" and "Best Foot Forward". The best musical number, however, is the title tune, actually written by Nelson Riddle, with a vocal by the Hi-Los. Riddle's arrangements, which never seem to date, keep the music interesting. As for the plot, there isn't much of one. As for the comedy, both Noonan and Ballard were better served elsewhere. The choreography, however, is spectacular; this is Gower Champion's first attempt to stage dances for performers other than himself and wife Marge. From here, Champion went to Broadway and became a legend.