That's the premise of this Frank Capra musical where war corespondent Bing Crosby has remained in Europe to try and find homes for a series of orphans, taking two back to the United States with him in hopes of melting former fiancée Jane Wyman's heart after she frustratingly agrees to marry her wealthy boss (Franchot Tone) after constantly being kept under wraps by Bing. She even sends him a recording of her demands, appearing in Bing's memory standing on the record while talking. Audiences who only know Wyman from her dramatic performances and TV's "Falcon Crest" will be delighted here to find out that she's a very talented singer, dancer and comedienne, not content with simply dramatic emoting, as she showed by immediately moving into these comedy's and musicals after winning her Oscar for "Johnny Belinda".
An above average musical score highlights the songs, with some of Bing's Paramount pals joining in for the airplane set "Christopho' Columbo", including trumpet playing Louis Armstrong, "Road to..." co-star Dorothy Lamour, wailing Jerry Colonna and funny lady Cass Daley. The theme song, though, is the Oscar Winning "In the Cool, Cool, Cool, Cool of the Evening", which seems to warm Wyman up every time she hears it. Rising child soprano Anna Maria Alberghetti sings an operatic song in a touching moment as a war orphan who happens to be blind. James Barton and Connie Gilchrist are very funny as Wyman's less than high society parents, Robert Keith seen as Bing's frustrated boss, and Alexis Smith rather wasted as Tone's dowdy cousin who obviously has heavy feelings for him. A ton of veteran Hollywood character actors pop in and out very fast, some of their bit roles more amusing than others. Jacques Gencel and Beverly Washburn steal every scene (and your heart) as the two war orphans who do nothing but fight with each other, but obviously could bear to be separated from each other. While the plot line might seem a trifle bit saccharine, the writing helps minimize any potential tooth decay you might get from the stickiness of the plot.
An above average musical score highlights the songs, with some of Bing's Paramount pals joining in for the airplane set "Christopho' Columbo", including trumpet playing Louis Armstrong, "Road to..." co-star Dorothy Lamour, wailing Jerry Colonna and funny lady Cass Daley. The theme song, though, is the Oscar Winning "In the Cool, Cool, Cool, Cool of the Evening", which seems to warm Wyman up every time she hears it. Rising child soprano Anna Maria Alberghetti sings an operatic song in a touching moment as a war orphan who happens to be blind. James Barton and Connie Gilchrist are very funny as Wyman's less than high society parents, Robert Keith seen as Bing's frustrated boss, and Alexis Smith rather wasted as Tone's dowdy cousin who obviously has heavy feelings for him. A ton of veteran Hollywood character actors pop in and out very fast, some of their bit roles more amusing than others. Jacques Gencel and Beverly Washburn steal every scene (and your heart) as the two war orphans who do nothing but fight with each other, but obviously could bear to be separated from each other. While the plot line might seem a trifle bit saccharine, the writing helps minimize any potential tooth decay you might get from the stickiness of the plot.