As a biopic of Pearl White, this film is dreadful. It turns a tragic life into Technicolor fluff and tacks on a happy ending. As a depiction of the silent era, this film is dreadful. It takes one of the most creative and rich periods of cinematic history and acts like all of it was cheap kitschy garbage that didn't require acting. However, taken on its own terms, this is a cute musical comedy.
Betty Hutton is delightful and energetic, singing and dancing and leaping about in every scene. She takes musical numbers that could have been dull in lesser hands and makes them explosive. Less impressive is her leading man, John Lund, who proves incapable of matching her charisma. Then again, the problem might be the way his character is written: he plays the snobbiest, most condescending jerk. Outside of looks, it's impossible to believe Hutton could fall for him. He also reforms much too late into the story for the audience to like him.
In the end, a fun, if unremarkable, film. Watch for Hutton.
Betty Hutton is delightful and energetic, singing and dancing and leaping about in every scene. She takes musical numbers that could have been dull in lesser hands and makes them explosive. Less impressive is her leading man, John Lund, who proves incapable of matching her charisma. Then again, the problem might be the way his character is written: he plays the snobbiest, most condescending jerk. Outside of looks, it's impossible to believe Hutton could fall for him. He also reforms much too late into the story for the audience to like him.
In the end, a fun, if unremarkable, film. Watch for Hutton.