Scanialara
You won't be disappointed!
Sexyloutak
Absolutely the worst movie.
Gurlyndrobb
While it doesn't offer any answers, it both thrills and makes you think.
TheLittleSongbird
'If I'm Lucky' is a decent and pleasant musical, and passes the time more than adequately. However, it also could have been better considering the talent.The weak link is the story, which is tepid fairly often with some of the goings on verging on the tedious. The script is charming and amusing enough, but needed a sharper edge and more bite, feeling a little blander than it should have been considering it's meant to be satirical.Perry Como is handsome and sings exquisitely but is not a natural actor and it shows in a performance that other than the singing is pretty wooden. While 'If I'm Lucky' is a very good-looking film (more than that actually) there were a couple of scenes crying out for Technicolor, especially the still hugely entertaining "Botocuda".However the black and white production values are a marvel, being remarkably crisp and opulent. The songs are not timeless and they don't stick in the head unforgettably, but they still are very pleasant and lovely to listen to with a good deal of energy, "Botocuda" and the title song standing out in particular.Much of the direction is very much competent and the pacing, though with the odd tedium in between, tends to be bright and breezy. Como aside, the cast don't disappoint. Carmen Miranda steals the film with her colourfully wild costumes and her hilariously nutty presence from her butchered English to her deliciously exaggerated facial expressions. Vivian Blaine is charmingly polished and passionately energetic, while Harry James (playing an integral part to the story) is in his prime. Phil Silvers did have material that played to his strengths a little more in 'Something for the Boys' but actually a more subdued performance from him here and in comparison to a lot of his other films was appreciated and worked well (will also be a delight for non-fans).On the whole, a pleasant way to pass the time but could have been much better. 6/10 Bethany Cox
bkoganbing
Probably the most demands on Perry Como as an actor in his brief sojourn in Hollywood was this watered down remake of Dick Powell's classic Thanks A Million. Sad to say that has not been made available and it is a pity. Thanks A Million was a sharp and witty satire on the American political system how a crooner gets himself good and used by a corrupt political machine when they dump their candidate and nominate him for governor. The same material is used, but without the bite. Instead of the radio crooners of the Thirties the music is now the swing music of the Forties supplied by Harry James. He's got a pair of attractions with his band played by Vivian Blaine and Carmen Miranda and a press agent played by Phil Silvers. He hires Perry Como as a male singer and the group accepts a touring gig with a political candidate who has a drinking problem and is played by Edgar Buchanan. One night when he's in his cups, Como goes on and wows the crowd. At that point the political bosses switch to use him as their stooge.The musical score is nothing to write home about. Perhaps if Perry had a big hit from this he might have stayed a little longer in Hollywood. Not much more though. That relaxed attitude that made him welcome in so many homes in the 50s was not hiding any great acting talent like his contemporary graduate from the big bands Frank Sinatra.Even Carmen Miranda was somewhat subdued in If I'm Lucky.Hope that some day you get to see Thanks A Million so you can compare.
timothymcclenaghan
Vivian Blaine, looking lovely at age 25, has the lead role in this musical, which also stars Perry Como, and both of them perform their musical numbers pleasantly and competently.Phil Silvers is, of course, Phil Silvers, playing exactly the same character he played in many other films.It should have been a crime not to film Carmen Miranda in Technicolor. Her production number cries out for color.Harry James has a speaking part, portraying the band leader (what a stretch). He also performs vocally in some of the songs.Edgar Buchanan (better known to us as Uncle Joe in the TV series "Petticoat Junction") is the quintessential politician blowhard.The musical score is done by veteran songsmiths Josef Myrow (You Make Me Feel So Young) and Edgar "Eddie" De Lange (Darn That Dream, Moon Glow). While none of the tunes seems to have survived to present day, nor made the status of "standard", the songs are pleasant and typical fare for that time.Forget that this film is a remake of another. So what else wasn't new in Hollywood. It's a bit of fluff in the same vein as all of the other 20th Century Fox musicals of the 1940s. So if you like those musicals, you'll enjoy this one too. The only big flaw is lack of Technicolor.
malcolmgsw
This is an entertaining remake of "Thanks A Million".I do not know much about American politics in the thirties but i would guess that the original was probably a swift punch to the midriff of the American body politic whereas this is more a nudge in the ribs.If you stand this on its own you would say that this is a reasonably entertaining Fox musical from the 1940s with all the usual ingredients,the best of which is Carmen Miranda who really steals the show.As for Perry Como well we all know he can sing but unfortunately he cant act and that is one of the main problems of this film,particularly if you compare him to Dick Powell in the original.Also i have to say that not one of the songs stays in the mind for one second after the music has faded away.I would be bound to say that if you had to see one version it would have to be the original.Any film with Fred Allen,Patsy Kelly and Raymond Walburn has to be unmissable
