Themes: Down on Their Luck, Actor's Life, Love Triangles
Main Cast: Doris Day, Robert Cummings, Phil Silvers, Eddie Foy, Jr., Nancy Walker
Release Year: 1954
Country: US
Run Time: 100 minutes
Plot
Lucky Me is a mixed-bag musical from Warner Bros., adhering to a tried-and-true formula that was wearing just a bit thin in 1954. Candy (Doris Day), Hap (Phil Silvers), Duke (Eddie Foy Jr.) and Flo (Nancy Walker) are four small-time performers who find themselves stranded in Miami. Forced to take domestic jobs in a fancy hotel, the foursomes's spirits are lifted when songwriter Dick (Bob Cummings) checks in. On the verge of writing a big-time Broadway show, Dick invites the four entertainers to participate. The hitch: In order to bankroll the show, Dick must woo and win the daughter (Martha Hyer) of a Texas oil magnate. . .and Candy has fallen in love with Dick. Sharp-eyed viewers will spot Angie Dickinson making her uncredited feature-film debut. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
Review
Although it's not a disaster, Lucky Me is a dull and surprisingly dreary little musical. Not dreary in terms of atmosphere, but in terms of originality and vitality. It boasts a hoary plot, but that by itself isn't the problem; many better musicals have been made from equally trite story ingredients. The problem is that nothing is done to disguise the dullness of the plot, and there's nothing in the way of wit, character development, or sparkling dialogue to compensate. Even more damagingly, the Sammy Fain songs are, at best, merely adequate. Oh, "Love You Dearly" has a generally pleasing main strain, and "Men" works because Doris Day and especially Phil Silvers force it to. But a script this weak needs a real killer of a score, rather than one that is just fairly pleasant. Lucky Me does have an expert cast, but Day doesn't seem totally engaged in the affair (though her singing is spot-on), and Robert Cummings is clearly uncomfortable. There's also precious little chemistry between the two stars. Silvers scores big, but he's not given enough to do. Given even less are Nancy Walker and Eddie Foy, Jr., chomping at the bit to let loose a little and never getting half a chance. It's colorful and there are some amusing or lovely costumes (and some not-so-lovely), but all in all, Lucky Me is a genial but lackluster film. ~ Craig Butler, All Movie Guide
John Beckman - Art Director, LeRoy J. Prinz - Choreography, Jack Donohue - Director, Owen Marks - Editor, Ray Heindorf - Composer (Music Score), Ray Heindorf - Musical Direction/Supervision, Wilfrid M. Cline - Cinematographer, Henry Blanke - Producer, William Wallace - Set Designer, Irving Elinson - Screenwriter, Robert O'Brien - Screenwriter, James O'Hanlon - Screenwriter
