Movies:
Springtime in the Rockies
- Rating:
- Genre: Musical
- Movie Type: Musical Comedy, Musical Romance
- Themes: Love Triangles
- Director: Irving Cummings
- Main Cast: Betty Grable, John Payne, Carmen Miranda, Cesar Romero, Charlotte Greenwood
- Release Year: 1942
- Country: US
- Run Time: 91 minutes
Plot
A musical remake of the 1936 comedy Second Honeymoon and the starring debut of Betty Grable, Springtime in the Rockies tells the not unfamiliar story of Vicky Lane (Grable, a Broadway dancer despairing over the tardiness of her partner Dan Christy (John Payne) who, as it turns out, has instead been busily engaged in a bit of extracurricular activities with socialite Marilyn Crothers (Trudy Marshall). In disgust, Vicky teams up with a former partner, Victor Prince (Cesar Romero), and leaves for the great outdoors while Dan attempts to go on without her. Unfortunately, the Commissioner (Jackie Gleason), Dan's harried agent, can only find backing for a new show if Dan and Vicky reunite and soon everyone, including ditzy secretary Rosita Murphy (Carmen Miranda) and Dan's flibbertigibbet valet McTavish ($Edward Everett Horton}), descends on the Canadian resort of Lake Louise where Harry James and His Music Makers make their headquarter. The usual complications arise but McTavish suddenly inherits a handsome sum of money and agrees to back a new show starring Vicky and Dan, Victor and Rosita, and the ubiquitous Harry James.Betty Grable performs "Ciribiribin and other popular selections, Carmen Miranda makes mincemeat of "Chattanooga Choo Choo" (in Portuguese, no less!), while band vocalist Helen Forrest and the Music Makers take care of the film's hit tune, Harry Warren and Mack Gordon's "I Had the Craziest Dream". ~ Hans J. Wollstein, All Movie GuideReview
If nothing else, Hollywood's wartime "Good Neighbor" policy towards South America brought Carmen Miranda to the forefront. Back in the 1940s, Carmen had 'em rolling in the aisles with her butchering of the English language and her rococo millinery that imitated exotic fruit baskets. Today, she is mostly High Camp but as such can become quite infectious. Springtime in the Rockies, meanwhile, is less a refreshing tour of the great outdoors as it is a Mack Gordon-Harry Warren songbook. In fact, the scenery is all rear projection and no one ever actually leaves the confines of a 20th Century-Fox soundstage. But with such garrulous entertainers as Miss Miranda, Betty Grable, Charlotte Greenwood (who, as always, is all legs and tart asides), Banda Da Lua and a jiving group of juvenile delinquents known as Six Hits and a Miss, no one should mind the rather humid conditions. Add to all that the genial Harry James, who performs such numbers as his own and Count Basie's "Two O'Clock Jump" and "Run, Little Raindrop, Run", and a good time is had by all. ~ Hans J. Wollstein, All Movie GuideCast
- Betty Grable - Vicky Lane
- John Payne - Dan Christy
- Carmen Miranda - Rosita Murphy
- Cesar Romero - Victor Price
- Charlotte Greenwood - Phoebe Gray
Edward Everett Horton - McTavish; Frank Orth - Bickle; Jackie Gleason - Commissioner; Harry Hayden - Brown; Chick Chandler - Stage Manager; Iron Eyes Cody - White Cloud; Dick Elliott - Mr. Jeepers; Bess Flowers - Mrs. Jeepers; Helen Forrest - Singer; Trudy Marshall - Marilyn; Billy Wayne - Assistant Stage Manager; Bando Da Lua - Themselves; Harry James & His Orchestra - Themselves
