Main Cast: Kathryn Grayson, June Allyson, Lauritz Melchior, Jimmy Durante, Peter Lawford
Release Year: 1946
Country: US
Run Time: 112 minutes
Plot
By 1946, MGM's musical output was in the hands of two men: the incisive, progressive Arthur Freed, and the sentimental, old-fashioned Joe Pasternak. It was Pasternak who held the reins on Two Sisters from Boston, a period piece set in New York. June Allyson and Kathryn Grayson arrive fresh from prim 'n' proper Boston, only to secure work as entertainers in a rowdy Bowery saloon. Since the saloon owner is lovable old Jimmy Durante, the girls have nothing to fear so far as physical outrages are concerned, though they just barely withstand the assault to their eardrums when Schnozzola sings "G'wan Home, Your Mother's Calling." The cultural portion of the program is handled by Metropolitan Opera star Lauritz Melchior, who though in excellent voice isn't as much fun to watch as Durante. The efficacy of Joe Paternak's candy-box approach was proven by the excellent boxoffice response to Two Sisters From Boston. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
Review
Two Sisters from Boston is a “they don’t make them like that anymore” musical – and how one reacts to Boston may very well be determined by how one feels about that particular sentiment. Certainly Boston’s fans will not like it because it’s actually a great film or an unusually adventurous take on the musical genre. Boston is a thoroughly conventional film, one of many “tuners” of the “should I sing it straight or should I sing it hot?” school. This is a predicament that is actually fairly rare in real life, but you’d never know it from the musicals of the 1930s and 1940s. There’s nothing convincing about the set-up, and the execution, while perhaps more convoluted than most, is nothing to right home about either; indeed, sometimes Boston’s screenwriters seem to be operating on the “let’s just throw another ingredient into the mix and maybe something will happen” principle. Therefore, the screenplay, despite some amusing sequences, is nothing to write home about. But it does provide its game and appealing cast with ample opportunity to cavort, and that’s what gives Boston its appeal. Kathryn Grayson and Lauritz Melchior are in very fine voice, June Allyson and Peter Lawford have a fine chemistry together and, most importantly, Jimmy Durante has never been better. Unique and a true original, Durante was the kind of talent that wasn’t always easy to fit into picture. In Boston, however, he’s exceptionally well presented and he makes the picture his own. Throw in some fine Sammy Fain tunes, an aria or two and capable direction from Henry Koster, and the result is lightweight and undemanding but quite entertaining. ~ Craig Butler, All Movie Guide
