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The Big Show-Off
USA 1945
produced by Sydney M. Williams, Claude Spence (associate) for Spence-Williams Productions/Republic
directed by Howard Bretherton
starring Arthur Lake, Dale Evans, Lionel Stander, George Meeker, Paul Hurst, Marjorie Manners, Sammy Stein, Louis Adlon, Dan Tobey, Douglas Wood, Emmett Lynn, Sherry Cameron, Klayton Kirby, Anson Weeks
screenplay by László Vadnay, Richard Weil, songs by Dave Oppenheim (music), Roy Ingraham (lyrics), Dale Evans
review by Mike Haberfelner
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Pianist Sandy (Arthur Lake) is madly in love with singer June (Dale
Evans), but she eems to hardly notice him and have only eyes for their
show's master of ceremonies Wally (George Meeker), an asshole if there
ever was one. However, Joe (Lionel Stander), owner of the club they work
at, wants to help Sandy, so after a few unsuccessful attempts to make him
win her heart, he arranges it that Sandy beats up someone in the club
right in front of June, then he spreads the rumour that Sanmdy is really
the masked wrestler Devil (Paul Hurst) whom noone has ever seen without
his mask ... and June buys it and suddenly feels drawn to Sandy and the
two become a couple. The plan backfires though when the Devil announces
his engagement on stage - and since the real Devil is not Sandy,
he's announcing his engagement to another woman, breaking June's heart.
Sandy, who thought he had everything, suddenly finds himself in a
lose-lose situation, if he continues claiming he is the Devil, he can't be
with June, being engaged to someone else, but if he admits to not being
the Devil, June will think he is a cheap cheat (which is essentially true,
even if Sandy himself was cheated into the whole situation).
Then fate intervenes when the real Devil is accused with assault and
(since nobody knows who the real Devil is) Sandy is arrested for it. At
the police though he learns that he could go free if it was an assault out
of jealousy, only his wrestling career would be over - which is exactly
what Sandy needs to not lose face in front of June, and in the end,
they are a happy couple - watching a wrestling tournament ...
Of course, the story of this musical comedy is very silly and totally
lacks credibility, and the film would have vastly profited from a more
creative direction and better staged dance numbers - yet at the same time
the film is not all bad, both Dale Evans (years away from becoming
America's TV cowboy mama of the nation) and Lionel Stander give fun
performances, and some of the plot devices are at least amusing - if by no
means credibly. But masterpiece this is not.
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