Meet Me After The Show

Gorgeous Grable, Great Songs, Grand Print
Debbie Reynolds once said that her favorite Grable musical number was No Talent Joe from "Meet Me After the Show." And she's probably right. It not only shows off Betty's singing and dancing talents and her still-beautiful figure, but also her sense of humor. In fact, this movie gives us one of Betty Grable's best comedic performances.

Her boss, Darryl F. Zanuck, promised her Cary Grant for her leading man, but delivered Macdonald Carey. (Well, at least he got the Carey-part right.) Carey plays her producer husband who is starring his wife in a Broadway musical. When she discovers her husband in the arms of the show's backer, Gloria Carstads (Lois Andrews), Betty suddenly develops a case of amnesia and heads for the beach night club in Miami where Carey had discovered her. Carey and her show's leading man, Eddie Albert, follow and find her reverting back to her roots as a honky-tonk singer with a stuffed polar bear ("It's a hot night in Alaska, you can feel the heat...

Minor Grable Musical
First off I have to say that FOX got it right this time. This MOD is a beautful Technicolor print. However, this is a silly Grable backstage vehicle bolstered by some terrific musical numbers choreographed by Jack Cole. Grable opens the film with a hot tap dance number partnered with Steve Condos and another male dancer. Impressive too is the jazzy, unusual BETTIN ON A MAN sung by Grable and beautifully photographed, and NO TALENT JOE with an assist from Gwen Verdon. I FEEL LIKE DANCING with Grable and Verdon feels similiar to some of Cole's choreography from Gentlemen Prefer Blondes and Three for the Show. Apparently Jack Cole likes to use candleabra. Julie Styne and Leo Robin wrote the score. The beautful EVERYDAY IS LIKE A DAY IN MAYTIME sung by co-star MacDonald Carey is just thrown away. Its also used mostly as background music. Eddie Albert and Fred Clark co-star. I believe I spotted George Chakiris in the chorus of dancers. The musical numbers certainly make this film...

Terrific musical numbers, costumes & stage scenery
The production design of this film is wonderful. The costumes, that were the last word in 1951, are great examples of that period. I love the stage sets and the opening credits; fabulous art work!

Betty is, of course, as wonderful as ever. MacDonald Carey lacks the charm of Betty's previous leading men. He doesn't dance and I think his singing is dubbed. Honestly, I think John Payne (who could sing and tries to dance a little) would've been a better choice. But, alas, he was long gone from Fox by 1951 and Fox's roster of stars by that time really lacked a good match for Betty.

There are several stand out musical numbers and the choreography is landmark to it's time period.

I've had CDs and records with the songs from this film for a long time. It's finally nice to hear the music in context with the film.

I must admit that I burst out laughing when a montage of Miami scenes and the song, "Oh, me O My- ami" came along in the middle of the...

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