Aging Irishman Dennis O'Grady (James Barton) has become an embittered, aging father, forbidding his three daughters from going anywhere a theater, let alone going into show business or God forbid, dating or marrying someone in show biz. But when oldest daughter Patricia (June Haver) unwittingly gives away her papa's lunch to a vaudevillian, that forbodence is broken. That man is Tony Pastor (Gordon MacRae), a song and dance man who happens to have his own theater. Papa O'Grady is furious by all of this and disowns his daughter who ends up on the stage just like her famous vaudeville mother, Rosie, who apparently died years before, leaving the former song and dance man Dennis embittered by the memory.
Barton's cuddly pal S.Z. Sakall is married to the frosty Irene Seidner, and they happen to be theater goers who uncover Patricia's presence in an amateur contest which leads her to professional success. MacRae's future "Oklahoma!" co-star Gene Nelson is his best friend here who dances while MacRae sings, particularly a big production number (although small by MGM and 20th Century Fox musical standards) called "On a Farm off Old Broadway". Of course, the three sisters get together to convince papa to change his old fashioned ways, which leads to a big Christmas finale to the tune of "Winter" where "Cuddles" Sakall makes an appearance on stage in a snow man's costume, enough of his "n'yuck n'yuck" to fill all of his movies. Poor Oscar Winner Jane Darwell is wasted as the nosy neighbor.
All in all, this is a minor entry in movie musical standards, but entertaining for what it is. A young Debbie Reynolds shows some of her comic moxie in a small role as the youngest sister, but unfortunately, doesn't get to sing or dance. She is cute and perky, but fans of her will be disappointed by the lack of a musical number for her. Haver is likable, but for some reason, was always considered second best to Betty Grable during her 20th Century Fox years, and now second best to Warner Brothers' top musical star, Doris Day. Barton gives the best performance, truly touching when paying tribute to his late wife with "My Own True Love and I".
Barton's cuddly pal S.Z. Sakall is married to the frosty Irene Seidner, and they happen to be theater goers who uncover Patricia's presence in an amateur contest which leads her to professional success. MacRae's future "Oklahoma!" co-star Gene Nelson is his best friend here who dances while MacRae sings, particularly a big production number (although small by MGM and 20th Century Fox musical standards) called "On a Farm off Old Broadway". Of course, the three sisters get together to convince papa to change his old fashioned ways, which leads to a big Christmas finale to the tune of "Winter" where "Cuddles" Sakall makes an appearance on stage in a snow man's costume, enough of his "n'yuck n'yuck" to fill all of his movies. Poor Oscar Winner Jane Darwell is wasted as the nosy neighbor.
All in all, this is a minor entry in movie musical standards, but entertaining for what it is. A young Debbie Reynolds shows some of her comic moxie in a small role as the youngest sister, but unfortunately, doesn't get to sing or dance. She is cute and perky, but fans of her will be disappointed by the lack of a musical number for her. Haver is likable, but for some reason, was always considered second best to Betty Grable during her 20th Century Fox years, and now second best to Warner Brothers' top musical star, Doris Day. Barton gives the best performance, truly touching when paying tribute to his late wife with "My Own True Love and I".