Okay, let me address the "Public Melody No. 1" number: As staged by Vincente Minnelli (this being his first film assignment), it's quite an energetic dance sequence with fine trumpet playing and singing by Louis Armstrong and great singing and dancing by Martha Raye. Now if she had real dark burnt cork with white lips, I'd have a real problem with her makeup but since she looks authentic as an African-American woman, I give this one a pass. As for the rest of the movie, well, Jack Benny is fine being mostly deadpan especially when a clip of his radio show with Don Wilson announcing has his character in the movie commenting on it! Judy Canova is an acquired taste but I mostly enjoyed her hillbilly characterization. That Connee Boswell number was wonderful and deserved an Oscar nomination but why was she not lit brightly? Ben Blue was funny whether performing with Ms. Canova or with some stringed puppets playing instruments. Young Ida Lupino was quite a beauty back then, wasn't she? I think I've said enough so on that note, I say give Artists & Models a look.