From Jean Simmons as a prim school teacher who becomes a secretary in a New York City nightclub to call Douglas as the gangster associated owner to Tony Franciosa as the hot temper manager, down to the minor roles, this is an enjoyable film strictly for the various types alone. Unfortunately, there's a shell of a plot concerning the affections for Simmons from Douglas and Franciosa and the jealousy that arises between the two. Individual characters get Shell's of stories too, but for the most part, that's really not much going on other than the camera sticking its nose into the individual lives without anything of consequence going on.
Veteran pre-code leading Lady Joan Blondell provides many great wisecracks but her character is pretty insignificant other than to play den mother and protector as hostess of the club to the other women. Neile Adams is amusing as a high class stripper whose real passion is cooking. (She reminded me of the prostitute in the British mini-series "I Claudius" who insulted empress Messalina by telling her that while Messalina slept around as a hobby, her own hobby was gardening.) Veteran cabaret and Broadway vet Julie Wilson gets the opportunity to sing a couple of sultry songs but has little in the way of story.
A lot of the footage involved teen busboy Rafael Campos' desire to change his Muslim name to an American one, only if he can pass algebra at his unseen fathers demand. While Campos is energetic and extremely likable, the script should have just made him Hispanic because his real life accent is a dead give away to his heritage. Veteran producer Joseph Pasternak and popular director Robert Wise create a nice atmosphere, and the film is extremely entertaining, but there's not much way of substance.
it's difficult to dislike this drama with musical and comic interludes, but unfortunately, I was left wanting so much more. In spite of that, it leaves the audience with a lot of nostalgia for an era of New York City cabaret life that you can still find if you seek it out.
Veteran pre-code leading Lady Joan Blondell provides many great wisecracks but her character is pretty insignificant other than to play den mother and protector as hostess of the club to the other women. Neile Adams is amusing as a high class stripper whose real passion is cooking. (She reminded me of the prostitute in the British mini-series "I Claudius" who insulted empress Messalina by telling her that while Messalina slept around as a hobby, her own hobby was gardening.) Veteran cabaret and Broadway vet Julie Wilson gets the opportunity to sing a couple of sultry songs but has little in the way of story.
A lot of the footage involved teen busboy Rafael Campos' desire to change his Muslim name to an American one, only if he can pass algebra at his unseen fathers demand. While Campos is energetic and extremely likable, the script should have just made him Hispanic because his real life accent is a dead give away to his heritage. Veteran producer Joseph Pasternak and popular director Robert Wise create a nice atmosphere, and the film is extremely entertaining, but there's not much way of substance.
it's difficult to dislike this drama with musical and comic interludes, but unfortunately, I was left wanting so much more. In spite of that, it leaves the audience with a lot of nostalgia for an era of New York City cabaret life that you can still find if you seek it out.