Search - Jule Styne, Frank Loesser, Frank Sinatra :: It Happened In Brooklyn (1947 Film) / Variety Girl (1947 Film) [2 on 1]

Incomplete but Necessary

Kevin Killian | San Francisco, CA United States | 07/27/2005

(4 out of 5 stars)

"This CD gives us most of the score to the forgettable Sinatra film IT HAPPENED IN BROOKLYN. Kathryn Grayson reaches some unbelievable notes in her tip-toppest range, but the movie really didn't do anybody any favors except for Jimmy Durante, whose big number here, "The Song's Gotta Come From the Heart" he completely steals from Frankie. It's supposed to be a duet, but Sinatra amiably lets Durante get away with grand larceny here!



Some of Frank Loesser's best numbers are missing from the score of VARIETY GIRL, an enormously satisfying film musical with a higher quotient of singable numbers than any other Loesser score -- except GUYS AND DOLLS of course and perhaps GREENWILLOW. The VARIETY GIRL portion of this CD is sadly curtailed. However, what remains is choice indeed. Here you have the very first track cut by the one and only Pearl Bailey, the comical TIRED, a song that seems to presage similar "too cool for school" numbers by the younger Eartha Kitt by at least 5 years. TIRED has a certain swinging jazz influence behind it, and many are familiar with other jazz instrumental versions of this evergreen. Almost as good is TALLAHASSEE, here sung by Bing Crosby and Dorothy Lamour. This sentimental number about Florida has been picked up later by Dinah Shore, who gave it the real honeycomb touch, and orchestras and ensembles such as Woody Herman. Jo Sullivan also does it justice, almost, on one of the latterday Loesser tribute albums. There are some sprightly songs included with a wide range of Paramount stars, and the movie is hilarious in every scene. Too bad more of it didn't stagger onto this bargain CD, making it even more of a bargain, but it's still a welcome souvenir of a now-bygone era of Hollywood originals.



I wonder how it came about that the label was able to release this double dose of musicals from two very different studios, MGM and Paramount. I guess it proves the Bible is right--sometimes the lion does lie down with the lamb."