Australian Women's Weekly (1933 - 1982), Wednesday 13 February 1952, page 31
Talking of Films
By M. J. McMAHON
Fine and Dandy
WARNERS' lively
musical brings Jim-mie Cagney back to the footlights in a part that fits
his now rotund frame like a second skin—that of a
likeable little tough guy of Broadway.
"Fine and Dandy" provides the perfect set-up for Cagney's cocky style. As well as sing, dance, and throw punches, he gets the chance to double-cross friends, insult lissom Virginia Mayo, flout authority, sneer at tradition, and generally dis-turb the peace in various Cagneyesque ways.
The story deals with efforts to put on a stage show at West Point Military Academy, and sends hard-boiled Broadwayite Cagney and partner Virginia Mayo to that stern establish-ment to do the job.
They find all sorts of talent among cadet students, includ-ing singer Gordon MacRae and dancer Gene Nelson, who have also written a script that
turns out to be a wow.
Doris Day turns up later to
help out vocally and romantic-ally.
The pleasant informality of "Fine and Dandy" receives a slight check when Warners de-cide it's time to put over a message and to define Cagney's
motives.
Otherwise some tuneful
songs, brisk dancing, and laugh-getting situations should please most filmgoers.
In Sydney—Park.
NEW star Anthony Steel is
switching to light-hearted work with the comedy "Something Money Can't Buy." Pat Roc has been imported from her home in Paris to star with him. In a film scheduled im-mediately to follow this one, Anthony's leading lady will be
Claudette Colbert.