Hit the Deck

Pasternak makes a delightful confection out of "3 sailors and their girls" fluff with splashy MGM flair. Vincent Youmans score (Sometimes I'm Happy, More Than You Know, Hallelujah). All star cast (Jane Powell, Debbie Reynolds, Ann Miller, Tony Martin, Vic Damone, Russ Tamblyn, Walter Pidgeon). And, if that's not enough, there's a number with a wind-up penguin!

"Hit the Deck" is MGM's lavish CinemaScope musical, designed to showcase expansive dance sequences. Despite the presence of Debbie Reynolds and Ann Miller, who delivered stellar dance routines, the film failed to resonate with me. Its storyline was unremarkable, and the musical numbers, while well-executed, didn't leave a lasting impression.