Two sailors on leave try to help an aspiring singer become a
movie star while also encouraging her nephew to join the Navy. DRAMA/MUSICAL
|
Anchors Aweigh (1945)Directed by George Sidney
Written by Isobel Lennart Starring Gene Kelly, Frank Sinatra, Kathryn Grayson, José Iturbi, Dean Stockwell, Pamela Britton Oscar Wins - Best Musical Score (George Stoll) Oscar Nominations - Best Picture, Best Actor (Gene Kelly), Best Cinematography, Best Original Song (I Fall in Love Too Easily) |
Anchors Aweigh is by far the worst film I've ever seen sneak its way into the Best Picture category, weighing down four films that were more deserving by a hundred miles: Spellbound, The Bells of St. Mary's, Mildred Pierce, and the winner, The Lost Weekend. This film's association with those four has granted it undeserved gravitas, but it's an absolute piece of shit. Gene Kelly and Frank Sinatra should have been ashamed to be a part of it. This nonsense is two hours and twenty minutes of rhythmless songs, shitty acting, no story, a ton of subplots, and not much else. It felt like it took all day to watch and I nearly didn't review it. I didn't want it back in my head.
Kelly and Sinatra are two Navy sailors on leave who really, really, really want to get laid. That is all they talk about and all they care about. But they end up saddled with some kid (Stockwell) who wants to join the Navy. The cops literally arrest Kelly and Sinatra so they can talk to this kid, and he's only in the movie so Kelly can fall in love with the kid's aunt (Grayson). Sinatra falls in love with the brilliantly named "Girl from Brooklyn," played by an actress with a name: Pamela Britton. The rest of the movie consists of terrible communication causing unnecessary rifts between characters, and yet another instance of a pre-70's musical involving some character trying to be a movie star. I mean, come on, people. Once or twice is fine, but every single fucking time? Were there only like four templates these films were allowed to use? Anchors Aweigh is godawful, boring, nonsensical, and literally has a half-hour stretch where Gene Kelly goes to Toontown and dances with Jerry the Mouse from Tom & Jerry. A good chunk of the movie went to that, and it has nothing to do with anything. It was almost Mickey Mouse, but Walt Disney didn't want to put his name on this dogshit movie. Do yourself a favor. Watch Singin' in the Rain three times, then listen to Frank sing "New York, New York." And while you're at it, watch some Tom & Jerry. It'll have the same effect, and you'll feel like you wasted less time. |