Out of This World (1945)

Absolutely the worst movie.

The film makes a home in your brain and the only cure is to see it again.

Unshakable, witty and deeply felt, the film will be paying emotional dividends for a long, long time.

It's simply great fun, a winsome film and an occasionally over-the-top luxury fantasy that never flags.

Well, they had to think up a silly screenplay to fill the time between musical numbers in this musical comedy. I sure got weary of the issue of contract problems for Eddie Bracken(Herbie), and, to a lesser extent, Diana Lynn's(Betty Miller) all girl band, variously known as The Sirens or The Glamorettes. It starts out with a nice jazzy number by the band, followed by a slower tempo song about Chopin, with nice piano work by Diane. A very nervous Bracken follows with lip synching of a Bing Crosby rendition of "Out of This World". Musical numbers by the band are featured periodically throughout the film, sometimes including a lip synching song by Bracken, mimicking Crosby. These latter were composed by Harold Arlen, with lyrics by Johnny Mercer. I found no information on whether this duo also composed the songs the band did without Bracken. The numbers done by the band alone are more interesting than the mellow numbers done by Bracken. In my opinion, the best of Bracken's numbers is "I'd rather be Me", the lyrics of which were appropriate for the romantic ending with Diana.The screenplay was written with Betty Hutton in mind as the lead female, but she was contracted to do another film. Hence, Diana took her place as the band leader and as the romantic lead, while Cass Daley filled in to do her zany novelty numbers. Cass came across as a mix of Betty and Martha Raye, who had been Paramount's equivalent of Betty before Betty arrived. Cass also was the percussion person in the band, and used this talent in her 2nd performance. Her career consisted of mostly live performances. I had never before heard of her. During a radio performance, there was a satirical treatment of a commercial. A few films in the early days of TV similarly satirized TV commercials. But, the main target of satire was the screaming and swooning of Bobbysoxers at Sinatra concerts. Veronica Lake's character signed up a bunch of girls to sit in the front row and scream their heads off. Bing Crosby, himself, at 41, similarly satirized the bobbysoxer phenomena just the year before , in "Here Come the Waves", as did Robert Young, in the pre-Sinatra "Honolulu". As part of the finale extravaganza, 5 male piano players individually played short segments of various songs, before coming together near the end. Diana Lynn previously had exhibited her exceptional piano playing talent. On the whole, I most enjoyed the band playing and singing, and feel the film is worthwhile for this alone. How often have you seen and heard an all-female orchestra in a Hollywood film? I've experienced only one other such film. And they played as well as the popular all male bands of the day, even on brass instruments. ...Bracken's nerdy character got a bit wearing after a while, although I found the segment where he develops laryngitis to be amusing....See it at YouTube. That copy had a few skips, but not too bothersome.

Betty Miller (Diana Lynn) and her all-woman band are in a tough spot. They've been out of work for a long time and the bills are mounting. When a dopey guy named Herbie (Eddie Bracken) is discovered by Miller, their problems might be over. The guy sings like Bing Crosby* and the audiences love him. The problem is that they need to pay their hotel bill in order to get to their big break--a radio broadcast. So, she instructs the band members to sell interest in Herbie. The problem is that they sell 125% of the stock in him...and they are able to leave the hotel but they could end up going to jail. Betty's way of dealing with this is to pay Herbie a paltry $50 a week--even though she's getting paid a thousand a week (and soon more) for Herbie. In essence, she's cheating Herbie out of a fortune...and seems more concerned with saving herself from jail as opposed to what's best for Herbie. Sadly, Herbie is smitten by her...and doesn't realize that the hundreds of thousands he thinks she's banking for him is gone. Not surprisingly, the investors are NOT pleased when they learn the truth.While the film is supposed to be a romantic comedy, the plot is so cruel and selfish that I was really distracted. I hated Miller and was surprised the writers and studio would ask a cute actress like Diana Lynn to play such a dishonest and selfish character. About the only thing I did like about the movie was seeing Lynn play the piano--and she was a genius at that. Otherwise, the film is just not worth your time.*By the way, the reason Bracken sounds like Bing Crosby is because it IS Bing Crosby's voice in the film. I think it's pretty obvious that Bracken is lip syncing.

As the film Out Of This World comes to a conclusion, Eddie Bracken gives thanks to the man whose singing voice he borrowed for this film. Half the fun of this film is hearing the voice that has been heard by more people than any other in the history of the world coming from Bracken. All together fitting and proper that Eddie should thank Bing Crosby.Paramount as it did in Bing Crosby's own film from the year before Here Come The Waves satirizes the swooning phenomenon that that newcomer Frank Sinatra personified. Diana Lynn is the leader of an all girl orchestra like Phil Spitalny's or Ina Rae Hutton's at the time, but they're not going anywhere. But when Eddie Bracken playing his usual schnook character honed to perfection by Preston Sturges in Hail The Conquering Hero and Miracle Of Morgan's Creek, takes to the microphone and out comes Bing's pear shaped tones, the girls have a meal ticket.Trouble is that they have a cash flow problem so Lynn sells 125% of Bracken to various investors. Among them is Veronica Lake who might have her own plans for Bracken. Keeping that a secret from the investors until the legal problems can be straightened out is about 50& of a very delightful screen comedy.The other half is the music which includes the all girl orchestra, the comedy of Cass Daley who is Diana Lynn's drummer and above all Bing Crosby singing some nice songs which include the title song, I'd Rather Be Me, and June Comes Around Every Year. I'm sure Crosby wished these had been saved for one of his own films.Out Of This World holds up well after more than sixty years as a delightful screen comedy and a must for the three visible stars and above all for those who love and treasure Bing Crosby who in this fan's opinion was the greatest entertainer ever.

As this was made in 1945,before The Jolson Story,Paramount were obviously first to the idea of a lesser light being dubbed by a megastar.In this instance Eddie Bracken plays a small town nerd with the singing voice of Bing Crosby.Diana Lynn signs him up to a contract.To pay her way to a big town chance she has to sell off part of his contract to his friends,and what do you guess happens?A la The Producers she sells off 125% of the contract>she then has to find a way out of her predicament.There are 8 featured numbers,none of which are memorable.There is one number where a number of big band leaders of the day play a selection in unison.Also there is Cass daley and a good supporting cast.I rather like her comedy and i remember seeing her in a show of old timers in 1972.It is the sort of film which would pass a rainy afternoon very pleasantly.