It Happened in Brooklyn (1947)

Pretty Good

It’s not bad or unwatchable but despite the amplitude of the spectacle, the end result is underwhelming.

Watching it is like watching the spectacle of a class clown at their best: you laugh at their jokes, instigate their defiance, and "ooooh" when they get in trouble.

Worth seeing just to witness how winsome it is.

This is not a great movie, but if you like its cast of singing stars – Frank Sinatra, Kathryn Grayson (without Technicolor), Peter Lawford and Jimmy Durante – you'll enjoy it anyway (and as a bonus there's Gloria Grahame!). It was directed by Richard Whorf and scripted by Isobel Lennart (one of the four Sinatra films that she wrote) from a story by John McGowan.Sinatra plays a Brooklyn born soldier that returns home to find that he hadn't changed as much as he'd thought he had. He believed himself to be more confident. But he's influenced by Durante, his old high school's janitor, who takes him under his wing and encourages a would-be romantic relationship with the music teacher come opera singer Grayson.Sinatra's character discovers that he's happy helping others with their dreams. Lawford plays a shy fellow that Sinatra had met in England (during which Grahame plays a nurse, also from Brooklyn) just before his discharge from the Army. He's sent to Brooklyn to satisfy his Duke (Aubrey Mather) grandfather, who'd hoped that Sinatra could give him confidence.Lawford and Grayson make a better match. Everyone is hitting on all cylinders when they help a young pianist (uncredited Billy Roy, whose compositions are performed off stage by 17 year old André Previn, also uncredited) that wants to earn a scholarship.

***SPOILERS**** Frank Sinatra is returning from the wars Pvt. Danny Miller who's suffering from shyness as well as stage fright that had made him into an oddball to everyone, especially the opposite sex, who meets him. It's in fact the US Army nurse Gloria Grahame, who in the end of the film turned out to be his secret love, treating him for a imaginary case of the mumps who give him the push or kick in the butt that he needs to get on the ball and, as they said in the 1960's, do his own thing that finally straightens him out. And in that way there's also the janitor at his high school back in Brooklyn Nick Lombarbi, played by the famous Snnazola himself Jimmy Durante, whom Danny moves in with and is encouraged by Nick to become a teenage heartthrob and singing sensation. And later have Danny help his friends also overcome their shyness and insecurities as well.Sinatra is at his best playing at first against type, afraid of girls and unable or unwilling to belt out a song, gets down to business when he meets up with Nick Lombardi who gives him the confidence that he so desperately needs. It's both music teacher Anne Fielding, Kathryn Grayson, and next in line to become the Duke of Dunstable Jamie Shellgrove, Peter Lawford, with both Nick as well as a now full of confidence in himself Danny turn around for the better as well. There's also young 16 year old pianist Leo Kardos, Billy Roy, who's stuck in working for the rest of his life as a counter-boy at his moms's, Tamara Shayne, candy store that the three, Danny Anne & Jamie, get to receive a 5 year scholarship to the prestigious "Brooklyn Academy of Music" or "Music Form" in the movie that turns out to be a one way ticket for him to Carnegie Hall.Great music including Frank Sanitra in a duet with Kathryn Grayson singing "Don Giovanni" as well as Frankie singing, while walking across it, the hometown song "Brooklyn Bridge" with the by far best song in the movie done by non other then the shy and introverted Jami Shellgrove. With Jamie playing the piano as well as singing and dancing, to the hysterical screams of a gang of wild eyed teenage girls at the local record store, "Time after Time" that in fact Danny wrote the lyrics for.

Jazzy singer Frank Sinatra (as Danny Webson Miller) returns to Brooklyn, after serving during World War II. Mr. Sinatra moves in with his old high school janitor Jimmy Durante (as Nick Lombardi). Sinatra suffers not from "shell shock", but from "stage fright", as he tries to make it in the music business. He falls in love with operatic soprano Kathryn Grayson (as Anne Fielding). A "love triangle" is formed when visiting pal Peter Lawford (as Jamie Shellgrove) also falls for Ms. Grayson.Not much of a movie, really. Sinatra is the highlight; he sings the timeless classic "Time After Time", and other songs written by Sammy Cahn and Jule Styne. Sinatra and Mr. Durante are a likable team, performing "The Song's Gotta Come from the Heart" and "I Believe", the latter with young Bobby Long (as Johnny O'Brien). Young pianist Billy Roy (as Leo Kardos) performs well. Sexy Gloria Grahame has an early walk around appearance. Sinatra's accompanying Columbia single was, deservedly, an instant double-sided hit: "I Believe" (#5) / "Time After Time" (#16). **** It Happened in Brooklyn (3/13/47) Richard Whorf ~ Frank Sinatra, Jimmy Durante, Kathryn Grayson, Peter Lawford

Most MGM musicals of the late 1940s were lavish, Technicolored extravaganzas, which is why this modest, low-keyed, filmed in glorious black-and-white effort has always been overlooked. A pity, because it's one of the most endearing, enduring musicals of all time. Firstly, it has a plot--a bittersweet Isobel Lennart screenplay about an ex-soldier (Frank Sinatra) returning from WWII to his beloved Brooklyn, and realizing it is not the same as he remembered it. Secondly, that dream cast working together in perfect dramatic and vocal harmony--Sinatra (never more likeable and sweet-natured); Kathryn Grayson (whose charming down-to-earth sincerity truly makes the screen glow); Peter Lawford (has anyone ever given this actor the credit for the class and gentlemanly warmth he brought to every film he was in?), and, of course, the immortal Jimmy Durante (bolstering all of his co-stars with his brilliant comedic and dramatic talents). And thirdly, an immortal Jule Styne score to die for. "Time After Time" ranks as one of the most poignant, melodic ballads ever composed. Many artistic greats have recorded it, but no one has ever interpreted it with the wistful perfection of Grayson and Sinatra. Add Sinatra's "The Brooklyn Bridge" and "It's the Same Old Dream". Lawford's delightful jive turn "Whose Baby Are You?" And the rousing Sinatra/Durante showstopper "The Song's Gotta Come from the Heart" (excerpted in "That's Entertainment II"). "It Happened in Brooklyn" is a wistful, rueful, enchanting musical the likes of which MGM (nor any other studio) ever made nor even attempted. A buried treasure occasionally unearthed by TCM! See it, tape it, and savor one of the most loving and lovely movie-musicals ever made!