Moon Over Miami

Moon Over Miami is one of the best of Betty Grable's musicals and is a winner on every count. Betty made musicals for Twentieth Century Fox, and their musicals were generally a bit lighter and less self-conscious than many of the MGM musicals. In other words they were just meant to entertain in a pleasant way and that's just what this one does. It's bright and colorful as Fox musicals tended to be, with beautiful sets and lots of costume changes for Betty, who looks great in all of them. There's also some on-location shooting in Florida, especially in Cypress Gardens, though all of the principals seem to have stayed on the sound stage with rear screen projection when necessary. No matter that, as real on-location shooting was more a phenomenon of the 1950's and the location shots inserted here would have been considered really impressive in 1941.It's 1941 and the U.S. hasn't entered the war yet, so in many ways it has a lot of elements from 1930's musicals. Betty is a gold digger on the prowl for a millionaire with no qualms, just like may Depression musicals. In fact the Depression was still around, if lessened, and it would take the war effort to truly pull the country out of it. So no one would have thought less of Betty (as Kay Latimer) for setting her sights for cash. Her sister Barbara (Carole Landis) poses as her secretary and their mother, Susan(Charlotte Greenwood) acts as Kay's maid. Greenwood was in a number of Betty's movies and is always a comic standout. Here she only gets to hint at her high-kicking ability but does get her own romantic subplot as the love interest of the Florida resort bellman (Jack Haley fresh from the Wizard of Oz) who becomes suspicious of the three as time goes by.Betty immediately attracts two prospective suitors (no surprise there) a young Jeffrey Boulton (Robert Cummings) and the older, suave, Phil O'Neil (Don Ameche). Ameche was also in Down Argentine Way with Betty.The music is by Ralph Ranger and Leo Robin except for Moon Over Miami, already a hit song, but here only an instrumental played under the opening credits, which was written by Joe Burke(Tiptoe Through the Tulips among his creations).. Much of the music also has more of a Thirties feel, especially the big love song, You Started Something. There is a Latin number in Kindergarten Conga (which includes playground songs) but oddly no actual conga line forms.You can tell it was from a play with all the opening and closing of doors near the end when everything comes to a head. But never fear, it's a Betty Grable musical so all the right people will find each other in the end. If you are at all a fan of Betty Grable or these kinds of musicals, don't miss this one.

After learning that an expected inheritance wasn't as much as they had hoped, two carhop sisters and their aunt scheme to trap a millionaire into marrying one of them. To that end, they fly to Miami and set up residence in a resort known to be frequented by rich men. They conspire to put forth one of them as a rich woman on the prowl (Betty Grable as Kay). Her prettier sister (Carole Landis as Miss Sears) is forced to pose as her secretary while their aunt (the incomparable Charlotte Greenwood) is stuck playing her maid/flunky. Kay soon catches the attention of two unsuspecting prospects (Robert Cummings as Jeffrey Boulton II and Don Ameche as Phil O'Neil). Kay happily strings along these two saps until the trap is sprung. In between, they all sing and dance because apparently that's what rich people do at resorts. They all get together and perform huge production numbers at a moment's notice. And it's not the least bit artificial or unnatural. The songs are forgettable and the dance numbers are just what you would expect from that time period (circa 1941). Fortunately, there's plenty of comic relief thanks to Jack Haley playing Jack O'Hara, a waiter who despises fortune hunters and gold diggers. He's more than happy to steer the duplicitous Kay away from any men who might be after her pretend fortune. His love interest is the fabulous Charlotte Greenwood who helps to keep him distracted until they've snagged a rich sap or two.It's hard to believe the five screen writers involved would put forth such a premise without a sneering commentary added, but apparently this is what passes for romance in 1941.

Moon Over Miami is one of the best Fox musicals of the 1940s! The plot is simple - two beautiful (but broke) sisters go to Miami in search of rich husbands. They pretend to be rich so the men don't suspect they are gold diggers. Betty Grable and Carole Landis play the sisters and they both give fabulous performances. Charlotte Greenwood, Jack Haley, Don Ameche, Robert Cummings, and Cobina Wright round out the talented cast. The songs in Moon Over Miami are fun and catchy - You Started Something, Kindergarten Conga, What Can I Do For You. The costumes are gorgeous and the cast looks amazing filmed in Technicolor. Carole Landis was without a doubt one of the most beautiful women of the 1940s!! Moon Over Miami is one of my favorite movies and everyone who loves musicals should enjoy it.

MOON OVER MIAMI is arguably Betty Grable's best movie musical, with a great supporting cast and delicious script making the whole movie an endless delight.Betty Grable plays Kay Latimer, who decides to pool her resources with her aunt (Charlotte Greenwood) and sister (Carole Landis) and together they travel to Miami in hopes of snaring rich husbands. Grable soon finds herself torn between Don Ameche and Robert Cummings. All manner of romantic complications arise before the story rushes to it's inevitible happy ending.Betty Grable is luminous in the lush Technicolor photography; Carole Landis provides good support as sister Barbara, and Charlotte Greenwood is her usual wisecracking self as Aunt Susie. Don Ameche and Robert Cummings realize that this is Grable's show and wisely don't overplay their performances.One of Grable's best movies to be sure.The new DVD edition from Fox's "Marquee Musicals" series presents a very nice print of the movie with fully-saturated Technicolor. Extra features include the various Betty Grable trailers, plus a bonus set of postcard-sized lobbycards.

Excellent quality dvd. The dvd cover concerned me at first as it's in Spanish but the film itself is in English like it says. Watched this as a child and now my children are enjoying it and singing the songs.

Pleased with film but wrong one was sent.Did not realise because cover was in Spanish

I am a betty grable fan what more can I say

Loved it. Great service.

Just what i was looking for.