The Best Things In Life Are Free (1956)

Set in the 1920s, the songwriting team of DeSylva (Gordon MacRae), Henderson (Dan Dailey) and Brown (Ernest Borgnine) have great success at turning out song hits and Broadway musicals but less luck with their personal turmoil. Directed by Michael Curtiz (WHITE CHRISTMAS). Yet another slapdash musical that takes the lives of a composer(s) and turns it into a cliche pudding. Alas, this one is drearier than most and it feels cut rate (it's 20th Century Fox, not MGM). DeSylva, Henderson and Brown are responsible for some famous songs like Button Up Your Overcoat, You're The Cream In My Coffee, It All Depends On You, Varsity Drag as well as the title tune. The credits claim it was based on a story by John O'Hara (BUTTERFIELD 8) though there's nothing remotely O'Hara in the film's morass of banal narrative. Some of the musical numbers are decently executed with only one, Birth Of The Blues danced by Sheree North (playing MacRae's on again-off again girlfriend) and Jacques D'Amboise that stands out. With Tommy Noonan, Larry Keating, Phyllis Avery, Roxanne Arlen, Murvyn Vye and Ann B. Davis.