Say One For Me (1959)

Set in New York, a parish priest (Bing Crosby) caters to an acting and performing community. He even serves mass at 2 AM for the late night crowd. He's taken an aspiring performer (Debbie Reynolds) under his wing and becomes concerned when she falls under the influence of a wolf (Robert Wagner) who runs a nightclub. Produced and directed by Frank Tashlin (THE GIRL CAN'T HELP IT). At his best, Frank Tashlin (who came from the world of animation) served up eccentric and often subversive comedies. Alas, none of that is on view with this sentimental twaddle. Bing Crosby won an Oscar for playing a priest in GOING MY WAY (1944) and had a big hit playing a priest in THE BELLS OF ST. MARY'S (1945) and here goes back to the well for a third time. While not as bad as GOING MY WAY (what could be?), I'm mystified what Tashlin saw in this sappy screenplay that made him want to produce and direct it. It's a musical and some of the songs are good (composed by Jimmy Van Heusen and Sammy Cahn) but not those given to Crosby and the choreography by Alex Romero is lively. As a singer, Robert Wagner isn't bad though he can not dance to safe his life. Reynolds, of course, is a seasoned veteran when it comes to song and dance. But everything between the musical numbers is pretty turgid. Surprisingly, the movie was a hit. Go figure! With Ray Walston, Stella Stevens, Sebastian Cabot, Frank McHugh, Nina Shipman, Connie Gilchrist and Judy Harriet whose song The Night Rock 'n Roll Died is a highlight.