Set in the 1920s, a nightclub singer (Ethel Merman) is leaving for England to marry an English lord (Arthur Gould Porter) but her ex-boyfriend (Frank Sinatra) stowaways on the ship in order to win her back. Also on board is a minor gangster (Bert Lahr) and his moll (Sheree North). Directed by (or perhaps staged would be more accurate) Peter Barnum and Fred Hamilton, the plot is changed somewhat from the 1934 Cole Porter musical to emphasize Merman, recreating the role of Reno Sweeney that she originated on Broadway. The flimsy plot is paper thin, merely there to hang some terrific Cole Porter songs and who's complaining when we get the opportunity to hear Merman and Sinatra at their vocal peak singing some of Porter's greatest songs. Still, Merman and Sinatra make quite an odd romantic pairing and their lack of chemistry is palpable. The acting is very broad in that "play to the last row" way even though it was filmed for television. The lively choreography is by Robert Sidney. With Barbara Morrison and Nestor Paiva.
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