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Thursday, April 5, 2012

Honolulu (1939)

A top Hollywood heart throb (Robert Young) and a Hawaiian plantation owner (also Young), who look alike, switch places without telling anyone so each can experience the other's life. Complications ensue when the movie star falls in love with a dancer (Eleanor Powell) he meets on the ship to Honolulu who thinks he's the plantation owner who already has a girlfriend (Rita Johnson). Directed by Edward Buzzell. Mistaken identity comedies are practically fool proof and this lightweight confection is no exception. Most of the comedic highlights are provided by Gracie Allen as Powell's airhead traveling companion, tossing off malapropisms and verbal gaffes like firecrackers. George Burns is in the movie too (as Young's agent) but unfortunately he and Allen don't have any scenes until the very end of the film. The likable Powell may not be much of an actress but she's ingratiating and when she dances, she blossoms. She has a spectacular hula/tap combination that is among the best dance numbers of her career. There are couple of uncomfortable moments. One, with Powell in blackface doing a tap dance and the other with Young in a strait jacket which comes across as too real to be very amusing. With Ruth Hussey, Sig Ruman, Tom Neal and Eddie "Rochester" Anderson.

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