Born To Dance (1936)

A sailor (James Stewart) on leave from submarine duty meets a dancer (Eleanor Powell) looking for a break on Broadway. They fall in love but a Broadway diva (Virginia Bruce) causes problems and misunderstandings in their budding romance. Directed by Roy Del Ruth (ON MOONLIGHT BAY), the sailors on leave hooking up with girls and romantic complications plot has been recycled so many times that it's practically a genre all its own. As with most musicals, the thread bare plot is merely there to kill time between the musical numbers. But parts of the film are so surreal that I couldn't help but be taken in: a manic policeman (Reginald Gardiner) conducts an imaginary orchestra in Central park with all sorts of facial contortions or when Bruce sings to the Navy that if they love her they must love her Pekingese too shortly before the dog is tossed into the Atlantic ocean! With the exception of Powell whose vocals are dubbed and Frances Langford, the rest of the cast are non singers and their flat singing becomes charming after awhile even Stewart's awkward dancing (sensing how bad he is, he looks like he's suppressing laughter). Cole Porter did the songs which include the great I've Got You Under My Skin. With Una Merkel (who steals the movie) Buddy Ebsen (has there ever been a creepier dancer in movies?), Sid Silvers and Raymond Walburn.