Lady Be Good (1941)

The wife (Ann Sothern) of a successful songwriting team gets a divorce from her songwriting partner and husband (Robert Young) when he becomes more interested with partying in high society than working. Since they're still in love, her best friend (Eleanor Powell) attempts to get them back together. The storyline of this musical is so flimsy that it almost seems an insult to call it a plot. Though it borrows the title and a handful of songs from the 1924 George and Ira Gershwin musical, the similarity ends there. While Sothern and Young make for a likable enough pair, it's Powell's spectacular dancing and the musical numbers that hold our attention. Powell does a terrific turn with a scene stealing terrier and highlights the thrilling Fascinating Rhythm production number (directed by Busby Berkeley) with an assist from singer Connie Russell and the dexterous Berry Brothers. Sothern does a lovely rendition of The Last Time I Saw Paris which won the best song Oscar. Directed by Norman Z. McLeod. With Red Skelton, Dan Dailey, Virginia O'Brien, John Carroll and Rose Hobart.