Panama Hattie (1942)

Set in Panama during WWII, a brassy and street smart nightclub singer named Hattie (Ann Sothern) falls in love with a pedigreed Naval officer (Dan Dailey). Meanwhile, three sailor friends (Red Skelton, Rags Ragland, Ben Blue) of Hattie are obsessed with finding spies. Based on the hit Broadway musical with music and lyrics by Cole Porter and directed by Norman Z. McLeod (HORSE FEATHERS). With Hollywood's usual lack of acumen, MGM jettisoned the majority of Porter's songs and retained only three songs from the show while padding it out with songs by other songwriters. The comedy shtick provided by Skelton, Ragland and Blue is pretty lowbrow which wouldn't be a problem if it was funny. Unfortunately, too much screen time is spent on them leaving the title character's dilemma almost in the shadows. Some of the musical numbers are very well done (under the supervision of an uncredited Vincente Minnelli) and they include Lena Horne's rendition of Just One Of Those Things and Virginia O'Brien kills Did I Get Stinkin' At The Savoy. MGM has also turned the musical into a jingoistic WWII propaganda film which is something I'm sure Cole Porter never intended. With Marsha Hunt, Alan Mowbray and the Berry Brothers.