Coney Island *** (1943, Betty Grable, George Montgomery, Cesar Romero) – Classic Movie Review 13,636

The 20th Century Fox 1943 American Technicolor musical film Coney Island stars Betty Grable in one of her biggest and best hits.

Director Walter Lang’s 20th Century Fox 1943 American Technicolor musical film Coney Island stars Betty Grable, George Montgomery, and Cesar Romero.

Snazzy showgirl Kate Farley (Betty Grable – then in 1943 the GIs’ favourite pin-up) is targeted by smooth saloon rivals Eddie Johnson (George Montgomery) and Joe Rocco (Cesar Romero) in this brash, sparky and amusing Technicolorful musical set in the 1890s, known nostalgically in America as the Gay Nineties, though apparently known in the UK as the Naughty Nineties. Ah, well, what’s in a name?

Joe Rocco owns a Coney Island nightclub in Brooklyn, where smooth conman Eddie Johnson talks himself into a job and into the affections of Rocco’s girl Kate Farley, the club’s main singing sensation.

Fans of vintage 1940s musicals will want to cuddle up a little closer to their TVs as Grable sings ‘Cuddle up a Little Closer’, ‘Pretty Baby’ and ‘Put Your Arms Around Me Honey’. The film is straight off the production line, but those were the days when big studios knew for certain how to entertain and Grable is at her best.

Grable is fortunate to have essential support turns. George Montgomery and Cesar Romero are very amusing, and Charles Winninger as Finnegan and Phil Silvers as Frankie are highly entertaining.

So good, Grable made it twice – the second time seven years later as Wabash Avenue.

Original music: Ralph Rainger.

New songs by Ralph Rainger (music) and Leo Robin (lyrics): “Take It from There”, “Beautiful Coney Island”, “Miss Lulu from Louisville”, “Get the Money”, “There’s Danger in a Dance”, “Old Demon Rum”.

Other old songs: “When Irish Eyes Are Smiling”, The Darktown Strutters’ Ball”.

Cast:

Betty Grable

George Montgomery

Cesar Romero

Charles Winninger

Phil Silvers

Matt Briggs

Paul Hurst

Frank Orth

Andrew Tombes

Alec Craig

Hal K Dawson

George Boyeo

Carmen D’Antonio

Harold DeGarro

Tom Dugan

Byron Foulger

George Gramlich

William Halligan

Bert Hanlon

Claire James

Bud Jamison

Delos Jewkes

Phyllis Kennedy

Trudy Marshall

Alphonse Martell

Harry Masters

Pat McKee

Ed McNamara

Joe Niemeyer

Gene Ramey

Gus Reed

Dewey Robinson

Harry Seymour

Libby Taylor

Buddy Williams.

© Derek Winnert 2025 – Classic Movie Review 13,636

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