The Fleet’s In *** (1942, Dorothy Lamour, William Holden, Eddie Bracken, Betty Hutton, Jimmy Dorsey) – Classic Movie Review 11,521

Directors Victor Schertzinger and Hal Walker’s 1942 Paramount Pictures black and white film The Fleet’s In stars Dorothy Lamour, William Holden, Eddie Bracken and Betty Hutton.

Timid matelot Holden’s buddies bet he can’t make out with frigid nightclub singer Lamour in this likeable, sprightly musical comedy, with a silly story, jolly tunes and bright performances by the stars, plus some new talent, as well as music from Jimmy Dorsey and His Orchestra with vocalists Bob Eberle and Helen O’Connell.

Hutton caused a stir in her début with a couple of hits in ‘Arthur Murray Taught Me Dancing in a Hurry’ and ‘Build a Better Mousetrap’, both by Schertzinger, who also wrote ‘The Fleet’s In’, ‘Tangerine’ and ‘I Remember You’ (lyrics by Johnny Mercer).

The story is based on the 1928 show The Fleet’s In and on the 1933 Broadway play Sailor, Beware! by Kenyon Nicholson and Charles Robinson.

It is also Cass Daley’s début, also Teala Loring’s debut, and the final film of Barbara Kent.

‘Tangerine’, performed by Jimmy Dorsey and His Orchestra in the film and on record, reached #1 on the US Billboard chart for six weeks in 1942 and became a standard of the big band era.

‘I Remember You’, introduced in this film, became an international million-seller for Australian-born Frank Ifield in 1962, reaching #1 in the UK and #5 in the US pop charts.

Director-composer Schertzinger died during filming in October 1941 and was replaced by Walker.

The stars are Dorothy Lamour as the Countess, William Holden as Casey Kirby, Eddie Bracken as Barney Waters, Betty Hutton as Bessie, Betty Jane Rhodes as Diana Golden, Barbara Britton as Eileen, Jimmy Dorsey as Himself, and Cass Daley as Cissie.

Also in the cast are Leif Erickson, Rod Cameron, Gil Lamb, Jack Norton, Harry Barris, Dave Willock, Stanley Andrews, Chester Clute, Robert Warwick, Charlie Williams, Oscar Smith, Fred Santley, Hal Dawson, and Katherine Booth.

It was released on January 24, 1942.

Derek Winnert 2021 Classic Movie Review 11,521

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