After the intensity of last month’s Stephen Sondheim rarity, Evening Primrose, we thought we’d lighten up a bit—actually, a lot—and share a joyful, engaging 76 minutes in the company of DONALD O’CONNOR and DEBBIE REYNOLDS. In 1952 they were hot properties, fresh from Singin’ in the Rain, and MGM was counting on their achieving real star power. In that year alone, Debbie made no less than five movies including this one.

You’ll be charmed by the cute premise: Donald is a photographer’s assistant who tries to win Debbie’s hand by pretending he’s a big-shot who can get her a layout in Look magazine. Since she plays a performer who dreams of Hollywood, Debbie is ripe for the ruse.

This is one of those Grade B movie musicals from the 1950s that we’ve explored from time to time in the series. They were years when TV was posing a real threat in attracting audiences to movie theaters. Grade B doesn’t mean low quality, just a small budget.

My co-host is LIZ BAUMGARTNER, who is a key to the production of the series and happens to be crazy about this musical!