HIT THE DECK

Hit the Deck
MGM, 1955, Color, 112 minutes, ***½
Released March, 1955

Another great musical from MGM! Just look at that cast list! Martin, Damone and Tamblyn are Navy buddies, and when they get shore leave they break into the home of producer Gene Raymond and beat him up. Tamblyn's sister (Jane Powell) is there, and Tamblyn is convinced that Raymond is going to put the moves on her. The shore patrol (one of which is Alan King), get a complaint from Raymond, and begin a search for the misbehaving seamen. In the meantime, Martin teams up with old flame Miller, Damone falls for Jane and Tamblyn goes for Debbie. Lots of fun and some great comic scenes and musical numbers. Musical highlights include the rousing "Hallelujah!", Jane's "Lucky Bird," Kay Armand's rendition of the Italian classic, "Ciribiribin," and Miller, Reynolds and Powell's "Why, Oh, Why?"
Produced by: Joe Pasternak
Directed by: Roy Rowland
Assistant Director: George Rhein
Written by: Sonya Levien and William Ludwig
Based on the musical Play "Hit the Deck" by Herbert Fields; Presented on the stage by Vincent Youmans; From "Shore Leave" by Hubert Osborne
Music by: Vincent Youmans
Lyrics by: Leo Robin, Clifford Grey and Irving Caesar
Music Supervised and Conducted by: George Stoll
Orchestral Arrangements: Robert Van Eps and Will Beitel
Vocal Supervision: Jeff Alexander
Musical Numbers Staged by: Hermes Pan
Art Directors: Cedric Gibbons and Paul Groesse
Set Decorations: Edwin B. Willis, Fred MacLean
Costumes by: Helen Rose
Hair Styles by: Sydney Guilaroff
Make-Up Created by: William Tuttle
Recording Supervisor: Wesley C. Miller
Director of Photography: George Folsey
Filmed in CinemaScope and Eastman Color
Color Consultant: Alvord Eiseman
Film Editor: John McSweeney, Jr.

Cast: Jane Powell [Susan Smith], Tony Martin [Chief Boatswain's Mate William F. Clark], Debbie Reynolds [Carol Pace], Walter Pidgeon [Rear Adm. Daniel Xavier Smith], Vic Damone [Rico Ferrari], Gene Raymond [Wendell Craig], Ann Miller [Ginger], Russ Tamblyn [Danny Xavier Smith], J. Carrol Naish [Mr. Peroni], Kay Armen [Mrs. Ottavio Ferrari], Richard Anderson [Lt. Jackson], Jane Darwell [Jenny], Alan King, Henry Slate [Shore Patrol], The Jubalaires [Themselves], Additional Cast: Frank Reynolds [Dancer]

Musical Program: [0:00] Join the Navy (sung by Mens Chorus behind titles); [0:04] Hallelujah! (sung by Tony Martin, Vic Damone, Russ Tamblyn and The Jubalaires); [0:11] Keeping Myself for You (sung by Ann Miller and Tony Martin, danced by Ann Miller and Girls Chorus); [0:22] Lucky Bird (sung and danced by Jane Powell with mechanical penguin); [0:27] A Kiss or Two (sung and danced by Debbie Reynolds and Mens Chorus); [0:35] Why, Oh, Why? (sung by Tony Martin, Vic Damone and Russ Tamblyn); [0:40] Sometimes I'm Happy (sung by Jane Powell at Wendell Craig's apartment); [0:47] I Know That You Know (sung and danced by Vic Damone and Jane Powell); [0:53] Lady from the Bayou (sung by Ann Miller, danced by Ann Miller and Chorus); [0:59] Ciribiribin (Kay Armen, joined by Vic Damone, Jane Powell, Debbie Reynolds, Russ Tamblyn and Tony Martin); [1:07] Why, Oh, Why? (sung by Jane Powell, Debbie Reynolds and Ann Miller); [1:23] More Than You Know (sung by Tony Martin proposing to Ginger); [1:26] Fun house sequence (instrumental danced by Debbie Reynolds and Russ Tamblyn); [1:34] Join the Navy / Loo Loo (production number sung and danced by Debbie Reynolds and Mens Chorus with Tony Martin. Russ Tamblyn and Vic Damone trying to hide among the Chorus); [1:47] Finale: Hallelujah (production number sung by Tony Martin, Vic Damone, Russ Tamblyn, Kay Armen, Jane Powell, Debbie Reynolds and Chorus, tapped by Ann Miller and Mens Chorus)