Must See Movie...

I wanted to like it more than I actually did... But much of the humor totally escaped me and I walked out only mildly impressed.

Let me be very fair here, this is not the best movie in my opinion. But, this movie is fun, it has purpose and is very enjoyable to watch.

The acting in this movie is really good.

Everybody seems to be dissing the Jule Styne-Leo Robin score to this friendly little 1955 widescreen musical, so let me put in a word for it. True, Columbia might have had an even better movie had it shelled out for the Bernstein-Comden-Green "Wonderful Town" Broadway score. But this one works just fine. It's tuneful, witty, and to the point, and it gives the great Betty Garrett (a replacement for Judy Holliday, whom Harry Cohn originally cast, but she was trying to be seen as less of a plain-Jane) several wonderful opportunities. Her comic timing's expert, she has a natural warmth, and it's easy to buy her as the overlooked sister of the well-cast Janet Leigh. Columbia, trying Jack Lemmon out in a number of guises at the time, perhaps shouldn't have cast him as a playboyish editor; it's not a very likable part, and he's not a singer, though he did do two other musicals for the studio around that time. But there's a splendid supporting cast, notably Bob Fosse (also choreographing) and a hideously underused, under-billed Tommy Rall. The Blake Edwards-Richard Quine screenplay preserves most of the best lines from previous versions and adds a few of its own, and the location footage is almost indistinguishable from the backlot work. Most raters have this one right--it's unpretentious, clever, happy, and picturesque. But it may send you out humming, too.

My Sister Eileen is about Ruth and Eileen Sherwood, sisters from Ohio who move to NYC to pursue careers in writing and performing, respectively. Eileen is the beautiful but naive younger sister, Ruth is the older, less gorgeous, more practical one. They rent a horror of a basement flat in Greenwich Village, and proceed to interact with the colorful characters they meet in the neighborhood and while job searching. Columbia originally intended the older-sister part for Judy Holliday, one of their biggest stars, but eventually, Betty Garrett was cast. Garrett (who had been blacklisted, and was making a film comeback), is good, but not as freshly energetic as she was in such earlier things as Neptune's Daughter and On The Town. She doesn't dominate the role as I think she could have. She's charming, lovely, wistful, amusing, but a bit subdued. It's not a flaw, just a choice. I prefer Rosalind Russell's more hearty approach in the earlier, non-musical film (Roz also starred in a hit Broadway musical version, called Wonderful Town). But, judge for yourself. Janet Leigh is in many ways perfect for the role of Eileen. She's a sexy girl with a pretty face and great body, along with a sweet (but not too sweet) personality. She pulls off the innocence without being coy.Jack Lemmon is the magazine editor aspiring writer Garrett hopes to impress (and who she falls for). He's charming, and even sings one song very well. But in this version of the story, the dancing men get more screen time. Fosse plays his patented "ardent young suitor" role, in his usual way. Tommy Rall is a brilliant dancer and does well as Chick Clark. Dick York is amusing and so are most of the other players, though Kasznar's landlord is relegated to the background much more than in the original.Garrett, Leigh, Fosse, Rall, Kasznar and Richard Quine (as an actor) were all, at one time or another, with MGM. This film may therefore remind you of one of that studio's musicals. But it also has a youthful freshness particular to the (then) Columbia Pictures writer-director team of Blake Edwards and Richard Quine. Fosse not only appears in the role of Frank Lippincott (played in the 1942 film by Quine) but choreographed, as well. I really enjoyed one or two numbers, especially the wonderful "competition dance" between Fosse and Tommy Rall. They're great dancers, in their prime. Garrett is great in the musical numbers too, and Janet Leigh does extremely well singing and dancing.You will probably enjoy this very pleasant musical.

A musical remake of the original Broadway play, MY SISTER EILEEN is a little-known gem from Columbia in the mid-'50s, produced in lively Technicolor and starring JANET LEIGH as Eileen and BETTY GARRETT as her writer/sister, both newcomers to the Greenwich Village scene. And naturally, the story and the film are very dated when viewed today.But for light entertainment, it passes inspection beautifully. BOB FOSSE and TOMMY RALL are excellent ingredients as singer/dancers and both of them have more screen time than usual here. JACK LEMMON doesn't have much to do as the publisher in love with Garrett and gets to sing the film's most undistinguished song--unfortunately.The "Conga" number that comes near the end of the film is a treat, the Brazilian soldiers bursting into dance at the drop of the word "Conga," with some imaginative choreography by Bob Fosse. KURT KAZNER is the Greek landlord who actually joins in the number, as do most of their Greenwich Village neighbors.A bright, unpretentious and sunny film, it's long on charm but short on inspired musical numbers. It's a wonder Columbia decided not to use the Comden/Green Broadway score but hired Jule Styne and Leo Robin to write a new one. Watch for DICK YORK as "Wreck," the husky neighbors who looks out for the girls.Passes the time pleasantly, but is easily forgotten.Trivia note: Director Richard Quine was featured in the original MY SISTER EILEEN starring Rosalind Russell in the 1942 film version.

There are so many accolades that can be linked to the musical version of MY SISTER EILEEN in its Columbia 50's version that one doesn't know where to start. First some facts -- WONDERFUL TOWN, the Bernstein-Comden-Green Broadway version was a smash, not a so-so attempt as has been stated elsewhere. Rosalind Russell received every honor imaginable for her return to the state, and Edie Adams, as Eileen, was also acclaimed, along with the score, the book, etc. Columbia could not arrange with Bernstein and Co. for their handiwork so it rolled out its own EILEEN, and the results are beyond charming. For the record, to dispute another silly comment, BETTY GARRETT, one of the genuine talents of stage and screen, was a musical comedy star on Bway and Hollywood, so her training was extensive, and her performance in the film, perhaps, is its greatest attribute -- but the Bob Fosse-Tommy Rall 'challenge' dance outside the burlesque theater is brilliant, as is the Bandstand song. Janet Leigh would have enchanted any and all males within sight, and her singing and dancing is quite expert. Jack Lemmon's work is fine, and his voice is good -- he was a cabaret pianist-singer whenever the chance opened for him. He also recorded several LP's. IF there is one weakness, it is the same as the Broadway production (which incidentally got a stellar revival and awards recently with Donna Murphy). The ending is too abrupt, and the Conga Line number could have ended stronger. BUT it is a small element. This is one of those musicals, at the tale end of the musical era in Hollywood, that deserves to be listed among the finest of them all!!!