Good movie but grossly overrated

It's a movie as timely as it is provocative and amazingly, for much of its running time, it is weirdly funny.

A great movie, one of the best of this year. There was a bit of confusion at one point in the plot, but nothing serious.

There are moments in this movie where the great movie it could've been peek out... They're fleeting, here, but they're worth savoring, and they happen often enough to make it worth your while.

The oldest daughter must marry first is the usual protocol in families. Who says so? Well father S.Z. Sakall does here. At least it's expected to happen that way. Marsha Hunt, as the oldest daughter, gives a very memorable performance as a diva who gets her way and thinks she's the center of attention and the Queen of Sheba. But when reporter and photographer Van Heflin comes to cover the tulip festival in this small Dutch community in Michigan, he falls for another daughter, played by the lovely Kathryn Grayson. And, what a voice. And, she sings some very creative and imaginative songs. There aren't a lot of well-known recognizable names or faces in this film, but it has fun, sweetness, and good music abound. I had never seen this before and was very pleased with it. Its cute and old-fashioned ways make the viewer feel good and more than make up for any flaws this film may have. I have no criticisms of it. This is a special place where time seems to stop and where there are no cares and when you think you're getting mad, you pull on your ear. (That usually works.) I could make a habit of watching this infectiously happy little film. You should too.

I helped restore a boat that Van Heflin,and Kathryn Grayson were on.The movie was made in Saugatuck,Michigan.This boat was named the "Karab" at the time.Was owned by Karl Irwin. In 60 yrs this boat has only had 4 owners ! It is listed as the third oldest boat still on the Great Lakes. The picture shows the movie crew on the boat,and the other sisters that were in the movie when it was docked at the "Badlands" hotel which burned down. This boat was a 1923 Defoe built in Bay City,Michigan. I looked for over a year to find the movie.Didn't know it was a musical. I had to get help from MGM to find out what type of movie it was. I have a poor quality of the movie,and the boat was not seen in the movie. I like good musicals with a good story line,and this was done just right.

This is one of those films that is best enjoyed by just turning off your brain and letting yourself get into the film despite a very silly and impossible plot. Considering the film has considerable charm (and Cuddles Sakal), I could do this quite easily--at least until Kathryn Grayson sang too many songs that it spoiled mood! While I am not a huge fan of musicals, this isn't exactly a musical as all the numbers are strictly Grayson singing in a very operatic style that you either love or hate--guess which category I fell into! The silly plot is about the fictional town of New Delph, Michigan--and I assume it's a thinly disguised version of Holland, Michigan, as this town is famous for their bulbs and Dutch heritage. The town is like a little piece of Holland transported to America, as the homes look very Dutch and they keep alive their heritage through cultural festivals.Van Heflin is a reporter and arrives for the annual Tulip Festival. The first person he meets is the odd but very sweet Cuddle Sakal who runs the local hotel. The hotel is staffed by his seven daughters--all who have boys' names! And, of course, all are very beautiful and charming (with one exception). Van falls for the youngest one (Grayson) but the family tradition is that none of them can marry until the oldest marries (Marsha Hunt). Unfortunately, Hunt is a rather vain and obnoxious lady and Heflin is stuck because he wants to wed Grayson and break the very strong family tradition.The whole contrived plot works because of the charming nature of the film. Sakal, as usual, is a cute and endearing character and the film is well-written (at least when it comes to dialog). About the only deficits are the silliness of the plot and the over-abundance of singing by Grayson. Without the singing, this film would have earned at least a 7!

This story was set in Delft, Michigan and oddly enough resembles the tulip time in Holland, Michigan, unlike what was previously written, there are a lot of dutch families in Holland; There is few Spanish families there. This movie is cute, it doesn't lack any informality of its time, it delights in the old ways of the dutch. The characters are genuine and the set is typical of its era, it has the quality of film noir. A delightful classic that should be appreciated. It is Not desensitized by propaganda films or shoved into a shelf with out consideration for shadow, camera angles, and well played out script.