The French Line

Movies in 3D are not new - there was a short vogue for the format in the 50s. They had the right idea back then, too. Why waste screen time on cute cartoon creatures or spurting blood when you can have Jane Russell's bazooms thrusting out at you?

And that was one of the main attractions of the RKO musical called The French Line, from 1953. As a reviewer on IMDb, who has seen the 3D version, writes, "When the posters outside of the theatre proclaimed 'JR in 3D!', they really meant what they said. During several musical numbers, when she would turn from profile and face the camera with her chest thrust out: watch out! You almost felt you should move away from the screen."

Of course, the soundtrack LP has no such advantages, and we are left with the vocalizations of Russell and Gilbert Roland. While both of them can sing, neither of them is a singer, if you catch the distinction. The songs here are by Josef Myrow (music) and the team of Ralph Blane and Robert Wells (lyrics). We have encountered Myrow here before with his songs for I Love Melvin. Blane is known for many films (Meet Me in St. Louis) and shows (Best Foot Forward). Wells' greatest hit was "The Christmas Song."

The results from this distinguished group are pleasant if hardly compelling. The best tune is probably "Wait Till You See Paris," but in this item Roland manages to be colorless and overwrought at the same time.

Oh well - it's a fairly rare LP, and I imagine connoisseurs of this kind of thing will enjoy the experience.

Note (July 2024) - This has now been remastered in ambient stereo.

LINK

I Love Melvin

Two of the young stars of Singin' in the Rain got their own movie after the success of the earlier film, and while it was not the hit that Singin' was, it did well and is well-remembered.

The songs on this 1953 soundtrack LP are good - if not as good as the music from its predecessor. They are done nicely by the enduringly likable Debbie Reynolds and Donald O'Connor, with an assist by young Noreen Corcoran.

The music is by Josef Myrow, who had a short but notable career in Hollywood, with songs for Three Little Girls in Blue, Mother Wore Tights, the French Line and Bundle of Joy. Here he is paired with the prolific lyricist Mack Gordon. None of the songs here were big hits, but elsewhere Myrow was responsible for some very popular numbers, including You Make Me Feel So Young, Somewhere in the Night and Give Me the Simple Life.

The sound here is good, allowing you to enjoy the typically polished M-G-M arrangements (by Skip Martin) and performances (led by Georgie Stoll).

REMASTERED VERSION