Anchors Aweigh

MOVIE DESCRIPTION:

This mammoth musical is at base the story of two sailors on leave in Hollywood. Brash Joseph Brady (Gene Kelly) has promised his shy pal Clarence Doolittle (Frank Sinatra) that he will introduce Clarence to all the glamorous movie starlets whom he allegedly knows so well. Actually, the only actress whom Joseph meets is bit player Susan Abbott (Kathryn Grayson). He arranges for the golden-throated Susan to be auditioned by musician Jose Iturbi, but when she seems to want to return the favor romantically, Brady tries to foist the girl off on Clarence. But Clarence only has eyes for a fellow Brooklynite (Pamela Britton). Also involved in the plot machinations is runaway orphan Donald Martin (Dean Stockwell). Featuring Kelly dancing with such partners as a cartoon mouse (courtesy of MGM's house animators Bill Hanna and Joseph Barbera), Anchors Aweigh was a huge hit in 1945, assuring audiences future Gene Kelly/Frank Sinatra teamings. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

DVD FEATURES:

• Region: 1
• Number of Discs: 1
• Audio: Dolby Digital Stereo
• Screen: Color
• Features:
  • cc
  • Archival interview with animation legens William Hanna and Joseph Barbera
  • Excerpt from the MGM: when the lion roars documentary series
  • 3 theatrical trailers

AWARDS

• Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences

•     Won Best Score - Musical - 1945 (George Stoll)
•     Nominated Best Actor - 1945 (Gene Kelly)
•     Nominated Best Color Cinematography - 1945 (Charles P. Boyle, Robert Planck)
•     Nominated Best Picture - 1945
•     Nominated Best Song - 1945 (Sammy Cahn, Jule Styne)

• Film Daily

•     Won 10 Best Films - 1945

• New York Times

•     Won 10 Best Films - 1945

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

• Cast:

  
       Frank Sinatra - Clarence Doolittle
       Kathryn Grayson - Susan Abbott
       Gene Kelly - Joseph Brady
       Jose Iturbi - Himself
       Dean Stockwell - Donald Martin
       Pamela Britton - Girl from Brooklyn
       Rags Ragland - Police Sergeant
       Billy Gilbert - Cafe Manager
       Henry O'Neill - Adm. Hammond
       Carlos Ramirez - Carlos
       Edgar Kennedy - Police Captain
       Grady Sutton - Bertram Kroehler
       Leon Ames - Commander
       Sharon McManus - Little Girl Beggar
       James Flavin - Radio Cop
       James Burke - Studio Cop
       Henry Armetta - Hamburger Man
       Chester Clute - Iturbi's Assistant
       Alex Callam - Commander

• Director:

  George Sidney

• Producer:

  Joe Pasternak

• Screenwriter:

  Isobel Lennart

• Cinematographer:

  Charles P. Boyle, Robert Planck

• Composer (Music Score):

  Sammy Cahn

• Songwriter:

  Sammy Cahn

• Composer (Music Score):

  George Stoll, Jule Styne

• Songwriter:

  Jule Styne

• Editor:

  Adrienne Fazan

• Art Director:

  Randall Duell, Cedric Gibbons

• Set Designer:

  Richard A. Pefferle, Edwin B. Willis

• Costume Designer:

  Kay Dean, Irene

• Choreography:

  Stanley Donen, Gene Kelly

• Assistant Choreographer:

  Alex Romero

• Short Story Author:

  Natalie Marcin

REVIEW:

• Anchors Aweigh is best known for the "King Who Couldn't Dance" sequence, a mixture of animation and live action that features Gene Kelly dancing with Jerry the mouse (of Tom and Jerry fame). This sequence deserves its reputation, for the blend is seamless and the dancing is captivating. Nothing else in the film really matches this segment, but it's still a light, quite enjoyable diversion. Kelly is in excellent terpsichorean form, whether dancing a charming duet with a little beggar girl or demonstrating his flair for acrobatics in the "La Cumparsita" ballet; he also does more than hold up his end of the dramatic chores, with one of his patented wolf-on-the-surface/creampuff-underneath portrayals. Frank Sinatra handles the ballads (including the lovely "I Fall in Love Too Easily") with aplomb, and Dean Stockwell is cute without being annoying. Kathryn Grayson (unflatteringly costumed by Irene) is bland but serviceable (although her fans will be delighted with her vocal performance), but her sweet and unaffected rendition of the simple "My Heart Sings" is noteworthy. Anchors' 139 minutes is too long for its very slight story (and the majority of Jose Iturbi's role could easily be cut with no damage), but the extra length doesn't detract from the film's modest but very real appeal. ~ Craig Butler, Rovi