HotToastyRag A very rich man in a big, beautiful house with lots of servants is broke. He can't afford his big, beautiful house, and he hasn't paid his servants in months. Collectively, the servants come up with the idea to pass off a maid, Michele Morgan, as their boss's daughter, since his real daughter is abroad in Europe, and then to marry her off to a rich man to save the household. The problem is that Michele is in love with the valet, Jack Haley. He doesn't know she's alive, but their singing neighbor next door, Frank Sinatra—who actually plays himself—sure notices her! It's very silly, but there are some cute songs and funny jokes, and the romances are very entertaining. As silly and corny as this movie is, I actually liked Higher and Higher. Just make sure you're in the mood for that combination before you rent this black-and-white musical. The cast works well off each other and the plot is very funny. Plus, it's cute to see a very young Frank Sinatra, but don't expect any acting chops on him yet; all he does in this one is sing.

mark.waltz OK, so this wasn't his first film; He appears in bit singing parts in a slew of films made prior to this, usually singing with a band or performing in a nightclub sequence. But here, he has his first acting role, even if his character is named Frank Sinatra. The character of Frankie here is as fictional as you can get, considering the revelations of his private life revealed decades later. In this film, he is the neighbor of wealthy Leon Errol who through bad investments has lost his fortune. Realizing that he is in danger of loosing his mansion, he enlists the pretty scullery maid (Michelle Morgan) to pose as his daughter. However a suspicious society matron (Errol's "Mexican Spitfire" spouse Elisabeth Risdon) questions Morgan's identity, wanting to see her own daughter married off to the European nobility (Victor Borge, of all people!). But with Errol's staff (which includes butler Jack Haley, social secretary Mary Wickes, chauffeur Dooley Wilson and maid Marcy McGuire) sticking up for Morgan, you know that the snobs are going to be disappointed when things don't turn out their way.Based upon a flop 1940 Broadway musical with songs by Richard Rodgers and Lorenz Hart, only one song from that show ended up in the movie. The new songs, however, by Jimmy McHugh and Harold Adamson are really good, one of them "I Couldn't Sleep a Wink Last Night" now a standard and nominated for an Oscar.The other songs actually have a Broadway feel to them, utilizing the ensemble cast to its fullest. McGuire, a perky teen, is a typical bobby-soxer, the type you'd probably see jumping outside the Paramount Theatre where Sinatra wooed thousands of like girls. She gets a great duet with Sinatra, "I Saw You First", representing all the fans all over the country. This film, however, is unpredictable, and does not end the way you think it would. In spite of the silly premise, it is for the most part a truly entertaining film, one where the ensemble all get moments to shine.

phvivian This may not be one of the best movies ever made but overall it's a very enjoyable, light-hearted piece of froth in which everyone involved seems to be having a good time. Highly recommended for it's feel-good factor alone. OK, so Frank Sinatra's "acting" leaves a lot to be desired but his singing is a great redeeming feature and the songs fit in perfectly with the romantic atmosphere of the film. Sinatra went on to make many more films where his undoubted acting ability shone through but in this, his first venture into Hollywood, his voice, not his acting, is his main contribution to this movie. I've just watched it again on TV and it still lifts my mood as much as it did the first time I saw it many many years ago.

redward This is not the best of films, but a cute, fluffy romantic musical comedy. The real treat is seeing Frank Sinatra, Mel Torme, and Victor Borge as young men - 3 true legends.This was the first RKO picture for Sinatra of a 3 film RKO deal. However, Louis B. Mayer was a fan of Sinatra's - his rendition of Ol' Man River moved him to tears. Mayer contacted RKO & bought out Sinatra's RKO contract in order to bring him to MGM.