weezeralfalfa This fun contemporary musical marked the end of an era for Fox musicals. It was the last of 5 films in which versatile likable Dan Dailey starred as the leading man with one of Fox's two blond leading ladies of '40s and early '50s musicals: Betty Grable and June Haver. This was June's last Hollywood film, after a string of mostly Fox or Warner musicals since '44. It was also singer Dennis Day's last Hollywood film. Finally, it was the last Fox film scored by composer Josef Myrow and lyricist Mack Gordon, who began collaborating on a number of Fox musicals beginning in '46, after Gordon's previous primary collaborator, Harry Warren, left Fox for MGM.Actually, Fox wanted Betty Grable to once again star opposite her favorite leading man for musicals. But, she turned it down. Thus, June served the purpose for which she was originally signed: as a backup for Betty, in case she couldn't or wouldn't do a film. Happily, we see that Dan and June also had super chemistry, bringing a high intensity of energy to the film. This is perhaps best exhibited by their unique spectacular 'mating dance', which provides a fitting finale to their whirlwind romance. Actually, its clear to me that they made a more dynamic pair than Betty and DanUnlike most of June's and many of Betty's previous musicals, which had nostalgic themes of the gay '90s through '20s, this film was set in contemporary suburbia, which was mushrooming in the years following WWII. Thus, we have spacious modern houses close to each other, but with backyards were parties and cookouts are hosted. Unlike most of June's other Fox musicals, there is no other significant female musical star to share the musical spotlight with. Also, unlike most Fox musicals of the '40s, most of the dancing and singing is done off-stage. Aside from the opening chorus girl number, the major exception is the imaginative film-noire-like song and dance to "Nowhere Guy": very different in mood to the effervescent other musical numbers: something that looks like it belongs in an MGM Kelly or Astaire-dominated film. The dream dance, involving Dan, June, and Dan's son, as well as several animated cartoon portions, also look more like MGM features, than Fox. The chief choreographer was Richard Barstow, whose only other film credits as such were for "A Star is Born" and "the Greatest Show on Earth" : 2 quite prominent films for their times. The musical director was Lionel Newman: brother of the more famous Alfred Newman. Marilyn Monroe, whose star was rapidly rising at this time, requested Lionel to be the musical director in all her films.The central drama of the film revolves around Dan's son's(Joe) strong opposition to admitting a female into his cozy life as a father and son family vs. the obvious strong attraction between Dan's and June's characters(Bill and Jeannie).. Obviously, Joe is still at that age where girls around his age are often considered boring and clumsy at things he's interested in(like fishing trips in the woods). He emphatically lets his wannabe girlfriend(Kitty) and stepmother (Jeannie) know about his profound disinterest in them. At first, Jeannie thinks she can bring Joe around to accepting her, then decides this isn't likely, and berates Bill for trying to badger Joe into changing his attitude toward her. She decides it's better if she moves away, until Joe belatedly offers some words of peace, causing her to delay her hasty plan, bolstered by the advice of her friends Reed(Dennis Day) and Rosie(Cara Williams). But, in the end, after the Bill-Jeannie crisis is resolved, when Kitty asks Joe if he will marry her when they grow up, she gets an emphatic arrogant "no", showing that Joe's dislike of girls(at least Kitty) has not budged.For the most part, laconic Bill provided a calming effect on the hyperkinetic social butterfly nightclub entertainer Jeannie, which is probably one reason she immediately fell for him, along with his obvious song and dance talent and domestic skills. Joe and Kitty provide characters that children can somewhat identify with. However, their dialogue with each other is often very awkward. ..The dish juggling act between Bill and Joe, accompanied by the song "I'd Rather Have a Pal Than a Gal", is a very clever scene, emphasizing their great relationship, and the lack of need for a woman to do household chores. However, after Joe goes to bed, Bill says, at times, he would like to reverse the "gal" and "pal" in the song: providing an opening for Jeannie. Bill's profession as a cartoonist provides a largely at-home job for a single father, and also leads into the several animated cartoon segments, which presumably mainly appeal to the children in the audience.Many viewers today are put off by Dennis Day's rather formal, if usually cheery, persona and formal attire, and his traditional Irish tenor singing, as contrasted with Dan's Gene Kelly style. I don't have a problem with him, certainly compared to Jeannie's comically super stiff and arrogant butler! Cara Williams, as his bright-eyed carrot-haired girlfriend, provides some distraction from June's dominance.

SimonJack Fred Astaire and Gene Kelly reigned as the male masters of dance in movies through the mid-20th century. Theirs were the large-scale production numbers and solo creative routines that dazzled audiences in many very good to great musical films. But a number of other very talented "hoofers" did a good share of entertaining as well. Donald O'Connor, Danny Kaye, Jimmy Cagney, Mickey Rooney and Dan Dailey come to mind. Besides dancing, they had singing voices and could act. The one who could do the best job of the latter was Dan Dailey. This intrepid happy camper could turn from a comedic role to a serious one with seeming ease. Dailey also had a persona about him that made audiences feel comfortable and cozy with his dance scenes. He seemed relaxed and natural in his movements. Usually those were with a romantic partner. In "The Girl Next Door," June Haver fits very nicely in that role. The Betty Grable look- alike had good dance and singing skills, so theirs was a very good match. Other actors in this film gave top performances as well – most notably Dennis Day, Cara Williams and Billy Gray as Dailey's son. The movie has a good plot, and Dailey and Gray have a couple of very good and amusing father-son skits. While there are no hit parade numbers in this film, the songs are all quite good. Haver has one very dramatic solo dance role and Dailey has a dream sequence. Finally, two animated comic sequences round out the humor in the film. Taken together, these qualities earn "The Girl Next Door" a high score for entertainment and enjoyment.Dan Dailey had a lot of strain and turmoil in his life. But he seemed to leave it at the stage door. He believed strongly in family life, yet he was married four times. He fought alcoholism early in his career, and his only son committed suicide in 1975. Dailey died three years later of anemia when he couldn't recover after a hip fracture from a fall. He was just 64. Dailey was well-liked by people on his movie sets, and he brought smiles and cheerfulness to rehearsals. His musicals especially, should still entertain people for decades to come.

edwagreen Entertaining Dan Dailey and June Haver film. It's the story of a boy affected by his widower father's attachment to the woman who has moved next door.The singing, dancing and cartoon like sequence scenes are an absolute joy to watch.Dennis Day is wonderful here in a supporting role along with a very young looking Cara Williams.The story moves along at a rapid pace and is well done with the music adding so much to the story.Look for a stodgy Clifford Sunberg as a butler.

Charles Reichenthal The Girl Next Door is a surprising and fascinating film, partly for what it delivers, and partly because of what it indicates the future could have been for its star. The film opened quickly, and disappeared just as quickly, in New York, because its start June Haver had already entered a convent (she, of course, didn't stay there long). Not expected to be box office, the film, though, has some extraordinary moments, and the most surprising element of all is the work of June Haver. Although her voice is dubbed, her dancing is a complete revelation. Her work with Dan Dailey is superlative and shows maturity that she had never shown before. Indeed, her torch song indicates a Haver never seen before...and never to reappear. The cartoon networking is fun, and the dish number between Dailey and Billy Gray is a joyous scene. Haver also displays a wide range of emotions that indicate she had matured as an actress and was no longer the perennial ingenue. Even her figure is more eye-watchable than in previous vehicles -- including The Dolly Sisters. The film sags badly whenever Dennis Day is at hand, and even more sadly because he sings the one number that had a brief bit of fame - If I Love You a Mountain. His voice allows no emotion, and his expressions are devoid of any acting. His vis-a-vis, Cara Williams, is totally wasted. It's nice, though, that the film has hit DVD, because its merits are commendable. Certainly, it is professional work - with the sad exception of the scenes with Dennis Day.