Kiss the Boys Goodbye

I disliked "Kiss the Boys Goodbye" for one reason...the over-the-top and anything but subtle performance of Mary Martin. I cannot place all the blame on her...the director really should have told her to tone it down a bit as it had a huge impact on the overall production.

The story finds Lloyd (Don Ameche) and Oscar (Oscar Levant) working on their next Broadway show. However, they are having a hard time finding the right Southern girl for the lead. On a trip to the South, they are delayed and taken to the home of Cindy Lou Bethany (Martin) and it's all a ruse to get the director and his composer friend to see and hear her perform. At their plantation, you get to hear Cindy Lou sing along with a large contingent of happy black sharecroppers...something which today might make a few folks take notice! And, to impress Lloyd that she is VERY much from the south, she way, way, way overdoes her accent...to the point of it being a parody of itself. Her routine is frankly annoying, boorish and stupid....and why Lloyd and Oscar didn't slap her silly is tough to imagine...let alone having her star in the show!

I really felt sorry for Don Ameche. He was a fine actor and here just seemed overwhelmed and overshadowed by Martin's far from subtle routine. It's a shame, as he seemed to try his best. It's also a shame, as Oscar Levant could be a wonderful sidekick...but here, he, too, is overshadowed by Martin's blathering.

By the way, although I do NOT recommend the film, it's nice to see Eddie 'Rochester' Anderson doing a nice little softshoe routine.

Also by the way, originally they wanted Jean Arthur to play Martin's role. She very wisely chose to instead make "The Devil and Miss Jones"...a classic if there ever was one!