A Dusty Corner: "...1a!" *

I recently began subscribing to the blog “Forgotten Films.” (Thank you, Sis!) This inspired me to write on one of my favorite “forgotten films.” I don’t know of anyone who does not find Danny Kaye one of America’s favorite legendary performers. I have shared his talent (via the gift of technology in the classroom) with my students, some of whom had never even heard of Danny Kaye; some recognized him as the ‘funny, old dentist that Rudy Huxtable visits on “The Cosby Show,”** but other than this, they were fully unaware of the talent unleashed by this world-renown comic icon, and were of course, at this point introduced to a new 'funny man'!

Now, “White Christmas” is in my top 50 films of all time and is #2 on my Christmas movie list. “Hans Christian Andersen,” and “The Court Jester” are both wonderful Kaye films, as well. I also enjoy “The Secret Life of Walter Mitty” (“ta-pocketa-pocketa-pocketa-pocketa-pocketa.”) and “The Kid From Brooklyn. ” They, too, rate high on my Danny Kaye list, but one film for me trumps all of these – “Up in Arms” (1944, Samuel L. Goldwyn Productions). Kaye portrays ‘Danny Weems,’ an elevator operator in a busy high-rise commercial building. He happens to be in love with Mary Morgan (the lovely Constance Dowling), but she is in love with Danny’s best friend, Joe (played by dashing Dana Andrews), and adorable Virginia (Dinah Shore) is in love with Danny. As a hypochondriac, Danny is drafted (of course), becomes a military hero in his own crazy (and politically incorrect) way (“Oide nasai!”), and each man gets the girl they realized is truly their own. The film co-stars some of the loveliest Goldwyn girls to grace the screen – talk about ‘ravishing beauties’; they’re here!

This movie is not yet available on DVD - a sad commentary on what sells. We can find movies and television programming that were aired ‘yesterday’ and have no standards of morality, but the entertaining, cross-the-board, multi-generational appeal of the likes of Danny Kaye are hard to find on the shelves or internet warehouse. Even his film, “The Inspector General” is available, but of the poorest captured quality. But that ‘soapbox’ is for another time. Today, I will leave you with nothing but nonsensical happiness and undeniable laughter.

"Melody in 4-F" ***