(2 of 3)
To Jolson, 60, restless and not very busy for the last decade, the obviously smash picture means new fame, new excitement and a bulging pocket (50% of the profits). Having recovered some of his oldtime exuberance, he has married for the fourth time. While the picture was being previewed in Santa Barbara, he sat shaking with emotion and clutching Skolsky's hand. Afterwards, in the theater lobby, he overheard an elderly woman remark to her companion, "My, that was a wonderful picture! Too bad Al Jolson couldn't have lived to see it." Al burst into tears and enjoyed a really good cry.
Three Little Girls in Blue (20th Century-Fox), a schoolgirl's syrupy-sweet daydream, is a triple-scoop rainbow sundae munched to jukebox accompaniment.
The little girls (June Haver, Vivian Blaine and Vera-Ellen), all three of them singing and dancing for dear life, are chicken-farming sisters who long for city lights and rich husbands (song cue: A Farmer's Life Is a Very Merry Life—but Not for Me). They scrape together all their money and set out, in Technicolored 1902 fancy dress, for a swank seaside hotel (song & dance cue: On the Boardwalk—in Atlantic City). There is just enough cash on hand for one girl at a time to fish for a wealthy suitor, so the pretty sisters move into a costly suite disguised as heiress, secretary and maid. This harmless deception involves them in a series of sentimental tunes and lyrics, kisses by moonlight, one big ballet production number and a colorful, red-coated fox hunt across a Maryland plantation. It is plain, toward the end, that there will be true love for everyone concerned—and quite enough money to get along on, too (song cue: This Is Always).
Three Little Girls in Blue is more than half over when the whole picture suddenly develops sparkle. Unmistakable source of this refreshing new element is Celeste Holm, a singing comedienne who charmed Broadway several seasons ago in Oklahoma ! and Bloomer Girl. Playing a predatory Southern belle, Miss Holm makes a howling success of her movie debut. In a mere supporting role and in spite of being no great beauty, she manages to make the three highly Technicolored leading ladies look comparatively pale.
Hollywood moved cautiously in making up its mind about Celeste Holm, but its mind has now been made up. She was put through the most expensive, elaborate screen test on record (in Technicolor, directed by Gregory Ratoff). Some eight months later, winding up a U.S.O. tour in Norway, she finally got a cable to report for work at once.
Miss Holm, wife of American Airlinesman A. Schuyler Dunning, is expecting a baby in December. Meanwhile 20th Century-Fox is expecting an important 1947 star and is rolling up its heaviest publicity guns.
Gallant Journey (Columbia) is a belated tribute to one of aviation's neglected pioneers. Back in 1883, a young Californian named John J. Montgomery took off from a hillside cow pasture in a homemade glider. According to his own records, he stayed off the ground for some 600 feet, an achievement which some experts regard as the world's first controlled flight in heavier-than-air craft.*