Best Foot Forward was a successful 1941 Broadway musical and, like Too Many Girls, was bought and adapted to be a vehicle for Lucille Ball. Like Too Many Girls, it's a simple-minded school romp where the innocence of the students and administrators makes today's educational establishments look like Sodom and Gomorra. We're at Winsocki Military Academy and the big prom is almost here. Cadet Bud Hooper (Tommy Dix) had written a fan letter to Hollywood star Lucille Ball asking if she'd be his date. He wasn't expecting she'd agree, but then he didn't know her press agent, Jack O'Reilly (William Gaxton). Seems Lucille's last couple of pictures hadn't done too well so he convinces her it would be great publicity for her to go to the prom. Bud is floored. His two roommates, Dutch (Kenny Bowers) and "Hunk" (Jack Jordan), immediately start making plans to meet her. And then Bud remembers his girl friend, Helen. Well, he tells Helen he's got the grippe, but after Lucille (and all the other cadets' dates show up), so does Helen...to keep him company because he's sick. The dance is about to start, Lucille is waiting for Bud...and Bud finds out Helen is on campus looking for him. Now we're in a whirl of misunderstandings, miscues, schemes and subterfuges, all powered by Hugh Martin's and Ralph Blane's songs, by Harry James and His Music Makers swinging at the prom, by broad performances from the cadets and their dates and by relentless enthusiasm and good cheer. Among the standouts in the movie are Lucille Ball playing herself. Not only is she gorgeous, she handles the comedy with aplomb, which includes making some gentle but sharp fun of herself as a movie star. William Gaxton as her agent is amusing, conniving and does no lasting damage to anyone. The two of them bring polished comic performances to the movie. June Allyson and Nancy Walker recreate their stage roles and do fine jobs. With Gloria DeHaven, they are a smash singing "The Three Bs," with Harry James backing them. That's the Three Bs as in barrelhouse, boogie and the blues. The script is amusing and corny. "Is it true," asks Bud, "that everyone in California sleeps under two blankets?" Answers O'Reilly, "No. How could all those people get under just two blankets?" The young men -- boys, actually -- playing the cadets bring a lot of unabashed enthusiasm to their parts. Somewhere in the crowd is an unbilled Stanley Donen. Kenny Bowers can be funny but the director should have had him tone down the mugging. Tommy Dix comes up to Lucille Ball's shoulders, has a baby face and a kind of eerie young-Mickey-Rooney sincerity. He also has a big, polished baritone voice. Dix handles his part well and, at the conclusion, power-sings the big production number, "Buckle Down Winsocki," while all the cadets and their dates march around the field during graduation. You'll enjoy the movie best if you just sit back and not be too critical. This was Hugh Martin's and Ralph Blane's first score. Except for "Winsocki," none of the songs became well-known. Still, they have style and spirit. "Three Men on a Date," "The Three Bs" and "Ev'ry Time" I thought held up well over more than 60 years. On the strength of this score, Martin and Blane were offered the assignment of writing the songs for Meet Me in St. Louis, and that put them on the map. I don't think they ever topped "The Boy Next Door," "The Trolley Song" and "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas." If you like college musicals (although I suppose Best Foot Forward is really a prep-school musical), this one has enthusiasm and a fine performance by Lucille Ball. I'd also take a look at Too Many Girls (1940), also with Ball and with an outstanding Rodgers & Hart score, and Good News (1947), with a charming performance, this time as the lead, by June Allyson.

I liked the movie - especially the reprise of Buckle Down Winsocki - Tommy Dix wonderful baritone for his age.What ever happened to TOMMY DIX???? from 1955 until now I do not know:BUT......in one blurb I read on the web - in mentioned that he was interested in physics. As he would now be 80??? maybe he got into the sciences??? Some of the others from the play seem to have gone to University??I cant say - between 1944-54 (ten years) - but he is still mentioned as a Broadway Star....1955: Found him through research on the web from the February 2003 Newsletter by "Birmingham Historical Society" Alabama about their historical Clarke Theatre dedication. 1955 opening production of BEST FOOT FORWARD.Tommy Dix photo sing his song on page 2w/the cast;info page 3; (.PDF file) Denotes that Hugh Martin, Jr, a AL native and composer (see best foot forward crew) helped stage this production - I guess he got Dix to come down for the Play??1944 - August 25, 1944 - noted as at the Copley's Oval Room - CAMBRIDGE, MASS noted as the Winsocki Kid,-Tommy Dix. To be interviewed on a radio show says the school newspaper 'THE TECH' Page 2 yup!!! MIT archives...... vol 064 S0112 P002 text '1944'1944 Andy Hardy's 'Blonde Trouble' movie Tommy Dix as 'Mark' --- 1943 'Best Foot Forward' Movie Tommy Dix as 'Elwood'. 1941 Sunday October 8, one week after show opens?? With vocalist Tom Dix, the Benny Goodman Orchestra recorded "Buckle Down Winsocki" on the Columbia label. 'Best Foot Forward' Broadway show at the Ethel Barrymore Theatre, NY Opening: Oct 1,1941-Jul 4, 1942-Total Performances: 326 11/26/1940 - The Corn is Green -Broadway show - Tommy Dix as Ensemble. Opening: Nov 26,1940 Closing: Jan 17, 1942 Total Performances: 47711/11/1940 - 'Career of Tommy Dix' Time magazine archives. Here noted as aged 15 in Manhattan - just starting out. Mom sick, widowed two years earlier...gets picked up at the MET and sings baritone.... etc.4/1/1930 Under a Texas Moon movie premier Tommy Dix as 'Tom' age 6?Maybe His Dad was an actor - ????Anyone else know anything else about Mr. Tommy Dix.???

This movie was originally set for Hedy lamarr, but she refused ( wisely ) and was in turn, denied the role in Casablanca. Louis B Mayer was spiteful to be sure. The best thing in this movie was the rendition of the "3 B's", sung by the youthful Nancy Walker, Gloria De Haven and June Allyson, and Harry james orchestra. "Buckle Down Winsocki" was the hit of its day, sung magnificently by a Tommy Dix. Whatever happened to him?

This movie is so unremarkable it is almost remarkable just for that! Some averages songs, badly staged, some average to bad acting from a bunch of unknown boys - headed by the uncharming Tommy Dix, and an unwitty functional screenplay make this undemanding but unrewarding viewing.On the positive side you can glimpse June Allyson ,Gloria De Haven and Nancy Walker in early screen roles. But only Walker is given anything interesting to do - she's funny as the ugly duckling, but the way the men in the film insult her is quite disturbing. Then there's Lucy - looking gorgeous and playing herself, although her presence and actions at a teen prom are hard to believe. If her lines had been funnier she may have made something of this film but...The highlights are Harry James performances - very fine, and the moment where the jealous school girls almost tear Lucy apart - this moment is so vicious it almost makes this an interesting film!