What a wonderful movie we have here. It had heart and in a musical way.Jean Adair, as the wise grandmother, steals the film with her keen mind and knowing what's good for all. Ms. Adair, who was quite a hoot 3 years before as the crazed Brewster sister in "Arsenic and Old Lace," was terrific here. Ironically, in a small role, the guy who played Teddy Roosevelt running up the stairs, who thought he was in San Juan Hill in the same picture, briefly is in this wonderful film as well.The film is an excellent one because it has a great plot and attempts to deal with these war-time sudden marriages and aftermath once peace came in 1945.Gene Kelly,as always making the dancing look easy, is absolutely wonderful here. Gene also had a wonderful knack dancing with children or with animation as we saw two years before in "Anchor's Aweigh." He gets great support by Marie MacDonald, who unfortunately died so young, as the spoiled rich brat who married him and then wants to dump him on his return.You wonder through the entire film if Kelly will reunite with MacDonald or instead go to Phyllis Thaxter, so appealing as a war widow with 3 children. The idea of the wealthy family comprising of a comical Charlie Winninger and Spring Byington,(she's terrific at the pool scene and in court as well)and Adair helping the homeless veterans by providing adequate housing for them, greatly adds to the film.You know this is a great film because you'll be sorry that it ends, but with a proper ending.

I thought this movie was quite good. It was on TCM (Turner Classic Movies) at three am one night, and its offbeat humor kept me up til five. Kelly performs beautifully in this role, especially with the Grandma (whose quip almost caused me to laugh out of my seat). The main actress was alright, but the father was able to keep his character isolated from the marriage conflict and kept the humor coming. If you like a good offbeat, older movie, I would recommend it. Unlike the other comment, I do like Gene Kelly. He was the perfect leading actor for many of the early musicals and I think in this role, he oozes his charisma. One drawback is the dance scenes get a little long-winded, but if you can get through those, you're in the clear.

This may contain spoilers for some.The storyline could have been an interesting premise. A returning soldier and his war bride coping with their marriage following his return from war. But too many flaws are to be found.The casting was not carefully done. Gene Kelly and Marie McDonald were lacking in chemistry. Gene's chemistry with Phyllis Thaxter was much better.Marie McDonald was beautiful, although she does not seem to have been a great actress (this is the only film of hers I've seen), she is not terrible. I do think she would have been aided if cast opposite an actor she had more chemistry with and with a better script.This film is watchable but not memorable. The character development is lacking. Marie's character Margaud goes back and forth and the writers don't seem to have known whether they wished for her to be a good person who made some mistakes or a selfish one. The instances with the divorce and then her later help with the housing are examples.Gene's character seems to go back and forth about whether he wants his marriage to work or not.The film in general does not seem to know whether it wants to be a drama or a musical comedy. The absence of a direction for the film to go causes it to be wrapped up a little to easily within the last few minutes of the film.For those who are fans of Gene or Marie, then this film should be viewed. Or just for those who are curious about the acting of Marie McDonald who's acting has been heavily criticized and is mostly known for her nickname "The Body".

No, this is not "Singin in the Rain" or "On the Town" or "Cover Girl" or "Anchors Away"! It's a simple black and white comedy with a handful of musical numbers thrown in. Kelly does an eye popping dance number on a construction site and does another cute number with a dog. These are as inventive as his numbers in more expensive films, but the "B quality" of the film does not do them any justice. He also sings "It Had to Be You". The plot is totally forgettable comedy fodder and since Kelly was never really known for his comedy playing, it falls a little flat. However, the dance numbers are terrific.