By 1939, movie audiences were well acquainted with Dick Powell's singing talents. The absence of Powell's crooning in "Naughty But Nice" (NBN) probably wasn't a disappointment to movie-goers, and they were likely amused by his performance, which was against type. Theater audiences in 1939 wouldn't have expected Powell's character, uptight college professor and composer Donald Hardwick, to put in a singing performance in this film.Don't miss the scene early in NBN that takes place in the dining room of the Hardwick home, as Donald's aunts reveal why they haven't spoken with their sister in years. Listen closely to the dialogue as they reveal the story of the brash musician she married, his instrument of choice, his nickname, and the title of the last song he performed before his untimely death. That dialogue had to have spawned at least a few laughs in theaters in 1939.

Dick Powell stars with Ann Sheridan and Gale Page in "Naughty but Nice," a film from 1939 that also features Helen Broderick and Zasu Pitts, Ronald Reagan, Allen Jenkins and Max Rosenbloom.Powell is Professor Hardwick who teaches at Winfield College and hates swing music, which is the new craze. He has written a piece, classical of course, and he goes to New York to have it published.He stays with his Aunt Martha (Broderick) who loves swing as do all her friends. A nondrinker, he develops a love for lemonade which is actually a Hurricane and drinks them like juice, becoming bombed.He finally sells his piece to Eddie (Reagan), and he has Linda McKay (Page) put lyrics to it -- and turn it into a big swing number, performed by Zelda (Sheridan). Eddie and McKay are the Rogers & Hammerstein of swing, but Zelda wants in, not only wanting to sing, but having the music published by Hudson, the Home of the Hits. Lots and lots of music, and this is such a nice cast. However, somewhere the movie went awry. For one thing, it's too long. It was hard to stay interested in it.I should have liked it a lot more. Warren and Mercer were responsible for most of the songs, and some of them were based on classical pieces. Somehow it just fell flat. A shame.

Supposedly this movie contains a "thanks" to Mozart, and supposedly the song "Have a Dream on Me" is based on something from Mozart's opera "The Magic Flute." But as far as I can tell, the song is not based on Mozart and anyway, I've read that it was written for the film but then not used.The soundtrack lists various composers but not Mozart. Can anyone straighten me out about all this? I've never seen the movie, but if anyone can suggest where I can get a copy, I'd be most grateful.Thanks!

Dick Powell , in this film, is the unlikely, subject of a would-be love triangle with Gale Page and Ann Sheridan. Unlikely because he resembles David Byrne from the Talking Heads and isn't exactly the type of guy you'd think Page and Sheridan would fight over.That being said, the real reason to watch this movie is Ann Sheridan, who is beautiful, but gorgeous.All in all Naughty But Nice is good, but ok.