JohnHowardReid
Copyright 28 July 1943 by Universal Pictures Co., Inc. No recorded New York opening. U.S. release: 23 July 1943. Australian release: 27 January 1944. 7 reels. 5,702 feet. 63 minutes.SYNOPSIS: A married couple's plan to recapture their courtship experience at a resort lodge goes awry.COMMENT: Ozzie Nelson fans are going to be a bit disappointed as their hero has no dialogue at all. He and his orchestra stay firmly in the background, always in long shot except for a brief two-shot with Ozzie and Harriet when he joins her momentarily for "Why Don't You Fall In Love With Me?"Harriet of course as the "other woman" in this romantic quadrangle, has quite a large amount of dialogue footage, as well as her songs. Not as much as ultra-svelte June Vincent, but enough to justify her second billing. David Bruce as usual makes a rather so-so hero. Rod Cameron as the "other man" also tries hard, but with rather the same middling results.The script is slight but serves as a reasonably amusing peg, both for the musical numbers and the efforts of a remarkably extensive roster of character players. I thought the best of the songs was Eberle's "I'm Through With Love", though this pleasant memory is somewhat undermined by the long stretch of indifferent ballroom dancing by Veloz and Yolanda which follows. The best of the numbers is undoubtedly Brooks and quartet's "Do I Worry" which is then spiritedly danced by Tip, Tap and Toe on top of a trio of suitcases. As for the cameo players, much as I enjoyed Franklin Pangborn's typically fussy little desk clerk/manager, I laughed more at Andrew Tombes' vengeful judge. Jack Rice has a silent bit as a puzzled passer-by at the railroad depot, whilst Billy Newell contributes some neat double takes as a warm-watered barkeep.By "B" standards, production values are reasonably lavish, whilst direction and other credits are spot on.All in all, an entertaining trifle - and a must for Harriet (and June Vincent) devotees.OTHER VIEWS: When I mentioned to my wife that I was reviewing a "B" musical, she seemed surprised that such hybrids existed. Musicals just seem of their very nature to deserve and demand the full "A" treatment. It's true that some studios tended to avoid this form of support entertainment, but one outfit that did embrace the "B" musical with open arms was Universal. This studio seemed to have the knowhow and the personnel who could create a lively, polished piece of musical comedy romance on a budget that whilst limited, certainly didn't look that way on the screen, thanks to bright playing, clever scripting, and imaginative photography, plus clever direction that took full advantage of some skillfully made-over sets. With its agreeable cast and lively songs, Honeymoon Lodge is an excellent example of the Universal entry at its best.
mark.waltz
This delicious farce with music is one of those delightful B movies where all the ingredients came together, showing that less is more. When a film opens with a battling couple unseen having an argument and the reactions of a puppy and canary are all you see, that's a good start in my book. A pranksterish parrot gets in on the action when the ex husband boards a train to the location and is thought to be the groom of a woman he just met. The return to the honeymoon lodge (run by nervous nancy Franklin Pangborn) creates more havoc, resulting in a day in court where all the screwy truth comes out.David Bruce and June Vincent play the newly divorced couple who head into divorce court and decide to try to reconnect at the location of their honeymoon. But on the way, he encounters Harriet Hilliard where all the confusion begins. Hillard's husband, Ozzie Nelson, is in charge of the band, and specialties by Tip, Tap and Toe and Veloz and Yolanda are a ton of fun. This lodge gets five stars from me!
