Well, I finally got around to checking it out. I agree the plot is pretty weak. But not much more so than some of the Fred and Ginger musicals. Of course, Tyrone and Alice are not in the Fred and Ginger league. I thought the slightly spooky cab driver (John Carradine) was a nice feature. Also noteworthy was the way they condensed the troopship voyage overseas, the horrors of the World War, and the troopship voyage back home into about 45 seconds.
The music more than makes up for any plot weaknesses. The whole film is drenched in it. I adore the differences in style between Alice Faye and Ethel Merman. Alice is like gently flowing honey and Ethel is like a brass band. Both are wonderful in their own way.
Yep, I’m a NYer and that cab scene was weird by my lights. I’d have torn out of there if a cabbie talked to me like that. Are ya suuure ya don’t wanna hear...? Pffft!
However, that was then, and for then it was edgy and sophisticated. Reminiscent of a scene in Atlas Shrugged, too.