"Springtime in the Rockies" has a lot going for it. It's a combination film of music, comedy and romance that was popular and frequent from Hollywood during the 1930s and into the 1950s. Those were the musical revue movies in which the characters were in the music and entertainment trade in the film. The musical plays that later became the favored form of the genre were those that were not set in an entertainment venue. They are dramas, westerns, war, romance and comedy films in which the plot plays out in musical numbers.
But this film is an exceptional one of the early form, for its quality in a number of areas. First, it's one of the very best films to showcase a great swing era band. Harry James and his orchestra had become one of the most popular swing bands by the time this movie came out. The next year, James would marry the movie's star actress, Betty Grable. The musical treats include James's trumpet and his band, Helen Forrest singing "I Had the Craziest Dream," songs and dances by Carmen Miranda, dancing by Gable and Cesar Romero, and duets by Gable and male co-star John Payne.
Another plus that raises this above the routine musical reviews is an excellent plot and screenplay. The story itself has more substance than usual for such films. It got its start from a 1937 short story, "Second Honeymoon," by American author Philip Wylie. And the script here has quality comedy and clever writing. Some of the comedic dialog comes off as spontaneous. All the principal players are involved with the comedy as well. And some specific supporting roles are key to the comedy. Foremost among these is Edward Everett Horton as McTavish. Horton was one of the best supporting actors in the 1930s and 1940s Hollywood. He also had some lead roles. Joining him in supporting the others is Charlotte Greenwood as Phoebe Gray, and the uncredited Jackie Gleason as "Commissioner."
A third and big plus for this film is the scenery. Although filmed in the Hollywood studios of Twentieth Century Fox, it used some exterior scenes of the beautiful Lake Louise and its chateau in the heart of the Canadian Rockies. I've traveled across the Rocky Mountains in the U. S. and Canada, and there's no more beautiful lake setting. Trails offer views back toward the chateau, and sweethearts can rent canoes. But most enjoyable is afternoon tea in the chateau dining room which offers one the postcard picture view of the turquoise lake.
All the technical aspects of the film are superb. Only in a couple places do some little flaws show. These were either in film editing or script rewriting where a couple of scenes seem to have forced leads into the next line of dialog. It's as though the spontaneous part that would lead into that had been cut or dropped.
One oddity about this film is that when it came out in late 1942, the world was at war. Of course, all of life didn't cease with war, and home entertainment was important to help keep up hope and morale. And, one wouldn't expect to see GIs at a world-class resort in the Canadian Rockies. In one scene, a Royal Canadian Mounty in full uniform is on the dance floor. But there is no other sign that there is even a war taking place. Even a couple of officers - Canadian or American, in uniform in the picture would have been good. They would have been on short leaves or weekend passes, and during war they would have been in uniform at all times. The opening scenes in New York might have had some GIs or sailors outside the theater.
Still, this is one of the very best movies with big bands of the swing era. Here are some funny lines from the film. For more witty dialog, see the Quotes section under this IMDb Web page of the movie.
Commissioner (Jackie Gleason, uncredited), "Danny boy, you'll hurt your knuckles. I'll knock. You yell."
Dan Christy, "Where am I?" McTavish, "Chateau Lake Louise. Heart of the Canadian Rockies. Elevation, 5,670 feet."
McTavish, "I've been going to school now for 20 years. I graduated last month." Dan Christy, "Twenty years in one college?" McTavish, "Oh, no sir. No, sir. I have diplomas from five."
McTavish, "Well, I confess. Though I am a master of romance languages, I'm scarcely a master of romance. Bachelor of Arts, yes, but awfully tired of being a bachelor."
Commissioner, "Listen, I didn't send you up there to make her jealous. When a woman's jealous, she's mad. And we won't want a mad woman for the show."
Rosita Murphy, "When I first meet you, I think you are a little on the dumb bell side, you know." McTavish, "Not really? You know, I must say definitely, that I felt just the same way about you."
Vicky Lane, "If you'll excuse me, I'd like to go to the powder room." Rosita Murphy, "I will go with you. My face is a mess, too."
Dan Christy, "What's cookin', Phoebe?" Phoebe, "I don't know what's cookin', but I know someone's stewin'."
Rosita Murphy, "Hmmm. Is that a diamond?" Vicky Lane, "Yes. Does the size of it startle you?" Rosita Murphy, "Yes. In Brazil, we throw that kind away." Gesturing with her closed fist, she says, "We dig them up this big."
Dan Christy, "McTavish, any time a woman never wants to see you again, that means she can't live without you. I'm happy to report that everything is progressing according to plan." McTavish, "Really, sir, really? Your scientific approach to a woman's heart - it's just amazing, sir." Dan Christy, "Thank you, McTavish."
Vicky Lane, "Now, why didn't you leave by the fire escape as I asked you to?" Dan Christy, "Look, no fire escape." Vicky Lane, "Well, a gentleman would've jumped."
