DOWN TO EARTH

US, 1947, 101 minutes, Colour.
Rita Hayworth, Larry Parks, Marc Platt, Roland Culver, James Gleason, Edward Everett Horton, Adele Jurgens, George Macready, William Frawley.
Directed by Alexander Hall.

Down to Earth is a lavish, brightly Technicolored musical from the mid-1940s, something special for Columbia Studios (who had made Cover Girl with Rita Hayworth and Gene Kelly some years earlier). It was also the period of the Jolson films.

The film’s plot is highly farfetched – even more so! Rita Hayworth plays one of the muses, Terpsichore, who is dissatisfied with the Broadway musical, Swinging With Muses, that is being produced and starring Danny Miller (Larry Parks). She gets permission from Mr Jordan to come down to Earth to help Danny Miller and improve the musical.

The plot is derived from Here Comes Mr Jordan, from the play by Harry Segall, with the character of Mr Jordan, the messenger for people to go from Earth to the afterlife as well as his Messenger 7013. Claude Rains and Edward Everett Horton took those roles in the 1941 Here Comes Mr Jordan (also directed by Alexander Hall). In that film was the agent, Max Corkle, played by James Gleason. In this version Gleason is still an agent, Edward Everett Horton is still a messenger. However, Roland Culver takes on the Claude Rains role and is made up to resemble him in some ways.

The supporting cast includes Marc Platt, a dancer who appeared spasmodically in films, Adele Jurgens as the Broadway star, George Macready (as usual) as a villain and William Frawley as the police lieutenant. Rita Hayworth and Macready had appeared to advantage in the celebrated film noir, Gilda, a year earlier.

The choreography is of the 1940s style, the musical numbers are not particularly memorable – and both Rita Hayworth and Larry Parks had their voices dubbed.

Rita Hayworth was considered one of the main screen goddesses of the 1940s. Larry Parks fell victim to the House of UnAmerican? Activities and was blacklisted.

1. An entertaining 40s musical? Of its period and style? Songs, lyrics, choreography?

2. The use of colour, the bright Technicolor? Enhancing the stars? The musical numbers?

3. The musical score, the style of the times, the 1930s and 40s musicals? The range of songs, the humorous lyrics, the touch of satire? The romantic ballads?

4. The plot of putting on a Broadway musical? Danny and his return from the war? Long friendship with Eddie from schooldays? The rehearsals? The hopes and ambitions for the show? Eddie in debt to Joe Manion – and the later revelation that he could be killed if the show was not a success and his suicide note? The ordinary routines of rehearsals, numbers?

5. Terpsichore and her life on Mount Parnassus? The glamorous muses? The news that the musical was being put on, the haughty tone of Terpsichore? Insulted by the dialogue and the lyrics – which the audience had heard in the initial songs? Her going to Mr Jordan, the encounter with Messenger 7013 and his fussiness? The plea to Mr Jordan and his allowing her to go down to Earth?

6. Mr Jordan, his role in the afterlife, the line of the dead going into the plane, the roll call? Messenger 7013 and his hard work, wanting a holiday, trying to block Terpsichore coming, pleading to Mr Jordan? Being overruled? Mr Jordan sending the messenger to Earth to look after Terpsichore?

7. Terpsichore’s arrival on Earth, her clothes, her wondering about everybody in New York in a hurry? The hotel – and the later difficulty of the payment and the police interrogation? Her going to the theatre, amazed, nobody else seeing the messenger? Her going on stage, upstaging the leading lady, the song and dance routines? The leading lady and going off in a huff? Danny and his accepting Terpsichore, her agent arriving, his being taken aback, the name Kitty Pendleton?

8. The rehearsals, Kitty and her interventions? Danny and his infatuation with Kitty? Eddie and his caution? Going on the road, Kitty and her angry encounter with Danny? Her later change of tactic, Eddie wise to her and warning Danny, sending the note? Kitty using her wiles? The transformation of the musical? The out of town performance? The classical dance, modern dance style, Joe Manion upset? The audience sleeping, not applauding? The aftermath and the bad reviews? Kitty and her success, going to the arty crowd’s dinner? Coming to the meeting, hearing the reviews, angry and walking out?

9. Joe Manion, the deal with Danny, his playing the casino to get money for the musical? Losing? His proposal to Manion about his death? The partner with Manion? The appointment at the pier, Joe Manion going, being gunned down by his partner?

10. The framework of Max Corkle being interviewed? Max and his previous experience of Mr Jordan, not seeing him? The story of Joe Pendleton? Max’s role as an agent, the success with Kitty? His reaction to her performance and her leaving? His trying to persuade her to go back?

11. Mr Jordan, his appearance, persuading Kitty to go back? Her being in the show, its great success? His summoning her back, her confessing that she had come to change the show rather than help Danny? In love? Her going to the party, leaving her coat, nobody seeing her?

12. Danny, his upset with Kitty’s advice? The changing of the show after its failure? Success? In love with her? Her disappearance?

13. Mr Jordan and Terpsichore back with him? His showing her the future, Danny’s death, his successful career, her meeting him and their being happy ever after?

14. The fantasy elements – acceptable for the 1940s, for later generations? For a generation that liked fantasies? And the old style musicals?