BRING YOUR SMILE ALONG

US, 1955, 83 minutes, Colour.
Frankie Laine, Keefe Brasselle, Constance Towers.
Directed by Blake Edwards.

Bring Your Smile Along is a pleasant supporting feature musical of the mid 50s. It seems very much of its period. it is a star vehicle for singer Frankie Laine. It also introduces Constance Towers who was more of a stage actress than screen presence.

The film was of interest as the first directed by Blake Edwards who was to go to such fame with serious fills like The Days of Wine and Roses and Breakfast at Tiffanys to the Pink Panther series and many films with his wife Julie Andrews. It is co-written with Richard Quine director of many comedies and musicals, a collaborator with Edwards on Rainbow Round my Shoulder for Frankie Lane.

It is a familiar story but done with verve. It was not evident from this film that Blake Edwards would have such a long and successful career. Keefe Brasselle stars with Frankie Lane. There are quite a number of ballads of the 50s and a lively rendition of Side by Side.

1. Entertaining American Musical? Supporting feature? Conventional story and characters? The American dream?

2. The mid 50s, atmosphere, New York, colour photography? The range of songs, Frankie Lane's popularity and renditions? Song and dance?

3. The title, and its optimism? The singing of the title song during the credits? With the kids on the New York street?

4. The focus on Nancy, singing, teaching, her love for David? Her letters to him from New York? Venturing into the big city? The apartment, hearing the song, writing the lyric? Being turned down by the agency? The encounter with Marty and Jerry in her room? The meal, the argument about the rewriting? The collaboration? Her failing in love? Recordings? Going back home? Meeting David again? The possibility of success and finance in New York? Staying at home? The group from New York coming to see her, David stepping back?

5. Marty and Jerry, their jobs, at the theatre, selling popcorn, playing the piano, the chorus dancers, rebelling? Their musical compositions? Friendship? going to the agent? Finding the lyrics? The comedy with Nancy, the meal, arguments, collaboration, success, signing contracts? Marty and his surliness to Nancy and age

2. David and David's visit? The reconciliation and the ending? Jerry, genial, his girlfriend, friendly with the kids in the street, song and dance, success as a recording artist?

6. David as the small town teacher, in love with Nancy, writing to her, coming to New York, seeing what had happened, graciously stepping back?

7. The restaurant, the owner, the staff, the singing of Momma Mia?

8. Popular ingredients for American success stories ? small towns, high hopes, rejections, unexpected success, romance fulfilled?