LOOKING FOR LOVE

US, 1964, 85 minutes, Colour.
Connie Francis, Jim Hutton, Susan Oliver, Joby Baker, Barbara Nichols, Johnny Carson, George Hamilton, Yvette Mimieux, Paul Prentiss, Danny Thomas, Charles Lane, Jesse White, J C.Flippen.
Directed by Don Weiss.

Audiences who would like to immerse themselves in the atmosphere of the first half of the 1960s, in the spirit of rock ‘n’ roll, of Elvis Presley musicals, of Connie Francis and Where The Boys Are and When the Boys Meet the Girls, Follow the Boys…, this is an easy 85 minutes to do that – exuberant and more than a little corny.

The film is a star vehicle for singer, Connie Francis, who appeared in the aforementioned films. She is a lively presence, not taking herself too seriously, the subject of mishaps and gags as well as frequently breaking into song. The film opens with an audition, with stalwart Jesse White as an agent, but she decides that she wants to marry and have children, will know the right man when he turns up, and will hear bells when she knows – and kisses - the man to marry. She sets her eyes on Jim Hutton, an executive who is more interested in her loopy invention for hanging clothes at night than in her as a person. She, however, is blind to all and continues unabatedly.

Her roommate is played by Susan Oliver, a bright presence, who herself is in love with Hutton. After some disastrous mishaps in the supermarket, she becomes friends with a bass player, played by Joby Baker.

She makes a mess of her career at a brokerage, especially with the phone exchange. But, she gets an opportunity to sing at a noisy club and then is hired as a replacement on the Danny Thomas show where, despite the mayhem, she makes a hit and receives many bookings.

This gives the opportunity for a number of guest appearances, if it means Yvette Mimieus and Paul Prentiss having only about a line each as well as being knocked on the head. Johnny Carson appears, early in his Late Night Show. George Hamilton is an actor for Connie Francis’ screen test and Danny Thomas sings with her.

There a mixup with the boss of the company, J C.Flippen, and whole of a lot of romantic misunderstandings until the roommate organises, literally, bells to ring when she kisses Jim Hutton and Connie Francis kisses Joby Baker.

Directed by Don Weise who directed a lot of television over many decades but began with small budget MGM films including A Slight Case of Larceny, I Love Melvin…