Bloodhounds of Broadway (1952)

Bloodhounds of Broadway: Directed by Harmon Jones. With Mitzi Gaynor, Scott Brady, Mitzi Green, Marguerite Chapman. A calculating New York bookie hires a talented singer and dancer to entertain his nightclub. She brings her pet bloodhounds with her. This makes his girlfriend jealous, so she considers spilling the beans on his dealings to the feds.

“Mitzi Gaynor, to me, is an enigma. She could dance well, sing with more than a little ability… but never really grabbed the screen and held onto it. Her performance in this one is a very good example. True, the part is ridiculous, and the characteru0026#39;s transition is sloppily written. But her acting, in general, is pure artifice, part of the problem she would eventually face in u0026#39;South Pacificu0026#39;. She is pert and yet lacking charisma. This film does have some charm, including the u0026#39;Iu0026#39;ve Got a Feeling Youu0026#39;re Foolinu0026#39; Number. And Scott Brady happens to be in his element here. To me, though, the film is worth seeing just to admire Marguerite Chapman, one of the most beautiful and unjustly forgotten actresses. Few actresses could show u0026#39;spit and vinegaru0026#39; and temperament in their performances the way Chapman does so easily. Harmon Jonesu0026#39; direction follows the imperfect script. When the structure of a Runyhon yarn becomes so obvious that you take note of its inconsistencies, its plot holes seem like Manhattan potholes.”