This Is the Life

Army Doctor Patric Knowles is recovering from illness in a small town where aspiring singer Susanna Foster pursues him. He's much too old and much too noble to respond at first, especially as his host, Jonathan Hale, has a son, Donald O'Connor in love with her. Donald is caught between being a dancer in Peggy Ryan's troupe -- she's in love with O'Connor -- but Donald is caught between being drafted and wanting to study medicine. Miss Foster goes to New York to study singing. She and her aunt stay at Knowles' house while he waits to see if he can return to the army, and Miss Foster gets him to agree to give her an engagement ring. When O'Connor shows up, he's heartbroken. Then they all run into Louise Allbritton, and the youngsters decide that the two older people are still in love. Sorting this out takes a bunch of musical numbers, with Miss Foster singing collatura numbers, O'Connor and Miss Ryan doing dance numbers, and, Ray Eberle and his orchestra and Bobby Brooks' quartet showing up in case you think there should be another three or four numbers, or even if you don't.

Universal had bought a play co-written by Upton Sinclair and Fay Wray for Deanna Durbin. Miss Durbin, however, turned it down, so they cast Miss Foster, who was on salary as a threat to Miss Durbin, in the role. I'm guessing they added O'Connor & Miss Ryan and the others because why not. The result is a bit disjointed, with a big patriotic finale and a happy ending that comes out of nowhere. In the meantime, you'll hear Miss Foster sing some opera, some Ruodolf Friml, and some Rodgers & Hart, while O'Connor and Miss Ryan dance up a storm.