3 Sailors and a Girl

Warner Archive Collection (series)

In this entertaining 1950s musical, a trio of sailors and a young singer join a struggling producer to bring a stage flop to Broadway where, of course, it becomes the hottest show in town. Terrific score by Sammy Fain and Sammy Cahn, based on George S. Kaufman's "The Butter and the Egg Man."

Though it isn't obvious at first glance, THREE SAILORS AND A GIRL is the fourth screen version of the George S. Kaufman stage comedy The Butter and Egg Man. The titular gobs are Jones, Twitch, and Parky, played respectively by Gordon MacRae, Gene Nelson, and Jack E. Leonard. On leave in New York with their pockets full of money, our trio of heroes are convinced by wheeler-dealer Joe Woods (Sam Levene) to invest their money in a musical show. It soon becomes obvious that the boys have backed a turkey, but with the help of pert leading-lady Penny (Jane Powell), a potential disaster is converted into a smashing success. The Sammy Cahn-Sammy Fain musical score is tuneful if forgettable, while LeRoy Prinz' choreography is first-rate. A cute celebrity cameo appearance caps this happy little film.