''The Girl Most Likely'' (1958) is a musical and comedy film about a young woman who becomes engaged to three men at the same time. The film, a remake of ''

Tom, Dick and Harry The phrase "Tom, Dick, and Harry" is a placeholder for unspecified people. The phrase most commonly occurs as "every Tom, Dick, and Harry", meaning ''everyone'', and "any Tom, Dick, or Harry", meaning ''anyone'', although ''Brewer's Dictionary o ...

'' (1941), was directed by

Mitchell Leisen James Mitchell Leisen (October 6, 1898 – October 28, 1972) was an American director, art director, and costume designer. Film career He entered the film industry in the 1920s, beginning in the art and costume departments. He directed his f ...

, and stars Jane Powell, Cliff Robertson, and

Keith Andes Keith Andes (born John Charles Andes, July 12, 1920 – November 11, 2005) was an American film, radio, musical theater, stage and television actor. Early life The son of Mr. and Mrs. William G. Andes, Andes was born in Ocean City, New Jersey ...

. The choreography is by Gower Champion. This was the last film produced by

RKO Radio Pictures RKO Radio Pictures Inc., commonly known as RKO Pictures or simply RKO, was an American film production and distribution company, one of the "Big Five" film studios of Hollywood's Golden Age. The business was formed after the Keith-Albee-Orph ...

and was distributed by

Universal Pictures Universal Pictures (legally Universal City Studios LLC, also known as Universal Studios, or simply Universal; common metonym: Uni, and formerly named Universal Film Manufacturing Company and Universal-International Pictures Inc.) is an Americ ...

. It was also the final film directed by Leisen.

Plot

Dodie lives with her parents and dreams of marrying a millionaire. At home in California, near the ocean, her boyfriend Buzz is a real-estate agent of modest means. He proposes marriage and she accepts, but tells her pal Marge that she has doubts. A yacht arrives, owned by wealthy Neil Patterson, which gets Dodie's fantasies going. She leaps into the water and swims to meet him. Asked on a date, Dodie is thrilled until she learns that the man isn't Neil at all but Pete, his poor mechanic. It isn't long before Pete is smitten and proposes. He also infuriates Buzz by pretending to buy a house and bringing Dodie along as his fiancee. A drunk Neil has an accidental meeting with Dodie and invites her onto the yacht. At first, she's annoyed by his advances, but in Tijuana, she gets tipsy and has a great time. Neil is the rich suitor of her dreams, one who even buys a taxi rather than just hailing a ride from one. After being out till 4 a.m., Dodie is brought home by Neil, only to find Buzz and Pete impatiently waiting on her doorstep. Asking time to sleep on a decision, Dodie tells them the next morning that she has made her choice: Neil. The guys reluctantly accept, and Dodie goes off with her new betrothed. But the minute Pete kisses her goodbye, she promptly changes her mind.

Cast

* Jane Powell as Dodie * Cliff Robertson as Pete *

as Neil Patterson, Jr. * Kaye Ballard as Marge *

Tommy Noonan Tommy Noonan (born Thomas Noone; April 29, 1921 – April 24, 1968) was a comedy genre film performer, screenwriter and producer. He acted in a number of high-profile films as well as B movies from the 1940s through the 1960s, and he is best ...

as Buzz * Una Merkel as Mother * Kelly Brown as Sam Kelsey *

Judy Nugent Judy Ann Nugent (born August 22, 1940) is an American actress. Early life Nugent was born in Los Angeles, California, daughter of Lucille and Carl Nugent. Her father was a property master for Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, her mother later became a talent ...

as Pauline *

Frank Cady Frank Randolph Cady (September 8, 1915 – June 8, 2012) was an American actor best known for his role as storekeeper Sam Drucker in three American television series during the 1960s – '' Petticoat Junction'', '' Green Acres'', and ...

as Pop * Joseph Kearns as Mr. Schlom, Bank Manager

Soundtrack

* "The Girl Most Likely" ** Music by

Nelson Riddle Nelson Smock Riddle Jr. (June 1, 1921 – October 6, 1985) was an American arranger, composer, bandleader and orchestrator whose career stretched from the late 1940s to the mid-1980s. He worked with many world-famous vocalists at Capitol Recor ...

** Lyrics by Bob Russell ** Sung over the opening credits by The Hi-Los * "I Don't Know What I Want" ** Written by Hugh Martin and Ralph Blane ** Sung by Jane Powell * "We Gotta Keep Up with the Joneses" ** Written by Hugh Martin and Ralph Blane ** Sung by Jane Powell and Tommy Noonan (dubbed by Robert C. Oates) * "Travelogue" ** Written by Hugh Martin and Ralph Blane ** Sung by Jane Powell, Cliff Robertson (dubbed by Hal Derwin), Kaye Ballard, Kelly Brown and Ensemble * "Balboa'' ** Written by Hugh Martin and Ralph Blane ** Sung and danced by Jane Powell and Ensemble * "Crazy Horse" ** Written by Hugh Martin and Ralph Blane ** Sung and danced by Jane Powell and Children's Chorus * "All the Colors of the Rainbow" ** Written by Hugh Martin and Ralph Blane ** Sung and danced by Jane Powell, Keith Andes, Kaye Ballard, Kelly Brown and Ensemble

Production notes

''The Girl Most Likely'' was a remake of the 1941 RKO picture ''Tom, Dick and Harry''. RKO produced the film in 1956, but after the breakup of the studio, Universal bought the release rights. Jane Powell had been under contract to MGM for 14 years until November 1955. She signed a three-picture deal with MGM. In February 1956, she signed a three-picture deal with RKO, the first film which was to be ''The Girl Most Likely''. Carol Channing, who was under contract to RKO to make 10 films over five years (she had already made ''

The First Traveling Saleslady ''The First Traveling Saleslady'' is a 1956 American film, starring Ginger Rogers and Carol Channing. Commercially unsuccessful, it was among the films that helped to close RKO Pictures. Future western stars Clint Eastwood and James Arness hav ...

''), signed to costar along with Ralph Meeker. In July 1956, Gower Champion signed to do the choreography. In August, Tom Noonan and Keith Andes signed to costar and Mitchell Leisen to direct. Channing refused to do the film, unhappy with her role. RKO released her from her contract, and she was replaced by Kaye Ballard. Meeker dropped out, and Cliff Robertson was borrowed from Columbia. Filming took place from early September to early November 1956; additional scenes were shot the week of 8 Jan 1957.

Release

The film was completed by November 1956 but not released until November 1958. Producer Stanley Rubin later said the film "is really an orphan. Her father, RKO, died; her mother, U-I (which is releasing), is in a coma. The little girl is having to fend for itself." RKO meant to follow it up with ''Tempo'' starring Marge and Gower Champion,Comedy Lawyer Rote Sighted for Cotten; Champions in 'Tempo' Schallert, Edwin. Los Angeles Times 26 Dec 1956: C7. but it never was made.

References

External links

* * * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Girl Most Likely, The 1957 films 1950s musical comedy films 1958 romantic comedy films Remakes of American films American musical comedy films American romantic comedy films American romantic musical films Films directed by Mitchell Leisen Films set in California Films set in Tijuana 1950s English-language films 1950s American films