Let's Do It Again (1953)

Perfect cast and a good story

Highly Overrated But Still Good

It's a good bad... and worth a popcorn matinée. While it's easy to lament what could have been...

Blistering performances.

Despite the good cast, this is not a good film. Ray Milland overacts and is unconvincing with his dubbed singing voice. He doesn't do comedy well, neither does he do Westerns well. His fake American accent is unbearable to listen to. Jane Wyman has no rhythm when she dances and looks like a flat pancake when she sings. There is a scene where she reveals her firm thighs which looks incongruous in her slight frame. Only Tom Helmore plays a believable role.The strong points in the film include the Technicolor, production and costume designs. It is beautiful to look at, but there is no story to maintain your attention. They are just pictures of people talking.

Not an epic scale musical like The Wizard of Oz, but still a fun romp.I never knew that Ray Milland has a rich, buttery voice and carries a tune like a pro. Or that Jane Wyman was a hottie. The dresses she wears, va-va-VOOM! That pink number she sings at the fundraiser in, with the matching pink fur and gloves, so old-school Hollywood, just lovely! And there's a sumptuous gold dress on another lady at the restaurant. Back when when women dressed like Mackie dresses Barbie. Aldo Ray is very easy on the eyes, and a fair dancer too. There's also a lot of nice decor & furniture. And the music is actually closer to an epic scale than the story or setting.Right away I noticed someone from another bit of entertainment from my youth, Mister Ed. Leon Ames, who plays the Colonel, Wilbur's old commander in the Air Force who moves in next door, plays Chet, a friend of Ray Milland's character Gary. Lots of subtle performance-based humor too. If you're like me and you've seen most of the musicals ever made this can be a nice surprise for some fresh enjoyment of the genre and the era.

Milland and Wyman were great dramatic actors. Of course they don't belong in this light comedy, however Mr. Milland at least does demonstrate an ability to do comedic material. Not in a funny way, but more like a great actor acting out a comedy. In other words, his talent enables him to play down to lightweight roles, deliberately and with a lot of film acting finesse and smooth technique on his part. Everyone knows he is not in Cary Grant's or Rock Hudson's league at romantic comedy but then this is only a super-lightweight role so Milland plays it that way. Thats all he is asked to do, and he manages OK. Unfortunately the same can't be said for Ms. Wyman.Probably Ms. Wyman could somehow jerk tears and pathos out of this movie as was her specialty, but isn't asked to do that style of acting here, therefore such obvious hard-drama abilities are so misplaced they don't enhance the overall tone of the movie. Her severely bobbed hair only enhances her dramatic manner, but who needs dramatic impact here?. On the plus side, she has a natural talent for providing a classy presence and for looking good in high fashion clothes.Milland is granted the advantages of having some farce situations (the yellow bathrobe scene, the fight with another guy in Ms. Wyman's back room) and he handles these deftly enough. Unfortunately for Jane Wyman, she has little to do except model beautiful clothes and sing (or lip-sync) to some 1950's light music.This movie moves along at a good pace and appears to be well directed, considering the lackluster script. The color photography, art direction, and general overall plot/concept are good, except for some forgettable musical spots. The supporting cast is fine, including underrated Tom Helmore in one of his too-few movie appearances.As an example of second-rate 1950's romantic comedies, this is not a bad one as long as you don't expect much beyond light entertainment. Milland fans won't be disappointed in his efforts, Wyman fans will at least get to see her at the peak of her talent and looking her best, but the results here fall far short of her potential.

"Let's Do It Again" is a 1953 loose remake of "The Awful Truth," this time starring Jane Wyman, Ray Milland, Aldo Ray and Valerie Bettis. Milland plays Gary Stuart, a songwriter who occasionally takes off, saying he's going to Chicago or wherever, when all the while he's playing with nightclub bands in town. To make him jealous, knowing full well he's lying to her, his ex-performer wife Connie (Wyman) pretends she spent the night with a friend, Courtney Craig (Tom Helmore). Husband and wife have both carried their games too far and get a divorce, though they're still in love.The comments on this site are a bit surprising regarding Wyman. People seem to forget that before Johnny Belinda, Wyman was a stunning blonde who did plenty of comedy. I never understood the brown hair and the short do, but she played the role of Connie well and did her own singing. Despite comments to the contrary, I thought she looked quite beautiful. Her clothes were nothing short of sensational in this Technicolor production. Milland does a good job as Gary. Aldo Ray looks quite handsome and is okay as Connie's wealthy suitor. Valerie Bettis is on hand to do some sexy dancing. The music in this film is bad.It's no "Awful Truth," lacking in just about every department except maybe gowns. If you forget it's a remake of that classic, you should enjoy it for what it is - light fluff.