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Sing a Jingle
a.k.a: Lucky Days
Universal Pictures
Released: January 7, 1944
Runtime: 62 minutes
This was Allan’s last war-musical. Like the rest, it has a simple plot, but it provides entertaining song and dance numbers.
Ray King is a famous radio singer appearing on air for his farewell performance before he leaves to serve in the army. He is singing “Love (you are my own)” in front of a live audience while his manager, lady admirer/socialite and friend are watching from a private room. Andrews, his manager, is waiting to give Ray some bad news so he can get through the show. While they are driving home in the car, Andrews hands him with a letter from the army. To Ray’s utter disappointment, the recruitment office rejects him because of an old football accident. Vera, his “fiancée” (what she thinks), is glad because now they can star in an upcoming musical together. In actuality, Ray has no intention of getting involved with her or going on stage. Determined to help in the war effort, Ray has Andrews arrange that he work as a welder in a small town…
Ray assumes a new identity as Steve Roberts at a war plant in Rockville. No one suspects he is the Ray King; all he had to do was change his name and shave his mustache. He bunks up with another welder, Bucky, in J.P. Crane’s house, the president of the war plant. As they are unpacking, he sings a bit of “That Sweet Story of Old” with Bucky’s harmonica as accompaniment. The next morning during breakfast, the two chat with Mr. Crane and his intellectual son, Wilbur. Mr. Crane tells Steve how Muriel, his headstrong daughter, hasn’t eaten with them for months. Steve says he would insist that she come down. Mr. Crane gives him permission, so he heads upstairs. When he knocks on her door, he runs into Muriel, who is dressed up like a maid. Thinking she is the maid, he asks when she will come down. Playing a mean trick, she says she is taking shower. He goes in with a blanket to fish her out. After no response, he tries to reach for her, but instead falls into the shower headfirst. Well, Muriel is not done with her trick, and locks him in the bathroom while she quietly steps out. To her surprise, he makes his through the balcony from a window. Furious, he stops her from leaving just yet. Mr. Crane comes up, wondering where they are, and clears up the situation. From here, Muriel and Ray make a bumpy start on the road to love.
The next day at work, Muriel comes to ask her father about raising $5 million to fulfill her quota to build the Rockville Cruiser. A little overwhelmed by the amount, Mr. Crane asks how she will go about doing that. To her annoyance, Steve chimes in with a great idea-throwing a dance party with a war-bond rally. She decides to take his idea. That evening, Muriel holds a meeting with some friends to make arrangements for the party. At the same time, Mr. Crane, Ray, and the boys from work are enjoying a card game upstairs. The Kings Men provide the chorus, and Steve begins to sing “When We Were Young.” The guests downstairs are so enchanted with his voice; they can’t help but go upstairs. Meanwhile Jeff Abbott, Muriel’s boyfriend starts to suspect who Steve really is after she tells him of the shower incident. He suggests that they look up his file. The next day, she does and mails it to him.
Muriel is supposed to go to the dance with Jeff, but he is late. So, after some thought, she decides to let Steve take her. Bucky’s date for the party is Myrtle, the outgoing, comic type who works as the telephone operator at the plant. They dance, but then Bucky cuts in on a cute brunette. Myrtle is almost left alone when a short, gangly guy asks her to dance. On the floor, he throws a surprise and starts to do some wild, crazy jitterbugging with her. This provides a funny scene as he twirls her around, while she can barely stay on her feet. The dance band quiets down as Steve takes the stage to start the rally. He announces that the men can buy a bond for a dance of any girl they choose, and then another for a kiss. Someone shouts from the audience that they’ll buy a $100 bond for a song, so Steve sings the title song, “Sing a Jingle.” In the background, Muriel’s date asks about the file. She tells him to leave it unopened and mail it back to her. Jeff tries to change her mind, but she disregards everything he says, and refuses to talk to him any further (providing evidence that she really does care for Steve). Steve buys a bond for a dance and a kiss with Muriel. He doesn’t kiss her quite yet, but instead enjoys the moment. She lets him take her home, and right before letting her go, he uses his money’s worth, and kisses her.
Given the success of the war-bond rally dance party, they arrange to put on a big variety show at the Rockville Opera House. Of course, Steve plans to sing in the show.
At rehearsals, he sings “The Night We Called It a Day” with the Kings Men. Next, to his father’s surprise, Wilbur does a tap dance number. Just as Steve and Muriel are walking home, Andrews’ car screeches at the curb. Vera jumps out and gives him a big kiss, while he quickly breaks away. Stumped by their unexpected visit, he tells Muriel that they are some old friends who have come to pick him up. Muriel, who is suspicious of the incident and a bit jealous of Vera, lets him go. In, the car, Steve asks them why they didn’t tell him they were coming. Andrews explains that Vera was dying to see him, as usual. Steve comes up with an idea, and tells Andrews that Ray King will be appearing at the Opera House, but for free.
On the night of the performance, Myrtle sings and dances to “I’m Mademoiselle” with the Kings Men and the Four Society Girls. Wilbur joins her later and they do a nice dance number together. Last, but not least, Ray King (who put on a fake mustache) walks on and begins to sing, “Beautiful Love.” Jeff, still determined storms onstage and tells the audience that he is not Ray King, but an imposter. Bewildered, Ray stops and goes backstage. Muriel, who is angry with Ray, joins Jeff in a taxi to leave. But, Ray switches places with the driver just in time, and meets Bucky at the corner. He takes Muriel in his arms and carries her back while Bucky keeps Jeff outside. Ray starts “Beautiful Love” again. Understanding that he really cares for Muriel, Vera doesn’t stand in their way. Towards the end of the song, Ray takes Muriel onstage and holds her in his arms for the finale.
Credits
Director…Edward C. Lilley
Producer…Edward C. Lilley
Writers…Eugene Conrad, John Grey, Fred Rath, Lee Sands
Original Music…Frank Skinner (uncredited)
Music Director/Composer: stock music…Charles Previn
Cinematography…Jerome Ash
Film Editing…Charles Maynard
Art Direction…Robert Clatworthy, John B. Goodman
Set Decoration…Russell A. Gausman, Edward R. Robinson
Costumes…Vera West
Sound Director…Bernard B. Brown
Sound Department…Jack A. Bolger Jr.
Assistant Director…Will Sheldon
Special Effects…John P. Fulton (special photography)
Cast
Allan Jones…Ray King
June Vincent…Muriel Crane
Samuel S. Hinds…J.P. Crane
Gus Schilling…Bucky
Betty Kean…Myrtle
Jerome Cowan…Andrews
Joan Castle…Vera Grant
Richard Love…Wilbur Crane
Vivian Austin…Ann
William Newell…Wiggins
Dean Collins…Benny
Ken Darby, Jon Dodson, Bud Linn, Rad Robinson…themselves (as The King’s Men)
The Four Society Girls…Themselves
Soundtrack
Credited Composers: Tom Adair, Sidney D. Mitchell, Frank Skinner, Inez James
• “The Night We Called it a Day”
o Sung by Allan Jones, The King’s Men
o Music: Matt Dennis
o Lyrics: Tom Adair
• “Sing a Jingle”
o Sung by Allan Jones
o Music: -
o Lyrics: -
• “I’m Mademoiselle”
o Sung by Betty Kean, The Four Society Girls
o Music: -
o Lyrics: -
• “Love (you are my own)”
o Sung by Allan Jones
o Music: -
o Lyrics: -
• “Beautiful Love”
o Sung by Allan Jones
o Music: Victor Young, Wayne King, E. Van Alstyne
o Lyrics: Haven Gillespie
• “That Sweet Story of Old”
o Sung by Allan Jones (with harmonica accompaniment)
o Music: East Horndon, Salamis Luke
o Lyrics: Jemima Luke
• “When We Were Young”
o Sung by Allan Jones, The King’s Men
o Music: -
o Lyrics: -