On the Town (1949)
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96% of critics liked it
(23 reviews) -
81% of users liked it
(12,732 ratings)
Three sailors on a 24-hour pass -- Gabey (Gene Kelly), Chip (Frank Sinatra), and Ozzie (Jules Munshin) -- decide to soak up the sights and sounds of New York. Each one finds romance within those 24 hours: Gabey with aspiring dancer Ivy Smith (Vera-Ellen), Chip with lady cabbie Hildy Esterhazy (Betty… More Three sailors on a 24-hour pass -- Gabey (Gene Kelly), Chip (Frank Sinatra), and Ozzie (Jules Munshin) -- decide to soak up the sights and sounds of New York. Each one finds romance within those 24 hours: Gabey with aspiring dancer Ivy Smith (Vera-Ellen), Chip with lady cabbie Hildy Esterhazy (Betty Garrett), and Ozzie with paleontology student Claire Huddesten (Ann Miller). That's all, right? Wellll....Ivy passes herself off as a celebrity, but she's actually a kootch dancer in Coney Island. Claire and the boys inadvertently topple a dinosaur replica at the Museum of Anthropological History. And Hildy breaks any number of speeding laws attempting to get the lovers together and straighten out all misunderstandings. Adapted from the Broadway musical by Betty Comden, Adolph Green, and Leonard Bernstein, On the Town is one of the freshest, most exhilarating musicals turned out by the old MGM regime. The stars' verve and camaraderie are contagious, and the songs are staged by legendary musical director Stanley Donen and Kelly himself with wit and innovation. Highlights include the opening "New York, New York" number, shot on location and flat-cutting from one image to another at a dizzying pace, and Gene Kelly and Vera-Ellen's ""Miss Turnstyles Ballet."" ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Directed By
- Stanley Donen, Alice Pearce
- Written By
- Adolph Green, Betty Comden
- Genres
- Musical & Performing Arts, Classics, Comedy
- In Theaters
- Dec 30, 1949 Wide
- Studio
- MGM
Critic Reviews
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Dave Kehr, Chicago Reader
A fine, freewheeling musical.
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Variety Staff, Variety
The pep, enthusiasm and apparent fun the makers of On the Town had in putting it together comes through to the audience and gives the picture its best asset.
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Stephen Garrett, Time Out
On the Town is exhilarating, brash spectacle, all rip-snorting, wisecracking attack, and maybe just a teensy bit unlikeable.
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Bosley Crowther, New York Times
Gaiety, rhythm, humor and a good, wholesome dash of light romance have been artfully blended together in this bright Technicolored comedy.
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Ian Nathan, Empire Magazine
Delightful, athletic stuff with some unusual -- but wonderful -- location shooting. New York never looked better.
See more critic ratings and reviews on Rotten Tomatoes
Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)
Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)
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Cast
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Gene Kelly
as Gabey
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Frank Sinatra
as Chip
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Betty Garrett
as Brunhilde Esterhazy
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Ann Miller
as Claire Huddesen
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Jules Munshin
as Ozzie
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Vera-Ellen
as Ivy Smith
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Florence Bates
as Mme. Dilyovska
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Alice Pearce
as Lucy Shmeeler
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George Meader
as Professor
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Murray Alper
as Cab Company Owner
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Walter S. Baldwin
as Sign Poster
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Bea Benaderet
as Working Girl
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Eugene Borden
as Waiter
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Don Brodie
as Photo Layout Man
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Claire Carleton
as Redhead
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Hans Conried
as Francois headwaiter
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Lester Dorr
as Subway Passenger
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Frank S. Hagney
as Cop
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Carol Haney
as Dancer in Green
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Bern Hoffman
as Worker "New York New York"
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Judy Holliday
as Sailor's Date
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Sid Melton
as Spud
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William 'Bill' Phillips
as Sailor
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Dick Wessel
as Sailor Simpkins
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Robert B. Williams
as Officer Car 44
- Alex Romero
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Tom Dugan
as Officer Tracy

