From the Vaults:
Mitchell Leisen’s final film, The Girl Most Likely, is a musical comedy about a young woman who’s engaged to three men at the same time.
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theatrical release poster
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A remake of the 1941 movie, Tom, Dick and Harry, the musical stars Jane Powell, Cliff Robertson, and Keith Andes; the choreography is by Gower Champion.
The last film produced by RKO, it was later distributed by Universal.
Jane Powell plays Dodie, a girl who lives with her parents and dreams of marrying a millionaire. At home in California, her boyfriend Buzz is real-estate agent of modest means. He proposes marriage and she accepts, but she is still full of doubts.
A yacht arrives, owned by wealthy Neil Patterson, which gets the attention of Dodie, who swims to meet him. Asked on a date, Dodie is thrilled until she learns that the man isn’t Neil but Pete, a poor mechanic.
Quickly smitten, Pete proposes. He infuriates Buzz by pretending to buy a house and bringing Dodie along as his fiancee.
A drunk Neil has 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 goes along. Neil is the rich suitor of her dreams, one who buys a taxi rather than just hailing a ride.
The tipsy Dodie is brought home by Neil, only to find Buzz and Pete waiting on her doorstep. Asking for time to make up her mind, Dodie tells them the next morning that her choice is Neil.
The guys accept–reluctantly–and Dodie goes off with her new betrothed. However, the minute Pete kisses her goodbye, she changes her mind.
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. In February 1956, she signed 3-picture deal with RKO, the first film of 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), signed to costar along with Ralph Meeker. But, as she was unhappy with her role, Channing refused to do the film. 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. The film was completed by November 1956 but not released until November 1958.
RKO meant to follow it up with Tempo, starring Marge and Gower Champion, but the project never was made.
Cast
Jane Powell as Dodie
Cliff Robertson as Pete
Keith Andes as Neil Patterson, Jr.
Kaye Ballard as Marge
Tommy Noonan as Buzz
Una Merkel as Mother
Kelly Brown as Sam Kelsey
Judy Nugent as Pauline
Frank Cady as Pop
Joseph Kearns as Mr. Schlom, Bank Manager
Credits:
Directed by Mitchell Leisen
Written by Paul Jarrico, Devery Freeman
Produced by Stanley Rubin
Cinematography Robert H. Planck
Edited by Doane Harrison, Harry Marker
Music by Nelson Riddle, Bob Russell, Hugh Martin, Ralph Blane
Produced by RKO
Released by Universal Pictures
Release date: February 5, 1958
Running time: 98 minutes
Note:
TCM showed the movie on August 12, 2022.
Mitchell Leisen Filmography
Cradle Song (1933)
Death Takes a Holiday (1934)
Murder at the Vanities (1934)
Behold My Wife! (1934)
Four Hours to Kill! (1935)
Hands Across the Table (1935)
13 Hours by Air (1936)
The Big Broadcast of 1937 (1936)
Swing High, Swing Low (1937)
Easy Living (1937)
The Big Broadcast of 1938 (1938)
Artists and Models Abroad (1938)
Midnight (1939)
Remember the Night (1940)
Arise, My Love (1940)
I Wanted Wings (1941)
Hold Back the Dawn (1941)
The Lady Is Willing (1942)
Take a Letter, Darling (1942)
No Time for Love (1943)
Lady in the Dark (1944)
Frenchman’s Creek (1944)
Practically Yours (1944)
Kitty (1945)
Masquerade in Mexico (1945)
To Each His Own (1946)
Suddenly, It’s Spring (1947)
Golden Earrings (1947)
Dream Girl (1948)
Bride of Vengeance (1949)
Song of Surrender (1949)
No Man of Her Own (1950)
Captain Carey, U.S.A. (1950)
The Mating Season (1951)
Darling, How Could You! (1951)
Young Man with Ideas (1952)
Tonight We Sing (1953)
Bedevilled (1955)
The Girl Most Likely (1958)
