It's a Great Feeling Reviews

A silly but genuinely funny comedy that provides an invaluable (although distorted) look at the activity on the Warner Bros. lot in the late 1940s. Dennis Morgan and Jack Carson (playing themselves) are slated to star in a new picture. Unfortunately, every director on the lot refuses to work with the egotistical Carson (among them are Michael Curtiz, Raoul Walsh, and King Vidor) leaving producer Goodwin with no choice other than to ask Carson to direct himself. Carson accepts the assignment willingly, but an outraged Morgan declares he'll drop out of the project. Desperate to get his picture off the ground, Carson begs a young studio waitress, Day, to pose as his pregnant wife and lay it on thick with Morgan, to claim that she and Carson need the money to feed their family. In return, Carson will get Day started as an actress. She agrees and soon a guilt-riddled Morgan signs his contract to do the picture. Casting begins, but there's no part for Day. The disappointed would-be starlet confesses to Morgan and decides to move back to Wisconsin and marry her high-school sweetheart. Meanwhile, nearly every actress on the lot has refused to work with Carson, including Jane Wyman, who faints when asked. Morgan suggests that they convince Goodwin that Day is the girl for the part. The duo then launch into a series of ridiculous schemes to get Goodwin to notice Day, but none of them pan out. Depressed and dejected, Day packs her bags and heads for the train. Before she makes it to the station she is suddenly "discovered" by Goodwin, who has just heard her sing and he offers her the lead in his film. Fed up with Hollywood, Day refuses and catches her train. Not to be denied, Goodwin demands Carson and Morgan follow Day to Wisconsin and bring her back. The pair arrive in town just in time to hear Day exchange wedding vows with her local boy friend. The duo's disappointment then turns to shock when the newly married couple turn around and the groom looks exactly like Errol Flynn (played by Flynn himself, of course). Though not exactly high comedy, IT'S A GREAT FEELING is a very likable movie that contains several priceless moments for fans of the old Hollywood system. The cameos of Edward G. Robinson, Sydney Greenstreet, Danny Kaye, Joan Crawford, Gary Cooper, and especially Ronald Reagan (whose face is covered with a hot towel while he sits in a barber's chair through most of the scene) are unexpected and done with a refreshing nonchalance. Also the chance to see great directors like Vidor, Curtiz, and Walsh having a bit of fun before the cameras is reason enough to see IT'S A GREAT FEELING. Songs include "It's a Great Feeling," "At the Cafe Rendezvous," "There's Nothing Rougher than Love," "That Was a Big Fat Lie," "Give Me a Song with a Beautiful Melody," " Blame My Absent-Minded Heart," and "Fiddle-dee-dee" (Jule Styne, Sammy Cahn).