It’s no secret that the Hollywood Comet loves musicals.
In 2010, I revealed I had seen 400 movie musicals over the course of eight years. Now that number is over 600. To celebrate and share this musical love, here is my weekly feature about musicals.

This week’s musical:
April Love (1957) – Musical #767

Studio:
20th Century Fox

Director:
Henry Levin

Starring:
Pat Boone, Shirley Jones, Dolores Michaels, Arthur O’Connell, Matt Crowley, Jeanette Nolan, Bradford Jackson, Robert Adler (uncredited)

Plot:
When Nick Conover (Boone) has a brush with the law in Chicago, he is sent to Kentucky to stay with his aunt and uncle (Nolan, O’Connell) on their farm in Kentucky for the summer. Nick befriends their neighbors, Liz (Jones) and Fran (Michaels) Templeton, and becomes interested in harness horse racing.

Trivia:
• Filmed on location in Lexington, Kentucky
• Shirley Jones said both she and Pat Boone learned how to drive a sulky for this film. Jones was thrilled to work with horses because she loves animals, according to the Twilight Time DVD commentary.
• The song “April Love” topped the charts and was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Song.
• Bradford Jackson’s singing voice was dubbed by Ray Kellogg
• Based on the novel, “Phantom Filly” by George Agnew Chamberlain.
• Considered to be a remake of “Home in Indiana” (1944).
• Working title was “Young in Love.”
• Photographed in CinemaScope and DeLuxe Color

Highlights:
• The Technicolor
• The costumes by Renie

Notable Songs:
• “April Love” performed by Pat Boone
• “Give Me a Gentle Girl” performed by Pat Boone and Shirley Jones
• “Do It Yourself” performed by Pat Boone, Shirley Jones, Dolores Michaels dubbed by Eileen Wilson, and Bradford Jackson dubbed by Ray Kellogg
• “The Bentonville Fair” performed by Pat Boone, Shirley Jones, the chorus

My review:
The vibrant DeLuxe Color of the film, the stunning on-location setting in Kentucky, the youthful stars—the title “April Love” so fits this film that feels like a fresh spring morning when you watch it.

In the film, Pat Boone plays Nick, a young man who had issues with the law back home in Chicago and his parents sent him to stay the summer with his aunt and uncle in Kentucky. His aunt and uncle (Jeanette Nolan, Arthur O’Connell) have experienced a loss in recent years when their son was killed in the Korean War. After their son’s death, the couple let their horse farm grow over and gave up on horse racing. When Nick arrives, he hates horses but soon they discover he has a way with horses, particularly an ornery horse that trusts no one. Nick also befriends his aunt and uncle’s neighbors, Liz (Shirley Jones) and Fran (Dolores Michaels) Templeton—two sisters who are rather different. Liz enjoys the outdoors and horses while Fran spends time with her boyfriend, looking glamorous and driving fast cars. Liz is smitten with Nick, while Nick is smitten with Fran.

The film is a remake of “Home in Indiana” (1944), which starred Lon McCallister, Walter Brennan, Charlotte Greenwood, June Haver and Jeanne Crain. In this film, the two girls are cousins, rather than sisters. Both films are based on the book, “Phantom Filly” by George Agnew Chamberlain.

Coming off of her film successes of “Oklahoma” and “Carousel,” “April Love” was only Shirley Jones’s third film, but she was practically a Hollywood veteran after working on these two major musical films. She co-stars with Pat Boone, and has less screen time and sings fewer than I would have liked. But she is simply stunning in every way in this film. She looks so beautiful with a bright smile and long ponytail in this film.

Jones remembered this film fondly, saying she loved everything about this film, according to her interview for the DVD commentary for the Twilight Time BluRay release. Since the film was shot on location in Kentucky, Jones said she was even able to attend the Kentucky Derby.

As an animal lover, Jones enjoyed working with the horses and learning how to drive a sulky—yes both Jones and Boone both learned how to drive those horse harness carts for the film with no stunt doubles, according to Jones’s commentary. She said she enjoyed the challenge while Pat Boone wasn’t so sure, just like his character in the film.

Boone and Jones already knew each other prior to filming, and became friends and have remained friends throughout the years. Jones did say she ribbed Boone for not kissing her in the film, especially when he kissed another actress in a later film.

While Jones was still new to Hollywood, Boone was even more early in his career. Prior to “April Love,” he had only been in the film “Bernadine.” It’s interesting to think of Boone as a juvenile delinquent, but he does well in this film. He also looks youthful, tan and sings well.
With a score from Alfred Newman, no films sounds quiet like a 20th Century Fox film of the 1940s or 1950s. In films like this — or even “Home in Indiana” — the score has a warm, friendly feeling and often mixes in pop or big band-styled music.

It is surprising that Shirley Jones doesn’t sing more. I would have liked to see another solo from Jones. The songs though will stick with you. In fact, I hadn’t seen this film since I was a teenager and the title song, “April Love,” still stuck with me (though it also became a hit after this film was released).

In his New York Times review, critic Bosley Crowther said of this film: “Two of the nicest-looking young singers to be found anywhere, a batch of pleasant tunes, some nifty Kentucky scenery in good color and absolutely no plot.”

I don’t agree that there is no plot, but I do agree with the rest. The Twilight Time release is a stunningly gorgeous transfer. Yet another film that makes me mourn that this wonderful DVD label is gone.

Honestly, tf you don’t finish watching “April Love” (1957) without feeling happy, well I just don’t know wat to tell you. It is just wonderful.

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