This latest in Republic's semi-annual "Hit Parade" series stars John Carroll, Marie McDonald and Estelita Rodriguez. Carroll plays a dual role, as a high-rolling gambler named Joe Blake and a radio crooner named Eddie Paul. Faced with mounting debts, Joe persuades Eddie to take his place, with the expected results. As the erstwhile girlfriend of both John Carrolls, Marie McDonald amply demonstrates why she was nicknamed "The Body," while Estelita Rodriguez, as the gambler's moll, renders a couple of mildly satirical Latin-American tunes. Appearing as a dimwitted gambler is Frankie Fontaine, doing a virtual dry run of his "Crazy Guggenham" character. Unlike previous "Hit Parade" musicals, Hit Parade of 1951 was not given a new title for its TV release.
by Hal Erickson
synopsis
musical [play]
luck
role-switching
songwriter
stars [celebrities]
loot
lookalike
debt
con/scam
fanatic
finances
gambling
