(1940)
2.5
Craig Butler
Irene is far from a first class musical, but devotees of that genre will want to snap it up whenever it appears, as it is rarely shown and does offer decent entertainment. It's a treat to get to see Anna Neagle, a giant of the British musical, in one of her few American films from her peak period. Blessed more with charm than with an exceptional musical ability, Neagle is a small delight in Irene, carrying the songs with a personality and flair that far outshine her acceptable-but-not-great singing and dancing. She's especially pleasing in the "Alice Blue Gown" number, which is also (not coincidently) the film's highlight. Filmed in color, the sequence looks stunning and makes one wish the entire picture had been given this treatment. Production values are in general on par with many other similar RKO releases. Irene also has a very engaging supporting cast, starting with co-star Ray Milland. He's not a real musical performer, and so there's a certain lopsidedness in terms of musical screen time, but he plays the romantic lead very well; Roland Young, May Robson, and Billie Burke also help to make the proceedings fun. What lets Irene down is direction that could be more imaginative and, more critically, a script that is trite and predictable from beginning to end. Still, Irene should prove enjoyable for those looking for a very light, fluffy bit of fun.
Irene on AllMovie
Irene (1940)
