AllMovie

Anything Goes is a disappointment for those who appreciate fidelity when bringing a Broadway musical to the screen, but many others will not mind the extensive tinkering. Fans of Ethel Merman will have mixed reactions. It's a treat to get to see the legendary stage star recreating one of her trademark theatrical roles. Unfortunately, the part has been severely cut down (and co-star Bing Crosby's commensurately enlarged), and many of her musical number messed around with. She sounds absolutely grand, whether belting out the title tune, giving a wistful rendition of the gorgeous "I Get a Kick Out of You", or romping through the lyrical delights of "You're the Top" with Crosby. But the numbers are not necessarily staged to take best advantage of her, and "Kick"'s on-a-moon-in-a-nightclub setting deprives it of much of its impact. Crosby comes off well, relaxed but commanding, and his crooner style and Merman's Broadway razzle work surprisingly well together. He also makes the most our of additions like "Moonburn" and "My Heart and I," and he's certainly a genial figure to pal around with. Charlie Ruggles adds his special comic persona to the proceedings, and Ida Lupino does very well with the rather-thankless ingénue role. While anything is a bit of a missed opportunity, what's there has plenty of entertainment value.