AllMovie

Up in Central Park is based upon famed operetta composer Sigmund Romberg's final Broadway hit, but as was all too usual for Hollywood adaptations of the period, it was brought to the screen with precious little of the show's music intact. Since the music was, by and large, the real selling point of the show, it means that Up faces an uphill battle. Karl Tunberg's adaptation of the show's book is adequate, adding more plot but not really making it into a strong story. The dialogue veers from fairly witty to fairly lame, often within the same scene, and of course it plays fast and loose with history. William Seiter's direction is so-so; it moves the film along but doesn't really take advantage of opportunities to expand the story visually. What remains of the score is nice to hear, and a new song created by Romberg and Dorothy Fields is fine, but there's not enough music to make the film a real winner. While Deanna Durbin and Dick Haymes are in fine voice, the real musical highlight is a recreation of the show's Currier & Ives ballet, complete with original choreography by Helen Tamiris; one wishes there were more musical segments like this throughout the film. Vincent Price is nothing at all like the real Boss Tweed, but he's a suave delight, and Albert Sharpe is a plus as Durbin's father.