Coney Island (1943)

Previously seen somewhere between the beginning of 1983 and the end of 1986.

Two friends who were once business partners compete in show business and also for the love of a singer.

Watchable musical comedy. Both the strictly narrative bits and the musical numbers are interesting and reasonably well done, although both sections interrelate rarely and, when they do, broadly. Most musical numbers are performed by the female character as part of her professional activities, and thus do not break the film's diegesis. In fact, that is what a viewer is liable to expect to happen throughout the film, and yet something else happens. By midfilm, the central couple is strolling on a pier and suddenly they hear some picnickers on the beach play music and then sing in a very professional way. This is a bit atypical narratively, yet ambiguous as to being a diegesis break, since they could be professional musicians. And then a more definite break surprises the viewer as the central couple sing in a duet -- she is of course a professional singer, but he is not, and therefore could not while in character sing as well as he does. This will not happen again for the remainder of the movie.

Rating: 51 (up from 46)