When Rebecca of Taking Up Room announced The Vivian Blaine Blogathon for October 2-4, 2026, my first thought was, naturally, Perry Como. Before my Andy Milligan obsession, my ears were tuned in and turned on to the ultra-smooth, uber-mellow musical stylings of The Como! Since I already blogged a bit about DOLL FACE (1945), and I’m not touching SOMETHING FOR THE BOYS (1944), my only remaining choice for a Blaine/Como vehicle was IF I’M LUCKY (1946).
The plot is pure joyful musical nonsense wrapped around a political satire of sorts. Wally (Phil Silvers) is getting the band back together for a gig with Titan Tires. The main members of the band include his girlfriend/harp player/singer Michelle (Carmen Miranda), trumpeter Earl (Harry James) and, last but not least, singer Linda (Vivian Blaine). There are several other members but they aren’t important to the plot. When the Titan Tires gig falls flat, the band is on the street and hungry. Salvation for an empty stomach is found in the most unlikely place, a political rally. While devouring free hot dogs, the band notices nobody is listening to the candidate running for governor. Thankful for full bellies, the band puts on a show, which keeps butts in seats and makes the candidate happy and popular. The candidate thanks the band by hiring them for all of his political rallies. It’s during one of these events that Allen (Perry Como) shows up with a song and a desire to break into the business of show.
Please stop singing into my eye!
Allen’s song is a hit, so he joins the band and catches the eye of Linda. Things seem to be coming up aces for everyone. The band has a steady gig, Allen and Linda are singing duets, and the candidate is more popular than ever! That is until a political committee blackmails the candidate so the current governor will win the election. Before you know it, Allen goes from crooner to candidate, and the constituents love him! Will Allen become the next governor? Will Linda lose her duet partner? Will Michelle run out of quirky hats to wear? Will Wally throw his back out lugging around Michelle’s harp? Will the political committee use Allen for their own nefarious purposes? I’ll just say that a musical from the 1940’s, even a black & white one, will probably end happily.
The bus driver is ready to drive off a cliff.
I could go on about how amusing it is to watch Perry Como acting like an ingénue when he was already a crooning chart-topper. I could lament the Technicolor tragedy of the vibrantly dressed Carmen Miranda being relegated to black and white. However, we are here to celebrate Vivian Blaine!
Betty White?
According to IMDb, Vivian Blaine was born Vivian Sarah Stapleton on November 21, 1921. It sounds like Blaine was a Broadway star, originating many roles, including Miss Adelaide in Guys and Dolls and would later appear in the 1955 film. As Linda in IF I’M LUCKY, Vivian Blaine is humorous, charming and appears to be having fun. Though maybe not as much fun as she was having in the “Pet Me Poppa” number in Guys and Dolls, which is literally the only thing I remember about that movie. Sadly, this singer-dancer-actor triple threat died on December 9, 1995. Her last appearance was in a 1985 episode of Murder, She Wrote, so at least Vivian Blaine took her final bow in style.
Thanks for the song and dance!
In conclusion… IF I’M LUCKY may not be the best film in Blaine’s decades-spanning career, but I enjoy the innocent humor and the general ridiculousness of the whole thing. If you’re a Vivian Blaine completist or a Carmen Miranda fan or obsessed with Perry Como, then put on a quirky hat, slip on your dancing shoes and “follow the band” to IF I’M LUCKY!
SIDE NOTE: During my research, I learned IF I’M LUCKY is a remake of THANKS A MILLION (1935). Just more proof that Hollywood has always been about remakes.
.jpeg)
