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(photo courtesy of moviegoods.com)
Chuck and Pamela Hubbard (played by real-life, husband-and-wife team, Marge and Gower Champion) have finally hit the big time, starring in the Broadway show, My Sunday Girl. Opening night comes with many raves, reviews....and news. The Hubbards are going to have a baby! This is joyful news for Chuck and Pamela, however dismal for the show. After all, they must obey doctor's orders: NO DANCING FOR PAM! Until the pregnancy is over, Pamela's understudy Sybil Meriden (Monica Lewis) will fill in.
After a successful pregnancy, The Hubbards purchase a lovely home in Connecticut and start their family life there with young Pam,their daughter. After settling into their home and roles as parents, Pamela wishes to hire a full-time nanny and return to the stage. However, Chuck would rather she stay a full-time mother.
Meanwhile, Chuck and Sybil have been a hit on stage with shows such as We Want Music, Rhythm Time, and Summer Skies. Unfortunately their partnership onstage begins to trickle into life offstage and into the Hubbards marriage. Sybil not only wants to replace Pamela as Chuck's dancing partner but as his wife also. Things continue to sour when Chuck turns down the opportunity to perform with his wife in a new production. With both hearts and pride broken, the Hubbards file for divorce.
Pamela retuns to to show buissness as usual, but it just isn't the same; for her or Chuck.
Although they won't admit it,they miss each other immensely. Chuck is giving lackluster performances in a show ironically called True Love. Despite Pamela's talent, her show is failing to move the crowd. It's missing that certain something...Chuck. Seeing that The Hubbards, and the show, are suffering, producer and friend Alec Tackleberry (Dennis O'Keefe) decides to use Pam's annoyance from thier marriage to reunite them. Chuck was so sympathetic toward his wife and always felt her pain...literally. If Pamela had a cold, headache, or backache, so did he. So, when Tackleberry informs Chuck that Pamela has a terrible (pretend) neurotic disease, he comes down with the symptoms as well as come to her aid. It is then they reunite as husband and wife and partners.
This was a sweet story of love and showbiz with such a sweet and talented couple as the Champions.
This just happens to be thier only starring role. Unfortunately, the color is not as beautiful as most MGM films and was probably a smaller budget picture. However that is compensated by the wonderful dance numbers such as my favorites,17,000 Telephone poles, Casbah, Serenade For a New Baby, and Pamela's dreamscape/dance with her husband (pay attention to the bracelet Chuck gives her on opening night). You will certainly enjoy this one if you enjoy musicals.
Enjoy,
Neah B
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