Two Weeks with Love

MGM, 1950, 93 minutes, ***½

Another favorite of mine. A turn-of-the-century family travels to the Catskills for a two-week vacation, and sisters Jane and Debbie get involved in romantic adventure. I never grow tired of this film! Debbie Reynolds and Jane Powell are the most charming duo of all time. Debbie Reynolds' and Carleton Carpenter's rendition of "Aba Daba Honeymoon" was so popular the record became a chart topper.

Contrary to what you may read elsewhere, "The Aba Daba Honeymoon" was not written for this film. It was written in 1914, and it was originally used in Billy Rose's "Diamond Horseshoe."

"Kittenish teens Patti (Jane Powell) and Melba (Debbie Reynolds) turn a 1900's family vacation in the Catskills into Two Weeks with Love, "a bright entertainment that may come as a surprise to those who think there is nothing new under the musical sun" (The Hollywood Reporter). Patti is fluttery over a suave older man (Ricardo Montalban) and thinks romance will bloom if her disapproving parents let her wear... a corset! With that longed-for garment, 18-year-old Patti is sure she'll look like a more mature woman. Meanwhile, Melba stalks a local boy (Carleton Carpenter) with lovestruck determination. In a sensational showstopper, Reynolds and Carpenter tear into a version of "Aba Daba Honeymoon," so frisky and charming it became a smash-hit record. Busby Berkeley staged all the numbers, including "Row, Row, Row" and a dream sequence that has corseted Powell wowing Montalban with, of all things, an aria from "The Chocolate Soldier." Aba daba, what a delight!" [from videotape sleeve]

Produced by: Jack Cummings
Directed by: Roy Rowland
Screen Play by: John Larkin and Dorothy Kingsley
Story by: John Larkin
Musical Direction: Georgie Stoll
Musical Numbers Staged by: Busby Berkeley
Orchestrations: Leo Arnaud
Vocal Arrangements: Saul Chaplin
Art Directors: Cedric Gibbons and Preston Ames
Set Decorations: Edwin B. Willis
   Associate: Richard A. Pefferle
Women's Costumes by: Helen Rose
Men's Costumes by: Walter Plunkett
Hair Styles Designed by: Sydney Guilaroff
Make-Up Created by: William J. Tuttle
Director of Photography: Alfred Gilks
Special Effects: Warren Newcombe
Color by Technicolor
Technicolor Color Consultants: Henri Jaffa, James Gooch
Film Editor: Irvine Warburton

Cast:
Jane Powell ... Patti Robinson
Ricardo Montalban ... Demetrio "Demi" Armendez
Louis Calhern ... Horatio Robinson
Ann Harding ... Katherine Robinson
Debbie Reynolds ... Melba Robinson
Carleton Carpenter ... Billy Finley
Phyllis Kirk ... Valerie Stresemann
Clinton Sundberg ... Mr. Finley
Gary Gray ... McCormick Robinson
Tommy Rettig ... Ricky Robinson
Charles Smith ... Eddie Gavin
additional cast:
Lillian Bronson ... Miss Zilly
Everett Glass ... Mr. Hibbs
Mitchell Lewis ... Mr. Schimpf
Melba Meredith ... Mrs. Armendez
Dorothy Neumann ... Miss Pinwhistle
Marjorie Wood ... Mrs. Stresemann
Jack Shea ... Lifeguard
Edward Clark ... Druggist
Betty Farrington ... Customer
Mary Jane Smith ... Girl
Bob Stebbins ... Young Man
Dickie Humphreys ... Boy Partner
Wilson Wood ... Band Leader
Peter M. Thompson ... Boy
Ted Eckelberry ... Boys
Lucille Curtis ... Hotel Guest
Jack Daley ... Hotel Guest
Fred Santley ... Hotel Guest
George Brandt ... Hotel Guest
Alice Richey ... Hotel Guest

Music:
[0:00] Waltz (played by Orchestra [band in bandstand onscreen] behind titles)
[0:01] A Heart That's Free (sung by Jane Powell accompanied by band in bandstand [onscreen])
[0:04] Light Cavalry Overture (played by Ochestra [band in bandstand onscreen] fades to background)
[0:15] That's How I Need You (sung by Debbie Reynolds, Carleton Carpenter and boys at hotel)
[0:17] Oceana Roll (sung and danced by Jane Powell, Debbie Reynolds, Carleton Carpenter and kids at hotel)
[0:28] The Aba Daba Honeymoon (sung by Debbie Reynolds and Carleton Carpener with Chorus, dance segment by Debbie Reynolds and Carleton Carpenter)
[0:36] By the Light of the Silvery Moon (sung by Louis Calhern, Ann Harding, Jane Powell and Ensemble)
[0:50] Waltz (danced by hotel guests and by Ricardo Montalban and Jane Powell)
[0:54] Polka (danced by hotel guests)
[1:11] The Corset Scene: Beautiful Lady (sung by Chorus) / My Hero (sung by Jane Powell, Ricardo Montalban [probably dubbed] and Chorus, danced by Ricardo Montalban and Jane Powell)
[1:19] Row, Row, Row (sung and danced by Debbie Reynolds and Carleton Carpenter at Kissamee Kapers)
[1:26] El Tango (danced by Ricardo Montalban and Jane Powell)