Wabash Avenue

This remake of "Coney Island" has director Henry Koster taking the action to Chicago at the turn of the last century. Perhaps the change of locale was an attempt to mask the fact this was a film already done before with only a few years of difference.

The cast assembled for this film is colorful. Victor Mature is Andy, an enterprising young man who has an eye for the finer things in life. Betty Grable makes the most of her role with Ruby, the star at the center of the action. Both Mr. Mature and Ms. Grable prove to be a winning combination in the way they interact with each other.

Phil Harris is seen as Mike, who is in love with Ruby. There is a hilarious scene in which a poker game is taken place in which is clearly Mike has cheated, but there's no proof of it. He should have six cards in his possession, but when he shows them to everyone in the table there are the allowed five. A moment later we realize what has happened to the sixth one!

Reginald Gardiner, James Barton and Margaret Hamilton make excellent contributions to the film. The songs reflect the period in which the action takes place. It's surprising also the Technicolor used in the film doesn't look faded.