According to the opening credits of this musical biopic, the success of song-writing trio De Sylva, Brown and Henderson could partly be attributed to the different backgrounds each brought to the partnership. Regrettably, no such happenstance results from the blending of the disparate talents who portray them - Gordon MacRae, Dan Dailey and Ernest Borgnine (yes! Ernest Borgnine).

Though each actor is equipped with a tailor-made role, all three seem to be merely going through the paces. MacRae’s womanising De Sylva is more smarmy than charming. Borgnine bellows through his role as the hot-headed Brown, and Dailey seems disinterested as a submissive Henderson. Sheree North, in the fictional role of Kitty Kane, gives it her all but appears ill at ease away from the dance floor.

There are some standout scenes in the film. 'Birth of the Blues' gives both MacRae and North a rare opportunity to showcase their musical prowess, while the backstory to the team's composition of 'Sonny Boy' is delightfully realised as the trio believe they have provided Jolson with a song so corny that he’d dare not sing it. He did, and it became one of his biggest hits.

Not so fortunate was MacRae, who was saddled with some of the corniest dialogue to appear on the screen. Before this movie was released he had starred in Oklahoma and Carousel. After this biopic, his film career was all but over.