This week’s mystery movie was the 1957 RKO film The Girl Most Likely, with Jane Powell, Cliff Robertson, Keith Andes, Kaye Ballard, Tommy Noonan, Una Merkel, Kelly Brown, Judy Nugent and Frank Cady.
Screenplay by Devery Freeman.
Photography by Robert Planck. Technicolor consultant Robert Brower.
Dances and musical sequences staged by Gower Champion.
Music and lyrics by Hugh Martin and Ralph Blane. Song The Girl Most Likely by Rob Rossell and Nelson Riddle. Sung by the Hi-Lo’s.
Art direction by Albert S. D’Agostino and George W. Davis. Edited by Harry Marker and Dean Harrison. Set decorations by Eli Benneche. Assistant director Richard Moder.
Sound by Frank Webster and Terry Kellum.
Costumes by Renie. Makeup by Harry Maret Jr. Hairstyles by Larry Germain. Music coordinator Richard Pribor.
William Dozier in charge of production.
Produced by Stanley Rubin.
Directed by Mitchell Leisen.
The Girl Most Likely is available on DVD from TCM. The AFI catalog has more on the history of the film.
Mitchell Leisen has been in Mystery Movie Jail with Van Johnson for the rest of the year, but I wanted to do a tribute to Jane Powell, who died last week, so here we are. We did Holiday in Mexico in April and most of Powell’s better-known films have aired recently on TCM. I dug through the Daily Mirror vault for something that hadn’t been seen in a while and came up with the so-so The Girl Most Likely, a remake of the Ginger Rogers film Tom, Dick and Harry. I haven’t seen TD&H, which last aired on TCM in 2019, so I have no basis for comparison. Standing on its own, The Girl Most Likely is a derivative rehash of every 1950s light romantic comedy, with bizarre musical fantasy dance sequences.
You know that the New York Times is going to hate this. I’m guessing Bosley Crowther got the assignment.
Oh my goodness. Carol Channing was supposed to be in this film. I’m guessing it would be in the Kaye Ballard role as the leading lady’s funny sidekick.
Aha. Howard Thompson (1919- 2002) gets the short straw (Oct. 9, 1958):
The musical romance called The Girl Most Likely is about a pretty bank clerk who yearns for a millionaire, day-dreams about a trio of eligible suitors, including a rich bloke, and finally — finally decides. “Holy Cow,” drawls her kid sister, “which one?” Earlier, this same moppet sage pegs the entire picture by saying, “She gets more adolescent every day.”
…. The “new” picture is a silly, crawling little bore that seems determined to fritter away a dandy array of talent. It wastes, for instance, a pretty good musical score by Hugh Martin and Ralph Blane. Likewise, the glorious voice of Jane Powell as a pinheaded heroine to end them all. Add such personable young people as Cliff Robertson, Keith Andes and, emphatically, Kaye Ballard, best known from the supper clubs and television.
For Monday, we have a mystery gent…
Update: This is Nancho Galindo.
For Tuesday, we have a mystery shirt being worn by a mystery guest.
This is Cliff Robertson – or at least it’s supposed to be Cliff Robertson.
This elaborate headgear may conceal one of our mystery leads. Possibly.
Update: Kaye Ballard and Jane Powell in one of Gower Champion’s fantasy dance sequences.
Finally, I dare you to make sense of this mysterious dance sequence. Go ahead. I dare you.
Note to Gary: You’re warm.
Update: This is the bizarre climbing the ladder of success sequence early in the film.
For “Aha Wednesday,” we have this mystery girl. Her companion has been cropped out due to insufficient mysteriousness and will appear Friday.
Update: For Friday, I add our mysterious leading man.
Update: This is Judy Nugent and Cliff Robertson.
Also for “Aha Wednesday,” we have this mystery gent, plus Back of the Head Women.
Update: Not Phil Silvers or Joe Flynn. This is Joseph Kearns with Kaye Ballard, left, and Jane Powell as Back of the Head Women.
Brain Trust roll call: Howard Mandelbaum (mystery movie and mystery guests), Beach Gal (mystery movie and mystery guests) and Gary (mystery movie).
For “Aha Thursday,” we have the leading lady’s family.
Update: This is Frank “Sam Drucker” Cady, Una Merkel and Judy Nugent.
And one of the most standard characters in light romantic comedies: The leading lady’s funny girlfriend, often lovelorn, but this time accompanied by her mysterious beau.
Update: This is Kelly Brown and Kaye Ballard.
Brain Trust roll call: Beach Gal (Tuesday’s fantasy sequence, Wednesday’s mystery guests, Cropped Out Guy, and Back of the Head Women), Jenny M. (mystery movie, Wednesday’s mystery guests and Back of the Head Women), Alexa (mystery movie, Monday’s Tijuana photographer, Wednesday’s annoying executive and Back of the Head Women), Sylvia E. (mystery movie, Monday’s mysterious Tijuana photographer, Tuesday’s “under the hat” women and fantasy sequence, Wednesday’s mystery guests and Back of the Head Women), Mike Hawks (mystery movie, Wednesday’s mystery guests and Back of the Head Women), Patrick (mystery movie, Monday’s mysterious photographer, Wednesday’s mystery guests and Back of the Head Women), L.C. (mystery movie and mystery cast) and Howard Mandelbaum (Wednesday’s mystery guests).
Note to Sylvia: Yes, they even brag about having TWO cars! Imagine.
Special note: For some reason, answers are ending up in the spam folder. My apologies if I miss anyone. The spam filter has become quite aggressive lately.
For Friday, we have our mysterious leading lady with mysterious gent No. 1
Update: This is Jane Powell and Tommy Noonan.
And our mysterious leading lady with mystery gent No. 2.
Update: This is Jane Powell and Cliff Robertson. Very unfortunate cultural appropriation here.
And here she is with mystery gent No. 3.
Update: This is Jane Powell and Keith Andes.
Brain Trust roll call: Mary Mallory (mystery movie, Monday’s mysterious photographer, Tuesday’s dancing hat women, Wednesday’s mystery guests and Back of the Head Women and Thursday’s mystery family), Tucson Barbara (mystery movie, Wednesday’s and Thursday’s mystery guests), Anne Papineau (mystery movie, Thursday’s mysterious future TV star and mysterious funny roommate), Beach Gal (Thursday’s mystery guests), Funky PhD (mystery movie and Thursday’s mystery guests), the patient Michael Ryerson (mystery movie, Wednesday’s mystery obnoxious executive and Thursday’s mystery guests, peering into the future to predict Friday’s mystery guests), Howard Mandelbaum (Thursday’s mystery guests), Chrisbo (mystery movie and Thursday’s mystery guests), Charles Kjelland (mystery movie and Thursday’s mysterious future TV star), Mike Hawks (Thursday’s mystery guests), Thom and Megan (mystery movie and all mystery guests), Roget-L.A. (mystery movie and Thursday’s mystery guests), Sylvia E. (Thursday’s mystery guests, peering into the future to predict Friday’s mystery guests), and Benito (mystery movie, Thursday’s mysterious future TV star and future TV mother-in-law).
ladailymirror.com 
Lloyd Corrigan today?
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An interesting guess, but alas, I’m afraid not.
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LLoyd Corrigan
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Two votes for Lloyd Corrigan!
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A wild guess that this is Three Sailors and a Girl as a tribute to Jane Powell.
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Jack Kruschen on Monday?
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Good guess! But alas….
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CIRCUS WORLD (1964)
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That IS an interesting guess. But, alas, John Wayne will not be joining us this week….
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Monday: Nacho Galindo in THE GIRL MOST LIKELY (1957)
Tuesday: Cliff Robertson as repair guy; Jane Powell under hat
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Our movie is the ’58 film, Girl Most Likely.
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Monday is Nacho Galindo.
Tues – I think back of the shirt guy is Cliff Robertson
Tues under the hats I think are Kay Ballard and Jane Powell
Tues dance sequence is from a take with Jane Powell in a dream fantasy, dancing and singing with Tommy Noonan.
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A tribute to Jane Powell. The film is The Girl Most Likely.
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Just for grins, did George Sidney have anything to do with this movie? Looks like one of his. I’m also sure he has nothing to do with it.
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Alas, no George Sidney connection….
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Nacho Galindo in THE GIRL MOST LIKELY (1957)
Tuesday: Cliff Robertson as the repair guy; Jane Powell under hat
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Wed – young girl is Judy Nugent
Wed – Back of the head ladies are Kate Ballard and Jane Powell with Joseph Kearns
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Wed – I think cropped out guy with Judy Nugent is probably Tommy Noonan, who is waiting for his date, Jane Powell to come downstairs.
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But then again, cropped out guy might be the next guy in line for “Date With Dodie”, Cliff Robertson.
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Oops. That should have been Kay with and e on the end Ballard. Seems spellcheck does not like spelling Kay that way. Changes it to Kate.
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Oh, by the way, the dancers in formal dress in Tues dance fantasy sequence are representing social climbers – the class Jane Powell/Dodie aims her sights on becoming.
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Judy Nugent and Joseph Kearns in The Girl Most Likely, along with Kaye Ballard and Jane Powell as the back of the head women.
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Don’t tell me that’s not :Phil Silvers or you’ll make me Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad!
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Sgt. Bilko is occupied elsewhere….
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Looks like Phil Silvers again today
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A funny thing happened on the way to the forum…
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The Girl Most Likely
Nacho Galindo
Joseph Kearns
Kaye Ballard
Jane Powell
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Ha! Thanks to “Mr. Wilson” in Wednesday’s image #2. And because of the blonde BOTHW in the same image, I get why director George Sidney mistakenly came to mind yesterday. Anyhooo…
“The Girl Most Likely” 1957
Monday – Nacho Galindo is the photographer
Tuesday – Kay Ballard and Jane Powell, I believe are under those interesting hat ‘thingies’ / I think image # 2 is part of a dream sequence. I’ve seen wider shots that show the leads next to the ladders, singing.
Wednesday – image #1 Judy Nugent is in the cool Capri pants (or maybe they’re just regular pants) and is looking towards the sofa and one of Ms Powell’s many suitors, who’s “cropped for lack of mysteriousness” / image#2 Joseph Kearns and the two BOTHW, Kay Ballard and Jane Powell.
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Judy Nugent, Kaye Ballard, Joseph Kearns and Jane Powell in THE GIRL MOST LIKELY.
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Nacho Galindo, Judy Nugent, Kaye Ballard, Joseph Kearns and Jane Powell in The Girl Most Likely from 1957
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Phil Silvers on Wednesday. Perhaps Lucky Me from 1954?
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Three votes for Phil Silvers. But alas….
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The Girl Most Likely (1957) w/Jane Powell, Cliff Robertson, Kaye Ballard, Judy Nugent, Joseph Kearns, Tommy Noonan, Nacho Galindo…
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Judy Nugent, Cliff Robertson; Joseph Kearns, Jane Powell, Kaye Ballard.
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Tuesday’s shirt is worn by Cliff Robertson.
The Tuesday ‘ladder group’: not sure on the dancer’s names, but the number is “Gotta Keep Up With the Joneses” and the foreground couple 2 yachts, 6 cars and stocks and bonds. It’s cute number that includes Jane Powell and Tommy Noonan.
I think that Wednesday’s Judy Nugent is chatting with ‘cropped out’ Cliff Robertson (just a guess though)
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Wednesday’s horn rimmed glasses looks a bit like Buddy Lester.
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A good guess, but alas…
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THE GIRL MOST LIKELY. Nacho Galindo Monday, Keith Andes BOT shirt Tuesday, Judy Nugent & Cliff Robertson BOTH and Joseph Kearns with Kay Ballard & Jane Powell as BOTH Wednesday, and Frank Cady, Una Merkel, and Nugent today.
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The Girl Most Likely
Herman Belmonte, Judy Nugent, Jospeh Kearns, Frank Cady, Una Merkel, Kelly Brown, Kaye Ballard
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Thanks to so much TV watching, I at least recognize Frank Cady and Kaye Ballard … “The Girl Most Likely”?
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Thurs family are Frank Candy, Una Merkel and Judy Nugent.
Thurs couple are Kaye Ballard and Kelly Brown
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On Thursday: Frank Cady, Una Merkel, and Judy Nugent as the family. Kelly Brown as the sailor, and Kaye Ballard as the friend in The Girl Most Likely.
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‘The Girl Most Likely’ (1957) Frank Cady, Una Merkel, Judy Nugent, Kaye Ballard (Jane Powell’s best friend), Kelly Brown.
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Frank Cady, Una Merkel, Judy Nugent; Kelly Brown, Kaye Ballard.
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Aha! Frank Cady + Kaye Ballard = The Girl Most Likely. Also Una Merkel & Judy Nugent.
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Frank Cady today, maybe “The Girl Most Likely”
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Well, my more complete answer has apparently fallen victim to the dreaded spam filter. In the meantime, horn rimmed glasses is going to be Joseph Kearns.
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Going to post thee following for the second time (honest). The Girl Most Likely (1957) Frank Cady, Una Merkel and Judy Nugent. Kaye Ballard (going to be Jane Powell’s best friend), Kelly Brown. Friday will bring us the aforementioned Ms. Powell, Cliff Robertson, Keith Andes and Tommy Noonan. (fingers crossed hitting post comment)
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Kay Ballard and Jane Powell under the hats on Tuesday.
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Frank Cady, Una Merkel, Kaye Ballard and Kelly Brown.
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This movie is “The Girl Most Likely” with Nacho Galindo on Monday. On Wednesday we have Judy Nugent and in the second scene Joseph Kearns with Kay Ballard and Jane Powell. Today we have Frank Cady, Una Merkel and Judy Nugent followed by Kelly Brown and Kay Ballard.
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Frank Cady et al, Kelly Brown and Kaye Ballard in The Girl Most Likely (1957)
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Frank Cady, Una Merkel and Judy Nugent
Kelly Brown and Kay Ballard
Which leaves full shots of Jane Powell and Cliff Robertson. Tommy Noonan and Keith Andes.
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Kaye Ballard and Frank Kady in THE GIRL MOST LIKELY 1957. Long time no see
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Jane Powell with Tommy Noonan, Cliff Robertson, and Keith Andes.
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Jane Powell, Tommy Noonan, Cliff Robertson, Keith Andes
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Jane Powell and boyfriends Tommy Noonan, Cliff Robertson, and Keith Andes.
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Fri – #1 Jane Powell and Tommy Noonan
Fri #2 Jane Powell and Cliff Robertson
Fri #3 Jane Powell and Keith Andes
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Wed reveal talking with Judy Nugent is Cliff Robertson
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Our Friday round-up goes from Jane Powell and Tommy Noonan, to Jane Powell and Cliff Robertson and finally to Jane Powell and Keith Andes.
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Cliff Robertson, Tom Noonan, Jane Powell and Keith Andes. (THE MOVIE STINKS)
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You shoulda left my guesses in the Spam folder.
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