B&W
90 minutes

In his acting debut (he was a vocalist in earlier films), Sinatra plays an unassuming boy-next-door who also happens to be a singer named Frank Sinatra. A natural for the role, he croons his heart away in an attempt to woo the "daughter" of his wealthy neighbor, Mr. Drake (Leon Errol). What Sinatra doesn't know is that daddy got-rocks is actually flat broke and his lovely offspring Millie (Michele Morgan) is a maid posing as a debutante in a ploy to lure a well-heeled suitor. The plot is hatched by the rest of the staff at the madcap mansion, who are all hoping to save their jobs. Chief among them is valet Mike O'Brien - played by Jack Haley, best known as Tin Man in the Wizard Of Oz - who is the real object of Millie's affection.

Amidst the fortune hunting hi-jinks in this zany musical comedy, Sinatra delivers five of the film's nine songs, all by Jimmy McHugh and Harold Adamson. Highlights include "The Music Stopped," "A Lovely Way to Spend an Evening" and "I Couldn't Sleep a Wink Last Night," the latter Academy Award-nominated for Best Music, Original Song (the score received an Oscar nod as well). Look for appearances by Mel Torme - in his film debut - and Dooley Wilson, immortalized as singing "Sam" in Casablanca.

Warner Home Video's DVD release of HIGHER AND HIGHER as part of The Frank Sinatra Collection features subtitles in English and French.