Just before his brief turn as a "singing cowboy," radio crooner
Smith Ballew starred in Paramount's Palm Springs. Filmed on location at the famed California resort community, the story concerns the efforts by near-bankrupt gambler Capt Smyth (Sir Guy Standing) to marry off his daughter Joan (
Frances Langford) to wealthy Englishman George Brittel (
David Niven). Unfortunately for Smyth, Joan falls in love with Slim (Ballew), who hails from Wyoming and apparently hasn't got a dime. The film can't seem to make up its mind to be a straight comedy or a musical, nor does it seem that anyone concerned cared all that much about the plot. The songs are by
Ralph Rainger and
Leo Robin, who evidently saved their best stuff for
Bing Crosby. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide