Hit the Deck - Definition and Overview

Hit the Deck is a musical theater production first staged at the Belasco Theatre on Broadway on April 25, 1927. It has music by Vincent Youmans, lyrics by Clifford Grey and book by Herbert Fields. It is based on the play Shore Leave by Hubert Osborne. It ran for 352 performances.

The songs

• "Hallelujah!"
• "Harbor Of My Heart"
• "Join The Navy"
• "Loo-Loo"
• "Lucky Bird"
• "Sometimes I'm Happy"
• "What's A Kiss Among Friends?"
• "Why, Oh Why"

London production

The production opened at the Hippodrome on November 3, 1927 and ran for 277 performances.

1930 RKO Musical film

The first film version was directed by Luther Reed and starred Jack Oakie and Polly Walker.

1955 MGM Musical film

This film version had a revised storyline. It was directed by Roy Rowland and starred Jane Powell, Tony Martin and Debbie Reynolds.