On the Town and on the prowl (sort of)

When the dock worker asks Kelly, Sinatra and Munshin, "What do you think can happen in a day?" Sinatra howls and wolf whistles along with the other two, leading me to think, "Okay, now a Sinatra character is going to actively pursue a woman." But once again my clairvoyant abilities are not up to par. Sinatra's character, Chip, has site-seeing not girls on the brain. Woo-woo! When the boys happen upon Hildy the agressive, take-charage female cab driver who "Never gives up anything she likes" she falls for Chip because of his open face and makes her desire painfully obvious with her "come up to my place" line. Chip understands all her signals, but remains dedicated first to his tour of the city and second to helping Kelly's character find "Miss Turnstile." Chip does represent a more standard form of masculinity than Clarence from Anchors Aweigh. He doesn't depend on Kelly's character to talk to girls for him, nor does he fail to take the initiative once he actually comes up to Hildy's place. They start kissing passionately the moment he sits down. And he kisses her first! One thing which helps give Sinatra a more masculine image is the fact that no one steals his girl in this movie. Hildy has eyes for Chip alone.

Sinatra's characters continue to be the ones who are pursued by women as compared to Kelly who is firmly committed to the hunt. Sinatra's charm draws women in without him being aware while Kelly uses romantic lines, dancing and other foolproof techniques to reel in his loves. Munshin's character is pure comic relief. Of the three men he is the first to get a girl and it's through his caveman face.