With a Song in My Heart
Directed by Walter Lang
Written by Lamar Trotti
1952/USA
Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation
First viewing/Netflix rental
[box] Success in show business depends on your ability to make and keep friends. — Sophie Tucker [/box]
Susan Hayward is terrific in this otherwise standard biopic/musical.
This is the story of radio, stage, and television singer Jane Froman and Froman dubs all the many songs.
The film is narrated by Don Ross (David Wayne). The story begins when Froman comes in to audition for the radio. She walks in as the studio is still occupied by Ross who had just been rejected, together with his vaudeville partner who has now split up their act. Ross pretends to be a radio executive and gives Jane some pointers on her singing. She is hired and Don soon becomes her manager. They spend most of their time together and Don starts asking her to marry him. She’s reluctant but eventually gives in. Her career goes like gangbusters.
After the U.S. enters WWII, Jane volunteers to entertain the troops in Europe. The plane crashes on landing in Portugal. Jane has serious leg and back injuries and starts a protracted stay in a Lisbon hospital. She must undergo many painful surgeries and procedures. She is kept sane by her nurse Clancy (Thelma Ritter) and John Burn (Rory Calhoun), the pilot who is hospitalized with her. Burn eventually admits his love for her and Jane is torn between her love for him and her loyalty to Don for the rest of the film. Clancy returns to the States with Jane and becomes her lifelong companion. We follow along as Jane overcomes her disabilities to make a come-back. With Robert Wagner as a shell-shocked paratrooper.
I must say I don’t particularly care for Froman’s voice or singing style. The story is very predictable as well. I still enjoyed the movie, though, due to Hayward’s fine performance in a role far outside her normal range. Thelma Ritter is a kick as she always is.
Alfred Newman won an Academy Award for Best Music, Scoring of a Musical Picture. The film was nominated for Oscars in the categories of Best Actress; Best Supporting Actress (Ritter); Best Costume Design, Color; and Best Sound, Recording.
Trailer
