Higher and Higher (1943)

Director:

Tim Whelan

Writers:

Gladys Hurlbut (book) and
Joshua Logan (book) ...
(more)

Release Date:

December 1943 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Musical | Romance

Tagline:

THE SINATRA SHOW

Plot:

With their employer bankrupt, servants scheme to marry maid Millie to a rich husband. But Frank Sinatra lives across the street...

Plot Keywords:

Maid | Servant | Debutante | Neighbor | Female Stockinged Feet

Awards:

Nominated for 2 Oscars.

Cast

Michèle Morgan	...	Millie Pico (as Michele Morgan)
Jack Haley	...	Mike O'Brien
Frank Sinatra	...	Frank
Leon Errol	...	Cyrus Drake
Marcy McGuire	...	Mickey
Victor Borge	...	Sir Victor Fitzroy Victor
Mary Wickes	...	Sandy Brooks
Elisabeth Risdon	...	Mrs. Georgia Keating
Barbara Hale	...	Katherine Keating
Mel Tormé	...	Marty (as Mel Torme)
Paul Hartman	...	Byngham (as Paul)
Grace Hartman	...	Hilda
Dooley Wilson	...	Oscar
Ivy Scott	...	Mrs. Whiffin
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Robert Anderson	...	Announcer at Butler's Ball (uncredited)
Ralph Brooks	...	Restaurant Customer (uncredited)
Tanis Chandler	...	Debutante (uncredited)
Jack Chefe	...	Night Club Patron / Wedding Guest (uncredited)
Jay Eaton	...	Night Club Patron / Wedding Guest (uncredited)
Rex Evans	...	Mr. Green (uncredited)
Edward Fielding	...	Minister (uncredited)
Jack Gargan	...	Wedding Guest (uncredited)
Buddy Gorman	...	Page Boy (uncredited)
Rita Gould	...	Rita (uncredited)
Louis Hightower	...	Specialty Dancer (uncredited)
Daun Kennedy	...	Bridesmaid (uncredited)
King Kennedy	...	Mr. Duval (uncredited)
Perc Launders	...	Wedding Guest (uncredited)
Stanley Logan	...	Mr. Henry (uncredited)
Ola Lorraine	...	Sarah (uncredited)
Wilbur Mack	...	Night Club Patron / Wedding Guest (uncredited)
Dorothy Malone	...	Bridesmaid (uncredited)
Harold Miller	...	Patron of Tavern (uncredited)
Bert Moorhouse	...	Wedding Guest (uncredited)
Edmund Mortimer	...	Guest (uncredited)
Shirley O'Hara	...	Bridesmaid (uncredited)
Elaine Riley	...	Bridesmaid (uncredited)
Cyril Ring	...	Night Club Patron (uncredited)
Jeffrey Sayre	...	Night Club Patron (uncredited)
Larry Steers	...	Wedding Guest (uncredited)
Drake Thornton	...	Bellboy (uncredited)
Russell Wade	...	Night Club Patron (uncredited)

Directed by
Tim Whelan

Writing credits
Gladys Hurlbut		(book of musical play) and
Joshua Logan		(book of musical play)
Jay Dratler		(screenplay) and
Ralph Spence		(screenplay)
William Bowers		(additional dialogue) and
Howard Harris		(additional dialogue)

Produced by
George M. Arthur	....	associate producer (as George Arthur)
Tim Whelan	....	producer

Cinematography by
Robert De Grasse		(director of photography) (as Robert de Grasse)

Film Editing by
Gene Milford

Art Direction by
Albert S. D'Agostino
Jack Okey

Set Decoration by
Claude E. Carpenter		(as Claude Carpenter)
Darrell Silvera

Costume Design by
Edward Stevenson		(gowns)

Makeup Department
Mel Berns	....	makeup artist (uncredited)

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Clem Beauchamp	....	assistant director

Sound Department
Jean L. Speak	....	sound recordist
James G. Stewart	....	sound re-recordist

Music Department
C. Bakaleinikoff	....	musical director
Ken Darby	....	vocal director
Ernst Matray	....	stager: musical numbers
Gene Rose	....	music arranger: orchestral arrangements
Axel Stordahl	....	music arranger: orchestral arrangements
Martha Mears	....	singing voice: Michele Morgan (uncredited)

Other crew
Dwight Wiman	....	producer: stage play (as Dwight Deere Wiman)

Production Companies

• RKO Radio Pictures

Distributors

• RKO Radio Pictures (1943) (USA) (theatrical)
• C&C Television Corporation (1955) (USA) (TV)
• RKO Home Video (????) (USA) (VHS)
• Teakwood Video (2004) (USA) (DVD)
• Warner Home Video (2008) (USA) (DVD)

Also Known As:

Runtime:

90 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound System)

Certification:

Finland:S | Sweden:Btl | UK:U | USA:Approved (PCA #9545) | USA:TV-G (TV rating) | Iceland:L

Company:

RKO Radio Pictures

Trivia:

Two cast members in studio records/casting call lists did not appear or were not identifiable in the movie. These were (with their character names): Harry Holman (Banker) and Warren Jackson (Contractor)

Goofs:

Errors made by characters (possibly deliberate errors by the filmmakers): During the song "when it comes to love you're on your own" (c.62 minutes) the doorways have no panes of glass in them on the lower rows, as the house staff join in the song.

Quotes:

Cyrus Drake:Would you say I was inebriated last night?
Byngham:Oh no, sir. Although you did have Whiffen cook you six pancakes and you spent an hour trying to play them on the Victrola.
Cyrus Drake:Mmm...how'd they sound?
Byngham:Much better after you put the syrup on.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Magnavox Presents Frank Sinatra (1973) (TV)

Soundtrack:

Bridal Chorus (Here Comes the Bride)

Interesting, but definitely not sensational

Mel Torme and Victor Borge, in their younger years, serve to make this film interesting - and especially viewing a young Sinatra, on the sunny side of 30, and definitely conveying that this was his "yes, I'm a popular singer, but hardly an actor yet" stage. Michele Morgan is an annoying, inane presence, and Jack Haley is an actor whose appeal has always been totally lost on me. Leon Erroll is silly, as always, but overall pretty funny. 7 stars of a potential 10 is about the right "grade," because with the combination of its positive aspects, along with the lack of much of a story, and a silly one at that, and the fore-mentioned annoyances - it is overall average at best. Most of the fascination is from the viewing of the three entertainment icons in their early years.