Rhapsody in Blue (1945)

Director:

Irving Rapper

Writers:

Howard Koch (writer)
Sonya Levien (story)

Release Date:

22 September 1945 (USA)

Genre:

Biography | Drama | Musical

Tagline:

The jubilant story of George Gershwin.

Plot:

Composer George Gershwin is driven by his need to succeed. Unfortunately his drive destroys his romantic relationships with singer Julie Adams...

Plot Keywords:

Composer | Beautiful Woman

Awards:

Nominated for 2 Oscars.

Cast

Robert Alda	...	George Gershwin
Joan Leslie	...	Julie Adams
Alexis Smith	...	Christine Gilbert
Charles Coburn	...	Max Dreyfus
Julie Bishop	...	Lee Gershwin
Albert Bassermann	...	Prof. Franck
Morris Carnovsky	...	Poppa Morris Gershwin
Rosemary DeCamp	...	Momma Rose Gershwin
Oscar Levant	...	Himself
Paul Whiteman	...	Himself
Al Jolson	...	Himself
George White	...	Himself
Hazel Scott	...	Herself
Anne Brown	...	Herself - as Bess
Herbert Rudley	...	Ira Gershwin

Runtime:

135 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound System)

Certification:

USA:Approved | Australia:PG | Finland:S | Germany:16 | Sweden:15

Company:

Warner Bros. Pictures

Trivia:

Film debut of Robert Alda.

Goofs:

Factual errors: The opening credits say "Music and Lyrics by George Gershwin and Ira Gershwin", when in fact George wrote the music and Ira wrote the lyrics. None of the other lyricists in the film, including DuBose Heyward, who wrote the lyrics to "Summertime", are credited.

Quotes:

George Gershwin: It's only with my music that I can prove my right to live. I must write!

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Hollywood Wonderland (1947)

Soundtrack:

Pretty Baby

Worth watching.

The music was wonderful, I enjoyed watching the father of Alan Alda in the title role & I got one "mini surprise"! That was the solo song of a very young, enchanting Hazel Scott, accompanying herself on the piano. She was a musical prodigy on the piano from the age of 4 and the youngist student admitted to the Julliard School of Music at age 16. This was the last of her early film appearances, as she focused more on musical recordings and a TV series, until the late 50s. She also married Adam Clayton Powell Jr., noted congressman from Harlem & civil rights activist. Her 1955 album, "Relaxed Piano Moods," recorded with Charles Mingus and Max Roach was recently reissued on CD & named Album of the Month by National Public Radio.