Mr. Music (1950)

User Rating:

6.0/10   

Director:

Richard Haydn

Writers:

Samson Raphaelson (play)
Arthur Sheekman (screenplay)

Release Date:

8 December 1950 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Musical | Romance

Plot:

A golf-crazy songwriter tries to avoid the long, solitary hours of concentration needed to produce a hit musical. His producer and his secretary conspire to get him back on track.

Plot Keywords:

Secretary | Producer | Broke | Songwriter | University

Cast

Bing Crosby	...	Paul Merrick
Nancy Olson	...	Katherine Holbrook
Charles Coburn	...	Alex Conway
Ruth Hussey	...	Lorna Marvis
Robert Stack	...	Jefferson 'Jeff' Blake
Tom Ewell	...	'Cupcake' Haggerty
Ida Moore	...	Aunt Amy
Charles Kemper	...	Mr. Danforth
Donald Woods	...	Tippy Carpenter
Richard Haydn	...	Jerome Thisbee (as Claud Curdle)
Marge Champion	...	Marge Champion
Gower Champion	...	Gower Champion
Groucho Marx	...	Groucho Marx
Dorothy Kirsten	...	Dorothy Kirsten
Peggy Lee	...	Peggy Lee

Runtime:

110 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Recording)

Certification:

USA:Approved | USA:Passed (National Board of Review) | Finland:S | Sweden:Btl

Company:

Paramount Pictures

Trivia:

On the Decca Records 10-inch LP of selections from the Johnny Burke-Jimmy Van Heusen film score, Bing Crosby crooned "Life Is So Peculiar" and "High on the List" with The Andrews Sisters, who did not appear in the picture. One guest star in the movie, diva Dorothy Kirsten, joined Bing on the Decca album for two ditties: "Accidents Will Happen" and "Milady."

Movie Connections:

Edited into How Green Is My Spinach (1950)

Soundtrack:

Life Is So Peculiar

Bing Is Mr. Music

Bing Crosby IS Mr. Music after being a top box office draw for 5 years straight, winning an Oscar, and having some of the biggest selling recordings of all time. Reportedly Bing did not like the title of the movie because it was such a bold statement. The movie is not perfect and not one of Bing's great films, but it has it's great moments. Firstly, Bing is in great voice through the whole movie. His baritone singing of 1950 sounded great, but unfortunately the songs in the film were slightly under par. The two best numbers is the opening number "AND YOU'LL BE HOME" and the unusual duet of Crosby and opera star Dorothy Kirsten on "ACCIDENTS WILL HAPPEN". Even though Bing was in superb voice, no song emerged as a hit.

As Bing got older I hated how they picked younger starlets to star with him. Nancy Olsen plays his love interest, even though they are nearly 25 years apart in age. She is an okay actress, but only okay. The supporting cast of a young Robert Stack and an old Charles Coburn as well as cameos by Peggy Lee and Groucho Marx improves the movie. Now any movie starring Bing Crosby is worth watching, and it looks like Bing had fun making this movie. It's not high drama, but MR. MUSIC is fun to watch.