Because You're Mine (1952)

User Rating:

5.8/10   

Director:

Alexander Hall

Writers:

Ruth Brooks Flippen (short) &
Sy Gomberg (short) ...

Release Date:

October 1952 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Musical

Plot Keywords:

Opera | Army | Brother Sister Relationship

Awards:

Nominated for Oscar.

Cast

Mario Lanza	...	Renaldo Rossano
Doretta Morrow	...	Bridget Batterson
James Whitmore	...	Sergeant 'Bat' Batterson
Dean Miller	...	Ben Jones
Rita Corday	...	Francesca Landers (as Paula Corday)
Jeff Donnell	...	Patty Ware
Spring Byington	...	Mrs. Montville
Curtis Cooksey	...	General Montville
Don Porter	...	Captain Burton Nordell Loring
Eduard Franz	...	Albert Parkson Foster
Bobby Van	...	Artie Pilcer
Ralph Reed	...	Horsey
Celia Lovsky	...	Mrs. Rossano
Alexander Steinert	...	Maestro Paradoni

Runtime:

103 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Sound System)

Certification:

Australia:PG | USA:Approved (PCA #15861) | Finland:S | Sweden:Btl

Company:

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)

Trivia:

The older woman who asks for Renaldo's autograph is played by Mario Lanza's real-life mother; the unspeaking man with her is Mario's father.

Soundtrack:

Angels song

Lanza's Fourth

This formula pic, while being one of Lanza's lamer projects, includes some impressive soundtrack renderings.

It's amusing to see how he manages to first be drafted at all (stretching age limits) then sail through basic training with a breeze, intoning ballads through boot camp.

From his real-life mom's requesting an autograph as he stands in recruit formation at train station, to his sergeant's begging same immediately upon entering barracks, this script's a hoot.

His fellow privates (while mildly ribbing him) quickly accept his "in with brass" status, as our hero's placed in charge of trainees, crooning Brahms melodies in sergeant's quarters, belting out Italian arias while riding a truck, and even traveling to New York for a recording session.

However, this is a quite special branch of the military--MGM Division to be exact--and everything yields to the song cue (could Joe Pasternak be Commander in Chief?)

Fun to see James Whitmore having a good time in a somewhat comedic, Keenyn Wynn type role. Spring Byington's sprightly as ever and Doretta Morrow's serviceable as love interest, with her light soprano being as pleasant here as in her Broadway work of "Kismet."

Interesting, too, to see Mario bouncing between 80-pounds-plus-minus (entering a chapel in uniform fairly slim and next walking down aisle wearing what looks like a tent).

Vocally the production's strong, with a consistently forceful approach. Lanza looks like this isn't exactly a labor of love, with his reactions appearing more dutiful than inspired.

He'd go on from this to render some of his most endearing work for the soundtrack of "The Student Prince." Like a comet that flashes briefly across the heavens, Lanza was a phenomenon of his particular time that entertained and uplifted millions for a few short seasons.