Stars and Stripes Forever (1952)

Director:

Henry Koster

Writers:

John Philip Sousa (book)
Ernest Vajda (story)

Release Date:

22 December 1952 (USA)

Genre:

Biography | Music

Plot:

A film biography of the composer John Philip Sousa, from his early days in the Marine Corps Band through the Spanish-American War in 1898.

Plot Keywords:

Marines | Spanish American War | 1890s | Concert Hall | Musical Number

Awards:

Nominated for 3 Golden Globes.

Cast

Clifton Webb	...	John Philip Sousa
Debra Paget	...	Lily Becker
Robert Wagner	...	Willie Little
Ruth Hussey	...	Jennie Sousa
Finlay Currie	...	Col. Randolph
Roy Roberts	...	Maj. Houston
Thomas Browne Henry	...	David Blakely (as Tom Browne Henry)
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Frank Ferguson	...	Mr. Wells (scenes deleted)
Jack Rice	...	Mr. Jones (scenes deleted)

Also Known As:

Marching Along (UK)

Runtime:

90 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Recording)

Certification:

Finland:S | Sweden:Btl

Company:

Twentieth Century-Fox Film Corporation

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Worth Winning (1989)

Soundtrack:

Mein Lebenslauf ist Lieb' und Lust, Op. 263 (My Character Is Love and Joy)

Memories of the March King

What should be understood is that Stars and Stripes Forever is in no way a full biography of the famous March King which was the nickname given to John Philip Sousa. It is rather a portrait of the era known as the Gay Nineties in America where Sousa first achieved his reputation and prominence. Also included is a romance between fictional characters played by Robert Wagner and Debra Paget.

In that beard with those pince nez glasses, Clifton Webb looks remarkably like John Philip Sousa in that period and by reputation, Sousa was as much a dilettante as Webb normally played on screen which made him perfect casting. After leaving the Marine Corps band, Sousa formed his own orchestra which became world famous and toured the globe well into the Twenties.

But our story concerns Sousa the March King. Though he composed all kinds of music, it is his marches that have come down today and have given him his reputation. The Marine Corps official march, Semper Fidelis, was composed by Sousa and the incident involving President Benjamin Harrison as depicted in Stars and Stripes Forever is somewhat true. The Marine Corps Band was playing at a White House reception and the Harrison who was not the most social of presidents ordered Sousa to speed up the tempo so the receiving line would move at a brisk pace.

Ruth Hussey is cast in the Myrna Loy type role of the perfect understanding mate for her genius husband and she fulfills the role admirably. Even Clifton Webb does make you forget you're watching Clifton Webb and you do think you are seeing the real Sousa.

Stars and Stripes Forever is an admirable film and of course the finale does have several bands and marching armed forces personnel playing and marching to Sousa's most famous composition.