Let's Make Music

19401940
ApprovedApproved
1h 24m

IMDb RATING

6.2/10

115

YOUR RATING

Bob Crosby and Jean Rogers in Let's Make Music (1940)

Drama

Music

Romance

With the size of her classes dwindling each year, Newton High music teacher Malvina Adams is asked to retire. Trying to prove she's still got it, she composes a school fight song which finds... Read allWith the size of her classes dwindling each year, Newton High music teacher Malvina Adams is asked to retire. Trying to prove she's still got it, she composes a school fight song which finds its way into the hands of bandleader Bob Crosby who turns it into an overnight hit. Over ... Read allWith the size of her classes dwindling each year, Newton High music teacher Malvina Adams is asked to retire. Trying to prove she's still got it, she composes a school fight song which finds its way into the hands of bandleader Bob Crosby who turns it into an overnight hit. Over the protestations of her stuffy niece Abby, Malvina travels to New York and performs her s... Read all

IMDb RATING

6.2/10

115

YOUR RATING

Director
- Leslie Goodwins
Writers
- Nathanael West(screenplay)
- Helen Phillips(special dialogue: Bob Crosby)
- Bernard Dougall(special dialogue: Bob Crosby)
Stars

Top credits

See production, box office & company info

See more at IMDbPro

Trivia
This film's earliest documented telecast took place in San Francisco Monday 18 June 1956 where it launched the RKO Radio film library on KPIX (Channel 5); it first aired in Altoona Wednesday 11 June 1956 on WFBG (Channel 10), in Salt Lake City Sunday 8 July 1956 on KUTV (Channel 2), in Philadelphia Monday 23 July 1956 on WFIL (Channel 6), in New Haven Wednesday 24 October 1956 on WNHC (Channel 8) and in Dallas Tuesday 6 November 1956 on WBAP (Channel 5).

Connections
Referenced in Kim Newman on 'The Day of the Locust' (2020)

Soundtracks
Fight on for Newton High
Written by Roy Webb, Dave Dreyer and Herman Ruby
Played on piano and sung by Elisabeth Risdon
Reprised on piano by Donna Jean Dolfer with Elisabeth Risdon singing
Reprised by Bob Crosby Orchestra and sung by Elisabeth Risdon, Bob Crosby and the Bobcats

User reviews6

Review

Top review

5/10

Hackneyed plot but with some good music.

The plot was a bit tedious and unbelievable, but there was one musical number that made watching this movie worthwhile. The song "The Big Noise from Winnetka" was a big hit at the time it was recorded by Bob Crosby and to see it performed by him and orchestra was a big treat. Ray Bauduc was the drummer and Bob Haggart was on bass (both were co-composers of the song along with Crosby) and it winds up as sort of a duet with Bauduc and Haggart. The multi-talented Haggart whistles the tune between his teeth and fingers the bass violin while Bauduc uses his drumstick on the bass violin to make the music. A very enjoyable piece to listen to and watch, and it will surely be appreciated by lovers of the big band era, swing or jazz.

I was a bit confused at the credits calling Crosby's quartet of singers "The Bobcats" while Crosby himself always refers to them as "The Bobalinks." I wonder what that was all about.

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