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IMDbPro

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)
DramaMusicRomance
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
    • Leslie Goodwins
    • Nathanael West(screenplay)
    • Helen Phillips(special dialogue: Bob Crosby)
    • Bernard Dougall(special dialogue: Bob Crosby)
  • Stars
    • Bob Crosby
    • Jean Rogers
    • Elisabeth Risdon
    • Leslie Goodwins
    • Nathanael West(screenplay)
    • Helen Phillips(special dialogue: Bob Crosby)
    • Bernard Dougall(special dialogue: Bob Crosby)
  • Stars
    • Bob Crosby
    • Jean Rogers
    • Elisabeth Risdon
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 6User reviews
    • 1Critic review
  • See production, box office & company info
  • See more at IMDbPro
  • Photos

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

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    Bob Crosby
    Bob Crosby
    • Bob Crosby
    Jean Rogers
    Jean Rogers
    • Abby Adams
    Elisabeth Risdon
    Elisabeth Risdon
    • Malvina Adams
    Joseph Buloff
    Joseph Buloff
    • Joe Bellah
    Joyce Compton
    Joyce Compton
    • Betty
    Benny Bartlett
    Benny Bartlett
    • Tommy
    • (as Bennie Bartlett)
    Louis Jean Heydt
    Louis Jean Heydt
    • Mr. Stevens
    Bill Goodwin
    Bill Goodwin
    • Announcer
    Frank Orth
    Frank Orth
    • Mr. Botts
    Grant Withers
    Grant Withers
    • Headwaiter
    Walter Tetley
    • Eddie
    Benny Rubin
    Benny Rubin
    • Music Publisher
    Gale Sherwood
    Gale Sherwood
    • High School Singer
    • (as Jacqueline Nash)
    Donna Jean Dolfer
    • Pianist
    Bob Crosby Orchestra
    • The Bobcats
    • (as Bob Crosby's Orchestra)
    Richard West
    Effie Anderson
    • Teacher
    • (uncredited)
    Ray Bauduc
    Ray Bauduc
    • Crosby's Drummer
    • (uncredited)
      • Leslie Goodwins
      • Nathanael West(screenplay)
      • Helen Phillips(special dialogue: Bob Crosby)
      • Bernard Dougall(special dialogue: Bob Crosby)
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    Storyline

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    Did you know

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    • 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
    Review
    Featured review
    6/10
    Aunt Malvina finds her groove.
    Here's a swing musical with a 65 year old woman as the main character! There are some excellent big band numbers courtesy of Bob Crosby and his Bobcats or Bobalinks (as HE says anyway) and the usual excellent RKO production qualities. Dear Aunt Malvina writes a college fight song which ends up on the radio hit parade in a different tempo with added 1941 style bop and shuffle. It is generally a lovely film If I can say that without sounding twee, because it ultimately has a lot to say about a good and talented woman too long in conservative isolation (and corralled by her drone niece) who really enjoys freeing up her music and her self. Grannies who saw this on first release would have been inspired to do the same! The two main numbers are strong and the first one has a dynamite 60 secs of aerial jitterbug. The main showpiece is the hit parade link "Big Noise From Winnetka" which is really as much a novelty song as the "fight song from Newton High" that Mulvina writes. The film is about the fleeting fame that novelty songs allow and the crash that comes if one is not aware. The scene where Malvina has the curtain dropped on her is especially fascinating as it appears to be filmed on one of either Keith or Orpheum's old theaters (that were wired for sound, dearie) in the amalgamation that came in forming R-K-O with the Radio Corp in 1928 to create this monopoly entertainment giant. Lets Make Music indeed. Malvina did and so did Bob; and if you have the chance to enjoy this gimmick musical you will smile as I did and marvel at the generosity of spirit this simple but honest musical allows. Charming...with groove and swing!
    helpful•13
    0
    • ptb-8
    • Oct 18, 2005

    Details

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    • Release date
      • January 17, 1941 (United States)
      • United States
      • English
    • Also known as
    • Filming locations
      • Fairfax High School, Los Angeles, California, USA
    • Production company
      • RKO Radio Pictures
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Technical specs

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    • 1 hour 24 minutes
      • Black and White

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