Release CalendarTop 250 MoviesMost Popular MoviesBrowse Movies by GenreTop Box OfficeShowtimes & TicketsMovie NewsIndia Movie Spotlight
    What's on TV & StreamingTop 250 TV ShowsMost Popular TV ShowsBrowse TV Shows by GenreTV News
    What to WatchLatest TrailersIMDb OriginalsIMDb PicksIMDb SpotlightFamily Entertainment GuideIMDb Podcasts
    OscarsCannes Film FestivalStar WarsAsian Pacific American Heritage MonthSummer Watch GuideSTARmeter AwardsAwards CentralFestival CentralAll Events
    Born TodayMost Popular CelebsCelebrity News
    Help CenterContributor ZonePolls
For Industry Professionals
  • Language
  • Fully supported
  • English (United States)
    Partially supported
  • Français (Canada)
  • Français (France)
  • Deutsch (Deutschland)
  • हिंदी (भारत)
  • Italiano (Italia)
  • Português (Brasil)
  • Español (España)
  • Español (México)
Watchlist
Sign In
  • Fully supported
  • English (United States)
    Partially supported
  • Français (Canada)
  • Français (France)
  • Deutsch (Deutschland)
  • हिंदी (भारत)
  • Italiano (Italia)
  • Português (Brasil)
  • Español (España)
  • Español (México)
Use app
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
IMDbPro

Irish Eyes Are Smiling

  • 1944
  • Approved
  • 1h 30m
IMDb RATING
6.0/10
213
YOUR RATING
June Haver, Dick Haymes, and Monty Woolley in Irish Eyes Are Smiling (1944)
DramaMusicRomance

A tuneful account of the life of Ernest R. Ball, composer of many popular Irish songs, including "When Irish Eyes Are Smiling".A tuneful account of the life of Ernest R. Ball, composer of many popular Irish songs, including "When Irish Eyes Are Smiling".A tuneful account of the life of Ernest R. Ball, composer of many popular Irish songs, including "When Irish Eyes Are Smiling".

  • Director
    • Gregory Ratoff
  • Writers
    • Earl Baldwin
    • John Tucker Battle
    • E.A. Ellington
  • Stars
    • Monty Woolley
    • June Haver
    • Dick Haymes
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    6.0/10
    213
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Gregory Ratoff
    • Writers
      • Earl Baldwin
      • John Tucker Battle
      • E.A. Ellington
    • Stars
      • Monty Woolley
      • June Haver
      • Dick Haymes
    • 9User reviews
    • 1Critic review
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Nominated for 1 Oscar
      • 1 win & 1 nomination total

    Photos22

    View Poster
    View Poster
    View Poster
    View Poster
    View Poster
    View Poster
    View Poster
    View Poster
    + 14
    View Poster

    Top cast82

    Edit
    Monty Woolley
    Monty Woolley
    • Edgar Brawley
    June Haver
    June Haver
    • Mary 'Irish' O'Neill
    Dick Haymes
    Dick Haymes
    • Ernest R. Ball
    Anthony Quinn
    Anthony Quinn
    • Al Jackson
    Beverly Whitney
    Beverly Whitney
    • Lucille Lacey
    Maxie Rosenbloom
    Maxie Rosenbloom
    • Stanley Ketchel
    Veda Ann Borg
    Veda Ann Borg
    • Belle La Tour
    Clarence Kolb
    Clarence Kolb
    • Leo Betz
    Leonard Warren
    • Opera Singer
    Blanche Thebom
    • Opera Singer
    Leo Mostovoy
    • Pawnbroker
    • (scenes deleted)
    Ray Walker
    Ray Walker
    • Hoofer
    • (scenes deleted)
    Eddie Acuff
    Eddie Acuff
    • Harry
    • (uncredited)
    Lester Allen
    Lester Allen
    • Heming
    • (uncredited)
    Gurney Bell
    • Member of Sportsmen's Quartette
    • (uncredited)
    Herman Belmonte
    • Chorus Boy
    • (uncredited)
    William H. Benter
    • Minor Role
    • (uncredited)
    Billy Bester
    • Minor Role
    • (uncredited)
    • Director
      • Gregory Ratoff
    • Writers
      • Earl Baldwin
      • John Tucker Battle
      • E.A. Ellington
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews9

    6.0213
    1
    2
    3
    4
    5
    6
    7
    8
    9
    10

    Featured reviews

    6jotix100

    Irish from Cleveland

    Ernest Ball, an aspiring composer from Cleveland, struggled through his younger years to make it in the business. After not being able to make it in his home town, Mr. Ball decides to go East to New York, the capital of the world of entertainment where his music was appreciated and went to have the recognition he deserved.

    "Irish Eyes Are Smiling", the biographic film didn't make a good impression of the man and his life. In fact, this was a rather uninspired production of Twentieth Century Fox that must have been created for Dick Haymes, the actor with a golden voice who was at his prime. Directed by veteran actor/director Gregory Ratoff, this is a dull movie where some of Ernest Ball's songs are prominently placed in a musical comedy that didn't do anything to please audiences.

    Mr. Haymes had a pleasing tenor voice, but as far as the acting department went, he was at a disadvantage playing opposite Monty Wooley, or even a young Anthony Quinn. This was June Haver's second appearance in a film after her success in "Home in Indiana". She doesn't have much to do as the main interest of Ernest Ball.

    The best of Mr. Ball's songs, "When Irish Eyes Are Smiling", which he composed with lyrics by Chauncey Olcott and George Graff proved to be a song that survived the author as it became a standard hymn always associated with Irish celebrations and a must for St. Patrick's Day.
    Kalaman

    Exhausting Biography of Ernest Ball

    Yet another musical biography of a famous songwriter. I saw "Irish Eyes are Smiling" only for the music and the beautiful June Haver but I didn't think it would turn out to be this dull and exhausting. "Irish Eyes" is one of the most laughably boring biographies ever made.

    It is the same reaction I had with Haver's later musical, "I Wonder Who's Kissing Her Now"(1947): the Technicolor, the lavish sets and musical numbers are not without merit but the story is frustratingly hollow. It lacks strength and a sense of direction.
    SGriffin-6

    Skewed as biography, amusing as musical

    The film is part of a long line of musical biographies of songwriters that has hardly any interest in the person's actual life story. Instead, calling them biographies allows the musicals to cull songs from their catalog for various musical numbers. Still, at times, these films can be pleasant time-wasters. This one, ostensibly about turn-of-the-century songwriter Ernest Ball, is one of these pleasant but unexceptional entries.

    Judging from the songs presented in the film, Ball specialized in Irish hokum ("Mother Macree" for example)--lugubrious ballads that wallowed in maternal sentimentality and dreams. Consequently, Dick Haymes portrayal of Ball presents him as a weak passive sort, who is easily pushed around. Seemingly to balance him, June Haver as his romantic interest is incredibly butch--growling, aggressive, and constantly popping people in the eye. While Haymes sings Ball's slow ballads, Haver performs peppy up-tempo numbers (that were not written by Ball). One of these underlines the reversal of gender-expected behavior: "Bessie in a Bustle." Here, Haver sings in male clothing, as various men in drag (with bustles naturally) cavort around her!

    It's a pretty out-of-nowhere moment, but seems to fit the general attitude about aggressive women and passive men that's going on in the rest of the film.

    Overall, it's a colorful period piece, with plenty to keep a viewer diverted for an hour and a half--and some interesting ideas if you stop to notice them. But it's no landmark musical.
    tlb1116

    DVD Release

    Hi, There, I recently had a new friend enter my life that I just treasure. He is in quite ill health and likely won't be around too much longer. His brother, also aging and in poor health, sang on the original movie (When Irish Eyes are Smiling). I am not certain what the details are regarding this, only that he sang. Since I heard my friends story, I have been working feverishly to obtain a copy of the movie I could give him to enjoy his brother, who he doesn't get to see too often as they are separated geographically and are both ill and elderly. He has so much love for his brother and I see it come shining through every time I talk with him. I would love nothing more than to give him a copy of this movie that he could enjoy and possibly share with his brother. Does anyone know if it is out on DVD, if so, where the heck I might find it. I've searched the web over, to no avail. I would appreciate anything anyone might be able to offer. Thanks in advance for your help.

    Cindy
    4alicespiral

    Not a biopic of Ernest Ball

    Most musicals have flaws and this is no exception.Whoever wrote the script should have checked for some sort of continuity but what passes as a story concerns Ameican Irish songwriter Ernest Ball who specializes in songs with an Irish theme,many of which are still heard today.When he shows one to a guy who's about to employ him as a songplugger said guy tells him its junk.He wants him to plug a song which sounds as if he wrote it in his sleep.Ball plays the song at the music hall and the audience more or less start booing.So he plays the one he offered the plugger -When Irish eyes are smiling-and the audience goes wild.He then just gets bigger. Meanwhile June Haver,who he'd tried once to get off with turns up as a Hatcheck Girl having failed to cut it as a chorus girl.A con man Ball hooked up with claims he can make the next woman who enters the room a star.Here it seems obvious that Ball will engineer her appearance. This is where any sense leaves permanently as he doesn't even offer. Instead Miss Haver leaves having sussed out she was the subject of a bet. Meanwhile the con man,in an attempt to lure her back-though its not him has the hots for her-somehow manages to stage a musical of his own and pass off Ball's songs as his own work.Ball sees it via a copy of Variety and heads back to town guns blazing as he thinks its really Miss Haver at work.Meanwhile she's South America bound then changes her mind and comes back to New York. Ball turns up copy of Variety in hand and you think he may at least punch somebody.But no everything ends happily ever after (or because the budget ran out).So the ploy cooked up by the con man was a waste of time.In a real World there would at least be questions asked and threats of copyright infringement Don't look for sense enjoy the songs as they are excellent

    More like this

    Step Lively
    6.0
    Step Lively
    Janie
    5.9
    Janie
    The Bridge of San Luis Rey
    5.5
    The Bridge of San Luis Rey
    Home in Indiana
    6.5
    Home in Indiana
    Dragon Seed
    5.9
    Dragon Seed
    Something for the Boys
    5.9
    Something for the Boys
    Hollywood Canteen
    7.0
    Hollywood Canteen
    Here Come the Waves
    6.1
    Here Come the Waves
    The Seventh Cross
    7.4
    The Seventh Cross
    Mrs. Parkington
    7.0
    Mrs. Parkington
    The White Cliffs of Dover
    7.0
    The White Cliffs of Dover
    Two Girls and a Sailor
    6.6
    Two Girls and a Sailor

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      "Lux Radio Theater" broadcast a 60 minute radio adaptation of the movie on March 15, 1948 with Dick Haynes reprising his film role.
    • Goofs
      In playing the piano while singing "Boy of Mine", you can see a wedding ring on Dick Haymes' hand. He was married to Joanne Dru at the time the movie was being filmed.
    • Quotes

      Belle La Tour: [to Mary] What are you doing in my $85 feathered robe? Take it off!

    • Soundtracks
      Bessie in a Bustle
      (uncredited)

      Music by James V. Monaco

      Lyrics by Mack Gordon

      Copyright 1944 by Bregman, Vocco & Conn, Inc.

      Performed by June Haver, unidentified singer and chorus

    Top picks

    Sign in to rate and Watchlist for personalized recommendations
    Sign in

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • August 30, 1945 (Australia)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • En sång, en kyss, en flicka
    • Filming locations
      • 20th Century Fox Studios - 10201 Pico Blvd., Century City, Los Angeles, California, USA(Studio)
    • Production company
      • Twentieth Century Fox
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 30 minutes
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.37 : 1

    Related news

    Contribute to this page

    Suggest an edit or add missing content
    June Haver, Dick Haymes, and Monty Woolley in Irish Eyes Are Smiling (1944)
    Top Gap
    By what name was Irish Eyes Are Smiling (1944) officially released in Canada in English?
    Answer
    • See more gaps
    • Learn more about contributing
    Edit page

    More to explore

    Recently viewed

    Please enable browser cookies to use this feature. Learn more.
    Get the IMDb app
    Sign in for more accessSign in for more access
    Follow IMDb on social
    Get the IMDb app
    For Android and iOS
    Get the IMDb app
    • Help
    • Site Index
    • IMDbPro
    • Box Office Mojo
    • License IMDb Data
    • Press Room
    • Advertising
    • Jobs
    • Conditions of Use
    • Privacy Policy
    • Your Ads Privacy Choices
    IMDb, an Amazon company

    © 1990-2025 by IMDb.com, Inc.