The life and career of famed American composer Stephen Foster.The life and career of famed American composer Stephen Foster.The life and career of famed American composer Stephen Foster.
IMDb RATING
5.9/10
223
YOUR RATING
Dick Simmons
- Dunning Foster
- (as Richard Simmons)
Scott Elliott
- Milford Wilson
- (as Robert Neil)
Glen Turnbull
- Glenn Turnbull
- (as Glenn Turnbull)
- …
Carl 'Alfalfa' Switzer
- Freddie
- (as Carl Dean Switzer)
Fred Moultrie
- Chitlin
- (as Freddie Moultrie)
Richard Alexander
- Cop
- (uncredited)
Leslie Bennett
- Kid
- (uncredited)
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaThis film shows an extremely rare historical accuracy in films for costumes. Mrs. McDowell wears black dresses through the entire film; which is what a widow of the time would have done.
- GoofsEarly on in the film, one of Foster's young friends is critically injured when a buggy runs over him. Foster then gives all his money to the doctor to help pay the hospital bill and other costs. After this scene, we hear nothing about whether the boy has recovered or not...
- Quotes
[Stephen shows the sheet music from his first song to two of his friends]
First Co-Worker: Let's see where it says you wrote it!
Stephen Foster: Well, I guess it doesn't say.
Second Co-Worker: Did you get much for it?
Stephen Foster: Oh, he didn't pay me anything.
First Co-Worker: Did you even get any royalties?
Stephen Foster: Listen, he's doing me a big favor just to print it - didn't charge me a cent.
Second Co-Worker: Boy, how 'bout that minstrel man, Christy? Didn't he pay ya?
Stephen Foster: Certainly not. I'm proud to have him sing it.
First Co-Worker: Gee, it looks like you oughta get a little something just for thinkin' it up!
- ConnectionsReferenced in ER: Stuck on You (1998)
Review
Featured review
Some good music
This is purportedly the story of Stephen Foster but bears no resemblance to his real life. It is more than 80% pure fiction and its only saving grace is a load of his music and some very good performances of it. Foster is portrayed as a wimp who is so besotted with a girl who is so obviously a self-centered brat that he swears that he will give up writing music if she will marry him (she doesn't). Many of the facts of Foster's life are portrayed here, his association with Christy, his lack of copyrights, his not being paid royalties, etc., but the basic story is pure Hollywood. Watch it for the good old music but beware, there is a long black face Minstrel show which will jolt many who grew up in recent years. Tacky by today's overly sensitive standards the minstrel show was still alive and well in the 1940s and into the 50s. Foster died, penniless and alone, at an early age but his music lives on and is well represented in this film.
helpful•50
- rdfarnham
- Jun 11, 2012
Details
Box office
- 1 hour 30 minutes
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