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IMDbPro

I Dream of Jeanie

  • 19521952
  • ApprovedApproved
  • 1h 30m
IMDb RATING
6.0/10
208
YOUR RATING
Eileen Christy, Muriel Lawrence, Ray Middleton, and Bill Shirley in I Dream of Jeanie (1952)
  • Biography
  • Comedy
  • Drama
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
6.0/10
208
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Allan Dwan
  • Writer
    • Alan Le May(screenplay)
  • Stars
    • Ray Middleton
    • Bill Shirley
    • Muriel Lawrence
Top credits
  • Director
    • Allan Dwan
  • Writer
    • Alan Le May(screenplay)
  • Stars
    • Ray Middleton
    • Bill Shirley
    • Muriel Lawrence
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 13User reviews
  • See production, box office & company info
  • See more at IMDbPro
  • Photos10

    Eileen Christy and Bill Shirley in I Dream of Jeanie (1952)
    Ray Middleton in I Dream of Jeanie (1952)
    Eileen Christy, Muriel Lawrence, Ray Middleton, and Bill Shirley in I Dream of Jeanie (1952)
    Eileen Christy, Muriel Lawrence, Ray Middleton, and Bill Shirley in I Dream of Jeanie (1952)
    Muriel Lawrence and Bill Shirley in I Dream of Jeanie (1952)
    Eileen Christy and Ray Middleton in I Dream of Jeanie (1952)
    Eileen Christy and Bill Shirley in I Dream of Jeanie (1952)
    Bill Shirley in I Dream of Jeanie (1952)
    Eileen Christy, Allan Dwan, and Bill Shirley in I Dream of Jeanie (1952)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Ray Middleton
    Ray Middleton
    • Edwin P. Christy
    Bill Shirley
    Bill Shirley
    • Stephen Foster
    Muriel Lawrence
    • Inez McDowell
    Eileen Christy
    Eileen Christy
    • Jeanie McDowell
    Rex Allen
    Rex Allen
    • Mr. Tambo
    Lynn Bari
    Lynn Bari
    • Mrs. McDowell
    Dick Simmons
    Dick Simmons
    • Dunning Foster
    • (as Richard Simmons)
    Scott Elliott
    Scott Elliott
    • Milford Wilson
    • (as Robert Neil)
    Andrew Tombes
    Andrew Tombes
    • R.E. Howard
    James Dobson
    James Dobson
    • Spike
    Percy Helton
    Percy Helton
    • Mr. Horker
    Glen Turnbull
    • Glenn Turnbull
    • (as Glenn Turnbull)
    • …
    Louise Beavers
    Louise Beavers
    • Mammy
    James Kirkwood
    James Kirkwood
    • Doctor
    Carl 'Alfalfa' Switzer
    Carl 'Alfalfa' Switzer
    • Freddie
    • (as Carl Dean Switzer)
    Fred Moultrie
    • Chitlin
    • (as Freddie Moultrie)
    Richard Alexander
    Richard Alexander
    • Cop
    • (uncredited)
    Leslie Bennett
    • Kid
    • (uncredited)
    • Director
      • Allan Dwan
    • Writer
      • Alan Le May(screenplay)
    • All cast & crew
    • See more cast details at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      This 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.
    • Goofs
      Early 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!

    • Connections
      Referenced in ER: Stuck on You (1998)
    • Soundtracks
      Oh! Susanna
      Written by Stephen Foster

      Performed by Ray Middleton

    User reviews13

    Review
    Top review
    8/10
    Pervse Delight
    No, this ain't "The Stephen Foster Story." That's in Bardstown, Ky, a place that Stephen Foster never saw in his short and tragic life. Foster's real life was tragic and depressing and might make an interesting "All That Jazz" style film. But this ain't it. This is a razzle dazzle musical comedy with the music of Foster as an added plus.

    This is the kind of musical film that used to be common but are now long gone. It's an attempt by Republic Picures producer Herbert J. Yates to cash in on the success of MGM's 1951 hit "Showboat" but with the lowest budget possible. In view of that the film manages to look much more lush than it really is. Of course the use of the Foster song catalog didn't cost Repbulic anything. Surprisingly the color quality of the print the DVD I viewed was mastered from held up surprisingly well considering the obvious neglect it was subject to.

    The production has the feel of the composer bio pics MGM used to churn out during this era. You could easily recast the film in your imagination with Metro contract players from that time.

    Director Alan Dwan obviously had the expertise to make a cheap programmer like this look better than its budget should have allowed. The pic is almost set bound with few exteriors and limited interiors. But Dwan keeps the pace moving at a brisk clip with the musical numbers occurring so rapidly you have little time to think about the silliness of the plot.The songs have been given arrangements more suited to the 1950s and are not the reverential treatments that might be expected. They are instead bright Hollywood musical comedy numbers. These numbers were staged by associates trained by Nick Castle (I guess Republic couldn't afford Mr. Castle himself) and are brisk and lively. There has obviously been an attempt to integrate some of the songs into the action but if some of the cues and other proceedings seem laughable, well go ahead and laugh. It's all in fun, so enjoy it for what it is.

    The cast perform competently and seem to be enjoying themselves which helps to make the film more enjoyable to the viewer. Of course Ray Middleton, the original Broadway Frank Butler opposite Ethel Merman in "Annie Get Your Gun" almost steals the proceedings with his bombastic performance.

    The film was of course made in a more politically incorrect era. But it is not much more incorrect than ...say.."Holiday Inn'.

    The film is a perversely delightful relic of a by gone era and well worth the dollar the DVD sells for in many areas.
    helpful•16
    2
    • play78rpms
    • Apr 27, 2005

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • June 15, 1952 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Sueño con Jeanie
    • Filming locations
      • Republic Studios, Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, USA
    • Production company
      • Republic Pictures (I)
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $515,134 (estimated)
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

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

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    Eileen Christy, Muriel Lawrence, Ray Middleton, and Bill Shirley in I Dream of Jeanie (1952)
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