The Eddy Duchin Story (1956)

The life story of the famous pianist and band-leader of the 1930s and 1940s.

Director:

George Sidney

Writers:

Samuel A. Taylor (screenplay) (as Samuel Taylor), Leo Katcher (story)

Stars:

Tyrone Power, Kim Novak, Victoria Shaw

Nominated for 4 Oscars. Another 1 win & 2 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Tyrone Power	...	Eddy Duchin
Kim Novak	...	Marjorie Oelrichs
Victoria Shaw	...	Chiquita Wynn
James Whitmore	...	Lou Sherwood
Rex Thompson	...	Peter Duchin, Age 12
Mickey Maga	...	Peter Duchin, Age 5
Shepperd Strudwick	...	Sherman Wadsworth
Frieda Inescort	...	Edith Wadsworth
Gloria Holden	...	Mrs. Duchin
Larry Keating	...	Leo Reisman
John Mylong	...	Mr. Duchin
Gregory Gaye	...	Philip
Warren Hsieh	...	Native Boy
Richard H. Cutting	...	George - Destroyer Captain
Carlyle Mitchell	...	Marjorie's Doctor

Storyline

In the late 20's, the talkative newly graduated in pharmacy and aspirant piano player Eddy Duchin comes from Boston to New York expecting to play with the orchestra of Leo Reisman at fancy New York's Central Park Casino. However he had misunderstood the invitation of the maestro and while leaving the place, he meets the wealthy socialite Marjorie Oelrichs that asks Leo Reisman to give a chance to Eddy. He plays in the intermission and becomes a successful piano showman. Two years later, Marjorie and Eddy get married and in the Christmas, Marjorie has a baby, Peter, but she dies after the delivery. Eddy rejects Peter blaming him for the death of Marjorie and only five years later he meets his son. With the World War II, Eddy Duchin breaks up his band and enlists to fight in the war. With the end of the war, Eddy returns to New York with the intention of getting closer to Peter but he sees the boy connected to his friend Chiquita. When Eddy discovers that he has a terminal disease, he ...

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Plot Keywords:

character name as title | eddy duchin character | four word title | band | piano | 

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Taglines:

You should see THE EDDY DUCHIN STORY because it's a love story your heart will long remember

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Genres:

Biography | Drama | Music | Romance

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Certificate:

Approved

Did You Know?

Trivia

Tyrone Power found Kim Novak difficult to work with.

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Goofs

Eddy Duchin suffered from acute myelogenous leukemia. This blood disease would not have created the hand paralysis shown in the movie. The paralysis was done for dramatic effect. Eddy Duchin died at Memorial Hospital in New York City on February 9, 1951. He was 41.

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Quotes

Eddy Duchin: What I want to know is why! Why do they have to destroy a man twice? You work and work and just when you get... everything. When it gets too good they take it away.
Eddy Duchin: Oh Chiquita, I don't want to die. I don't.

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Connections

Referenced in The Imp, the Spirit, the Hero: Playing David Helfgott in 'Shine' with Geoffrey Rush (2015)

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Soundtracks

Chopsticks
(uncredited)
Music by Euphemia Allen
Played on piano by Eddy and the native boy

User Reviews

Pictorially, it's like a lovely Valentine to Eddie Duchin's memory...

TYRONE POWER does a remarkably convincing job at the keyboard and the camera seems to linger on his dexterity at the piano (on a dummy keyboard, of course) while the magic of Carmen Cavallaro takes over on the soundtrack. He's excellent as the brash and overly eager young piano player who eventually makes bigtime as a popular pianist, marries and loses his sweetheart, KIM NOVAK, with whom he has a young son who at first resents him after Power's desertion, then reunites before Duchin's untimely death from leukemia. That's the plot, in a nutshell, but it's the sparkling music that counts.

The richly textured Technicolor photography of Manhattan and its settings evoke the time and period perfectly. I found KIM NOVAK's performance artificial and disturbingly unreal--as though she were affecting a series of poses--while Power is completely natural and appealing opposite her. Novak's performance here is a far cry from her work as Madge in PICNIC. The mood of the film becomes somber after her death and Power's decision to leave the country on tour, leaving his baby son behind. The conflict between Duchin and his son is what has to be resolved before the story ends.

The handsome production values are all enhanced by the constant use of Duchin's music, either in the background or with him at the keyboard and these qualities make it one of the most enjoyable musical biographies I've seen in a long time.

The film won four Oscar nominations and Power deserved to be included, but was not.

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

21 June 1956 (USA)

Also Known As:

Geliebt in alle Ewigkeit

Filming Locations:

Central Park Casino, Central Park, Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Columbia Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

123 min

Sound Mix:

4-Track Stereo (RCA Sound Recording)

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.55 : 1