Cast overview, first billed only: | |||
Ann Blyth | ... | Helen Morgan | |
Paul Newman | ... | Larry Maddux | |
Richard Carlson | ... | Russell Wade | |
Gene Evans | ... | Whitey Krause | |
Alan King | ... | Benny Weaver | |
Cara Williams | ... | Dolly Evans | |
Virginia Vincent | ... | Sue | |
Walter Woolf King | ... | Florenz Ziegfeld | |
Dorothy Green | ... | Mrs. Wade | |
Edward Platt | ... | Johnny Haggerty | |
Warren Douglas | ... | Mark Hellinger | |
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Sammy White | ... | Sammy White |
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The De Castro Sisters | ... | Singers |
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Jimmy McHugh | ... | Jimmy McHugh |
Rudy Vallee | ... | Rudy Vallee |
The 1920's and 30's career of singer Helen Morgan is followed from her early days singing outdoors in a carnival, through her speak-easy and chorus-girl days, to her stardom on Broadway in Ziegfeld's "Show Boat". Her involvement with Larry Maddux, a gin-runner and con-man, and Russell Wade, a prominent, married New York lawyer, and her decline thanks to these failed romances and alcohol are punctuated by performances of many of the songs she made famous. Written by Ron Kerrigan <mvg@whidbey.com>
Mostly fictional, miscast biographical hogwash of hard luck songtress Morgan. Ann Blyth, in her last theatrical feature, was the wrong actress for the title role, many were considered she was probably the least suitable, so the film starts off with a major flaw from the get go. Judy Garland whose style especially when young was compared to Morgan's would have been ideal. Another shortcoming is that although Blyth was a singer whose voice was relatively close to the real Helen Morgan's she is dubbed by Gogi Grant, also a fine singer but completely different from Morgan in sound and technique. If they were going to dub her why not use Helen Morgan's voice? Curtiz direction is unremarkable here, a few of his more customary florid touches would have helped greatly. Paul Newman who was just starting out when this was made is adequate but missing that loutish air that is needed for the reptile he is playing either Kirk Douglas or Robert Ryan would have been more suitable. The real Morgan story is a compelling one so this comes off as a wasted opportunity.