I'll See You in My Dreams (1951 film)

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I'll See You in My Dreams
I'll See You in My Dreams (1951 film) poster.jpg
Theatrical release poster
Directed by Michael Curtiz
Written by Jack Rose
Melville Shavelson
Story by Louis F. Edelman
Grace Kahn
Produced byLouis F. Edelman
Starring Doris Day
Danny Thomas
Frank Lovejoy
Patrice Wymore
James Gleason
Cinematography Ted D. McCord
Edited by Owen Marks
Music by Ray Heindorf
Distributed by Warner Bros.
Release date
  • December 6, 1951 (1951-12-06)
Running time
110 minutes
CountryUnited States
Language English
Budget$1,404,000 [1]
Box office$2.9 million (US rentals). [2]

I'll See You in My Dreams is a 1951 musical film directed by Michael Curtiz and starring Doris Day and Danny Thomas. It was Warner Bros.' second-highest-grossing film of 1951. Curtiz teamed with Thomas again the following year for a remake of The Jazz Singer . [3]

Contents

The film is a biography of lyricist Gus Kahn, who died in 1941, and includes much of his music, including the title song. The story, which avoids Kahn's Jewish origins, is told from the point of view of his wife Grace, who was alive when the film was produced. Kahn was a prolific songwriter whose career ascended to spectacular heights before he lost his savings in the 1929 stock-market crash. [4]

Plot

Insecure Gus Kahn wanders into the musical publishing house where Grace LeBoy is a talent judge of some influence. She challenges him to write a love song, but she does not expect him to deliver it to her home the same evening. Grace's parents like Kahn, even after his borrowed necktie dips into his soup bowl. Grace quits her job to plug Kahn's songs on her own. Their first song, "I Wish I Had a Girl," is a hit. But after failed follow-ups, Grace cedes the publicity duties to Fred Thompson.

Kahn embarks on a series of successful collaborations with composer Egbert Van Alstyne. When tenor John McCormack sings their song "Memories" and it becomes a hit, the tongue-tied Kahn finally proposes to Grace. Later, when she is expecting their first child, her pregnancy inspires Kahn and Van Alstyne to rework the Tony Jackson tune "Pretty Baby". After Grace plays Kahn's songs for New York producer Sam Harris, Kahn gains entry into the world of Broadway. Kahn writes a string of successful songs, but his partnership with composer Walter Donaldson, an incorrigible playboy, presents problems. Kahn faces difficulty adjusting to Donaldson's erratic schedule, forcing their eventual breakup. Kahn suffers serious losses in the Wall Street crash of 1929 and experiences a long period of writer's block.

Grace secures a Hollywood contract for Kahn, but he deems it needless charity and travels to California alone. His mental block continues and he suffers a major heart attack. Donaldson seeks Kahn with a promise to be a more reliable partner, and the reteaming leads to renewed success. At a testimonial dinner, Kahn announces that Grace is the "brains" of the family and that he could not have succeeded without her.

Cast

Music

A soundtrack album was released by Columbia Records, featuring tracks sung by Doris Day (including duets with Danny Thomas) in the film.

The film has been cited by Berry Gordy as an inspiration for his start in songwriting. [5]

Reception

In a contemporary review for The New York Times, critic Bosley Crowther wrote: "Mr. Thomas, who here has his first starring role in a film, lifts it by sheer virtuosity and charm into a cheerful and touching affair. It is hard to say just how he does it. Perhaps it is partly through his eyes, which are bright, appealing and candid; perhaps it is partly through his voice, which has tenderness and sincerity, as well as the lilt of the clown. Most certainly, his talent for wholesome mimicry contributes a lot to the illusion of a lovable character in this film." [6]

References

  1. ↑ Rode, Alan K. Michael Curtiz: A Life in Film. Lexington, Kentucky: University Press of Kentucky, 2017.
  2. ↑ 'Top Box-Office Hits of 1952', Variety, January 7, 1953
  3. ↑ "Articles". Turner Classic Movies . Archived from the original on 2020-10-13. Retrieved 2022-11-18.
  4. ↑ "I'll See You in My Dreams (1951) – Michael Curtiz | Synopsis, Characteristics, Moods, Themes and Related | AllMovie".
  5. ↑ George, Nelson. Where Did Our Love Go: The Rise and Fall of the Motown Sound. New York: St. Martin's Press, 1985.
  6. ↑ Crowther, Bosley (1951-12-07). "The Screen: Three Newcomers Arrive Here". The New York Times . p. 35.
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